RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Research Essay for
A Study of Challenges Facing Women in the Military
Submitted to Dr. Charity Williams,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
PACO 687 – B01
Counseling Women
by
William C. King
September 30, 2022
i
Contents
Abstract..........................................................................................................................................iii
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
The Actual Challenges Present........................................................................................................1
Treatment of Military Female Challenges.......................................................................................3
Homework Ideas for Traumatic Challenges................................................................................7
Biblically Dealing with Trauma......................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................10
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Abstract
iii
Introduction
From the time a person walks the steps of Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS),
a military member begins to walk prouder. Over time, issues begin to arise, and the darker side
of the military comes to light. The military presents a good form of support, but the member is
often left with the remnants of the problems caused by others they serve with. A range of
problems from sexual assault, sexual harassment, and separation from family are some of the
grander things that could be a possibility of receiving lasting issues as a result. It will be found
through a thorough discussion, the challenges facing women in the military and some potential
treatment options in dealing with lasting trauma and disabilities received from said challenge.
The Actual Challenges Present
One of the biggest and arguably the most disturbing of challenges is sexual assault.
According to the 2021 Department of Defense Annual Sexual Assault report, there has been a
steady increase while having an estimated decrease in the actual reporting.1 This in turn creates
mental health issues to deal with. Statistically speaking, 20-40% of women veterans report
sexual trauma.2 Another big issue is the gender discrimination and inequality. Due to the very
nature of women, there are some biological differences that are struggles to accommodate. For
instance, hygiene in deployed environments could become an issue. A report published in the
journal Military Medicine, shows more detail of how this becomes a big issue when it comes
specifically to excretion.3 Whether using the restroom or even sweat, there are different natural
1 US Department of Defense. Department of Defense Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in
the Military. 2021 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, US Department of Defense, 2022.
2 Ursula A. Kelly, et al. "More than Military Sexual Trauma: Interpersonal Violence, PTSD, and Mental Health in
Women Veterans." Research in Nursing & Health, September 6, 2011: 457-467.
3 Elspeth Cameron Ritchie. "Issues for Military Women in Deployment: An Overview." Military Medicine 166
(December 2001): 1033-1037.
1
process between genders. However, there is one other challenge, which more often than not,
presents a special issue because it encompasses both of these mentioned above. The impacts of
masculinity on women can often cause issues. “Their presence and participation (especially in
war) challenge the ancient paradigm of the combat, masculine warrior.”4 Bullying from male
counterparts often cause undiagnosed trauma. Whichever the case, diagnosed or not, these set of
challenges often cause environmentally- induced trauma.
There are vast differences in how the military and the civilian sector deals with
institutional betrayal, MST, and environmentally- induced trauma. A civilian social worker for
the military was interviewed for this essay. Wishing to remain anonymous, she stated: “The
mentality is to: ‘Be perfect, do perfect, don’t make mistakes and if you do make mistakes the
world could blow up so you must “suck it up and go on.’” The military tends to lend toward the
mentality of “patch up the member and sent back to the fight.” Thus, the issue is further
exacerbated by the reduction of the need to address long- term treatment. There was a situation
that substantiates this statement. A female enlisted into the Marine Corps and was sexually
harassed. After years of trying to deal with the bullying and the knowledge of wrongdoing, she
went to her chain of command and was recommended not to go report because of the effects it
would have on her career.
When there is an imbalance in the equality of women in the military, this
environmentally induced trauma becomes a bigger issue. Research conducted by British Medical
Journal presents “22.5% sexual harassment, 5.1% sexual assault, 22.7% emotional bullying and
3.3% physical assault.”5 This in turn can lead to other medical problems and created undue
4 Patrice A. Keats. "Soldiers Working Internationally: Impacts." International Journal for the Advancement of
Counselling, September 3, 2010: 290–303.
5 Laura Josephine Hendrikx, Victoria Williamson, and Dominic Murphy. "Adversity During Military Service: The
Impact of Military Sexual Trauma, Emotional Bullying and Physical Assault on the Mental Health and Well-being
of Women Veterans." British Medical Journal- Military Health, October 25, 2021.
2
stress. “Research shows that stress itself can lead to chronic disease as well as other lifestyle
behaviors that increase individual risk for disease. In addition, chronic stress can decrease
workers’ efficiency and productivity, as well as be detrimental to their overall health.”6
Symptoms commonly seen with PTSD are commonly accepted as being the same and. They are:
Persistent, involuntarily, and disturbing memories of the trauma, Intense and prolonged
psychological distress to reminders that bring to mind or signify a part of the traumatic event,
Discernible physiological reactions to reminders that symbolize or represent an aspect of the
trauma, Distressing and repeated dreams in which the affect or subject matter is related to the
event, and Dissociative reactions (flashbacks) that lead an individual to feel or behave as though
the event is reoccurring.”7 With trauma in mind, the counselor can better move toward treating
the victim.
Treatment of Military Female Challenges
The treatment first presents a label of the problem. It is called “Institutional Betrayal.”
“This relationship to institutions suggests that these types of traumatic experiences can be
examined through a lens of betrayal trauma in much the same way as abuse occurring
within a close personal relationship.”8 Being able to differentiate and understand the effects of
betrayal and how they might only feed the problem from an institutional standpoint is critical to
understanding how a counselor may be able to help treat someone experiencing this problem.
Treatment for Institutional Betrayal and Environmentally- Induced Trauma are completing using
techniques for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One treatment that often is used in this
6 Jannell C MacAulay. In Defense of Health: Lifestyle, Nutrition, and Medicine in the Modern American Military
and its Nation. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 20, 2015.203.
7 Riverwoods Behavioral Health System. "PTSD & Trauma Causes, Signs, Symptoms & Side Effects." Riverwoods
Behavioral Health. 2022. https://www.riverwoodsbehavioral.com/disorders/trauma/signs-symptoms-effects/
(accessed September 28, 2022).
8 Carly Parnitzke Smith, and Jennifer J. Freyd. "Institutional Betrayal." American Psychologist, September 2014:
575-587.578.
3
particular case are those of Cognitive Processing Therapy. The Journal of Traumatic Stress
presents a nine-page report on the Effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy for Male and
Female U.S. Veterans With and Without Military Sexual Trauma.9 Other counseling methods are
presented as well. Coming from a Biblical Counseling perspective, writers Dr. Timothy and
April Crable, as well as, Dr. Maranda Griffin, present a different set of treatment options. They
provide options that incorporate military networks such as military mental health and Tricare and
range from group therapy sessions to peer-to-peer support networks and reinforcing the person to
strive to help others by having transparent conversations and ongoing help into research and
grants to help others.10 Specific help is aided by establishing rapport with the victim, increasing
the awareness of values, increasing familiarity with terminology, and addressing the stigma of
mental health.11 With these treatment options presented, the biggest help is transparency.
Transparent conversations allow the victim to openly talk, whether to a counselor or to a
group, and be authentic about how they feel in dealing with this particular type of trauma. One
issue that is often discovered as an issue in trauma treatment is referred to as “stuck points.”
These stuck points are areas in which potential conflict is found between thoughts and emotions.
Simply put: “Stuck points are conflicting beliefs or strong negative beliefs that create unpleasant
emotions and problematic or unhealthy behavior.”12 The process in dealing with these stuck
points is all about transparent conversation. These conversations begin by conversations about
9 Emily Voelkel, Nicole D. Pukay-Martin, Kristen H. Walter, and Kathleen M. Chard. "Effectiveness of Cognitive
Processing Therapy for Male and Female U.S. Veterans With and Without Military Sexual Trauma." Journal of
Traumatic Stress. June 2015. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jts.22006?saml_referrer (accessed
September 28, 2022).
10 Crable, Timothy, Maranda Griffin, and April Crable. "Counseling Active Duty Women." In Counseling Women;
Evidence- Based Treatment with Faith Integration, by Patti Hinkley, April Crable, Jama Davis, & Anita Kuhnley,
75-100. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2021.90-91.
11 Ibid.
12 Patricia A Resick, Candice M Monson, and Kathleen M Chard. Cognitive Processing Therapy Veteran and
Military Version: Therapist and Patient Materials Manual. Washington, DC: Department of Veteran's Affairs,
2014.C3.
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the perceived thought which may have changed by the traumatic event. These thoughts are not
behaviors, feelings, facts, questions, or moral statements. These are then created into concise
statement which may or may not have been reinforced by the traumatic situation. The example
provided by Dr. Resick, was: “If I let others get close, then I will get hurt.”13 Once this is
discovered and articulated, the process begins on dealing with the stated “stuck point.”
Since many of the symptoms are the same yet the diagnosis may be different, the
treatment is typically the same. The National Center for PTSD offers options for self- help and
coping with PTSD. Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder coping options present options of
mindfulness practice, peer support groups, and even animal assisted therapy. Intensive therapy
options are ways of coping with unwanted thoughts, reactions, or emotions and are now even
digitally available as a mobile application and website coaching.14 Although many options are
available, the primary treatment still centers around coping mechanisms and transparent,
authentic communication.
Another method presented is medication. While medication will aid in helping get
through the rough times, they are not the full solution. In order to achieve best results, the issue
must be dealt with and resolved as much as possible. Medication will help by reducing the
amount of nightmares and memories, but in the larger picture, the victim must be willing to
receive any and all treatments available to regain a sense of control over their life.
As discussed earlier, cognitive therapy will allow you to be transparent and move past
destructive thought patterns and memories. Another type of psychotherapy is Exposure Therapy.
In this instance, the victim is allowed “to re-enter the setting in which you experienced trauma.”15
13 Ibid. B25.
14 US Department of Veteran's Affiars. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. March 23, 2022.
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/selfhelp_coping.asp (accessed September 28, 2022).
15 Mayo Clinic. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-
traumatic-stress-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355973 (accessed September 29, 2022).
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Inevitably, the more one learns, regarding PTSD as a whole, will allow them to be able to
process things easier and ultimately aid in making their healing process easier.
The American Psychological Association recommends four broad range treatment
options for this. They are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy
(CPT), Cognitive Therapy (CT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE).”16 Additionally, the same
association also presents four “conditional” treatments in which they say “indicates that they can
lead to good treatment outcomes; however, the evidence may not be as strong, or the balance of
treatment benefits and possible harms may be less favorable, or the intervention may be less
applicable across treatment settings or subgroups of individuals with PTSD [Brief Eclectic
Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Narrative
Exposure Therapy (NET), and Medications].”17 As one can see, there is much crossover in the
different treatment options from various different psychotherapy professionals.
Another of the ideal treatment option is Prolonged Exposure. In this option, the victim is
pushed through the emotional processing theory and is forced to deal with thought rather than
focus on the avoidance of those thoughts. “PE helps the client interrupt and reverse this process
by blocking cognitive and behavioral avoidance, introducing corrective information, and
facilitating organization and processing of the trauma memory and associated thoughts and
beliefs.”18 In this case, the focus is more about how to deal with the thoughts and memories as
they come up rather than avoiding them.
Choosing to focus on the specific treatment model of working through trust issues from
the institutional betrayal, it become critical to identify the path at which one meets the steps to
16 American Psychological Association. PTSD Treatments. June 2020.
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments (accessed September 29, 2022).
17 Ibid.
18 Robert W. Motta. Alternative Therapies for PTSD: The Science of Mind–Body Treatments. Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association, 2020.28.
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healing. Therefore, the process would begin by discovering the cause of the trauma. Once
discovered, the next step is to begin the actual therapy. The victim has every right as to the
choice of treatment or even whether to receive treatment. The type depends on the individual. Dr.
Rebecca Liu explains that “PTSD therapy helps change your relationship with the trauma.
Therapy isn’t for erasing your memories.” CPT typically consists 12-weeks of treatment whereas
Prolonged Exposure Therapy consists of 8-15 sessions, EMDR takes 3 months, and medications can
be indefinite.19 Although there are many treatment options available, the best is found in the
Word of God.
Homework Ideas for Traumatic Challenges
Gearing more toward post- traumatic growth rather than a disorder may provide some
homework options for the victim someone may council. Some homework options to help in
healing deal with writing a narrative of their trauma story.20 This process deals with the details of
the story and them not having to experience the emotions in front of someone else. In this
exercise, the victim focuses on just the facts and then how their emotions played into the
experience. Another is to experience the emotions again. In a safe environment the victim
explores their emotional responses to catalysts of the said trauma. A third homework assignment
would be to explore three concepts and experience the growth. In this particular instance, the
victim looks for purpose and meaning in the trauma rather than focusing on the negative aspects
of that trauma. Three concepts are: Freedom of choice, Finding Meaning, and the Hero
archetype.”21 The meaning is found by discovering and ultimately sharing the story with other.
19 WebMD Editorial Contributors. What Are the Treatments for PTSD? 2022. https://www.webmd.com/mental-
health/what-are-treatments-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder (accessed September 29, 2022).
20 Ackerman, Courtney E. “10 Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) Worksheets & Practices.” Positive Psychology.
November 20, 2019. https://positivepsychology.com/post-traumatic-growth-worksheets/#techniques-ptg (accessed
September 29, 2022).
21 Ibid.
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Finally, the last is to seal it away. Organizing the traumatic situation into a filed folder in the
mind rather than separate folders which do not make sense as if the mind were a filing cabinet.
Biblically Dealing with Trauma
When we go through traumatic events, it is imperative to reiterate to the victim that God
is in control of the suffering we have experienced. Also, it becomes prevalent by discussion on
people that endured suffering and yet God brought them through. Paul was one such person. He
has to escape through a city wall to avoid arrests, bitten by snake, shipwrecked multiple times,
under house arrest, beaten multiple times, and left for dead to name a few. In these sufferings,
Paul keeps His eyes on God. Another is Job who lost everything (to include his children) he had
except for his wife and his friends and was very wealthy. In addition, he began to have painful
sores. In all he did, he never cursed God and God blessed him afterwards with double of
everything he had. Most importantly, Jesus on the cross cried out to God asking for help.
Explaining how God is not the source of our suffering but sin is (from Genesis 3) sheds light of
God being a good and gracious God to us. Furthermore, directing the victim to the necessity for
our suffering from 1 Peter 1:7 is paramount. This is achieved by explaining that our faith must be
tried and we must endure things but it will be found as praise and honor to God. Another item
Scripture teaches is that in Christ we can be free and that our identity is not based on suffering or
trauma but based in Christ. Finally, Jesus offers encouragement which we can offer to the victim.
He states: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.SIn this world you will
have trouble.SBut take heart! I have overcomeSthe world.” (Jn.16:33, NIV). Dr. Matthew Stanford
states perfectly by saying: “God does not see you as a victim. He sees you as His child. The
scriptures tell us that as children of God, we were chosen before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless adopted sons and daughters, lavished with grace, redeemed, forgiven, given
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spiritual wisdom and understanding and marked with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:4-14).”22 God
is able to help through all trauma so long as a victim is open to allowing Him to help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issues presented above are a mere scratch in regard to the number of
challenges facing the women of the United States Armed Forces. These women encounter things
that many other women do, however, they are also afforded the opportunity to experience some
things civilian women do not. Nonetheless, they deserve the gratitude of their nation for
experiencing the problems they have endured. In dealing with the depth of just these three
challenges (institutional betrayal, MST, and environmentally- induced trauma), it is evident there
is much to be done in regard to dealing with the emotional trauma experienced by military
women. These discussions on the challenges, treatment, and a biblical analysis of dealing with
trauma provides better clarity in dealing with these issues going forward.
22 Matthew Standford. Five Things the Scriptures Teach Us about Trauma and Suffering. 2022.
https://hopeandhealingcenter.org/five-things-the-scriptures-teach-us-about-trauma-and-suffering-by-dr-matthew-s-
stanford/ (accessed September 29, 2022).
9
Bibliography
Ackerman, Courtney E. "10 Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) Worksheets & Practices." Positive
Psychology. November 20, 2019. https://positivepsychology.com/post-traumatic-growth-
worksheets/#techniques-ptg (accessed September 29, 2022).
American Psychological Association. PTSD Treatments. June 2020. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-
guideline/treatments (accessed September 29, 2022).
Crable, Timothy, Maranda Griffin, and April Crable. "Counseling Active Duty Women." In
Counseling Women; Evidence- Based Treatment with Faith Integration, by Patti Hinkley,
April Crable, Jama Davis, & Anita Kuhnley, 75-100. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing
Company, 2021.
Hendrikx, Laura Josephine, Victoria Williamson, and Dominic Murphy. "Adversity During
Military Service: The Impact of Military Sexual Trauma, Emotional Bullying and
Physical Assault on the Mental Health and Well-being of Women Veterans." British
Medical Journal- Military Health, October 25, 2021.
Keats, Patrice A. "Soldiers Working Internationally: Impacts." International Journal for the
Advancement of Counselling, September 3, 2010: 290–303.
Kelly, Ursula A., Kelly Skelton, Meghna Patel, and Bekh Bradley. "More than Military Sexual
Trauma: Interpersonal Violence, PTSD, and Mental Health in Women Veterans."
Research in Nursing & Health, September 6, 2011: 457-467.
MacAulay, Jannell C. In Defense of Health: Lifestyle, Nutrition, and Medicine in the Modern
American Military and its Nation. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 20, 2015.
Mayo Clinic. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 2022.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/diagnosis-
treatment/drc-20355973 (accessed September 29, 2022).
Motta, Robert W. Alternative Therapies for PTSD: The Science of Mind–Body Treatments.
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020.
Resick, Patricia A, Candice M Monson, and Kathleen M Chard. Cognitive Processing Therapy
Veteran and Military Version: Therapist and Patient Materials Manual. Washington,
DC: Department of Veteran's Affairs, 2014.
Ritchie, Elspeth Cameron. "Issues for Military Women in Deployment: An Overview." Military
Medicine 166 (December 2001): 1033-1037.
Riverwoods Behavioral Health System. "PTSD & Trauma Causes, Signs, Symptoms & Side
Effects." Riverwoods Behavioral Health. 2022.
https://www.riverwoodsbehavioral.com/disorders/trauma/signs-symptoms-effects/
(accessed September 28, 2022).
Smith, Carly Parnitzke, and Jennifer J. Freyd. "Institutional Betrayal." American Psychologist,
September 2014: 575-587.
Standford, Matthew. Five Things the Scriptures Teach Us about Trauma and Suffering. 2022.
https://hopeandhealingcenter.org/five-things-the-scriptures-teach-us-about-trauma-and-
suffering-by-dr-matthew-s-stanford/ (accessed September 29, 2022).
US Department of Defense. Department of Defense Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report on
Sexual Assault in the Military. 2021 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, US
Department of Defense, 2022.
US Department of Veteran's Affiars. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. March 23, 2022.
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/selfhelp_coping.asp (accessed September 28, 2022).
10
Voelkel, Emily , Nicole D. Pukay-Martin, Kristen H. Walter, and Kathleen M. Chard.
"Effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy for Male and FemaleU.S. Veterans With
and Without Military Sexual Trauma." ournal of Traumatic Stress. June 2015.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jts.22006?saml_referrer (accessed
September 28, 2022).
WebMD Editorial Contributors. What Are the Treatments for PTSD? 2022.
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-are-treatments-for-posttraumatic-stress-
disorder (accessed September 29, 2022).
11
