Defining Elemental Components of Veteran Cultural Competency for Mental Health Professionals

Veterans and Military Service Members are separate independent cultures. As a principle element, clinicians seek to become culturally competent develop therapeutic rapport improve treatment outcomes. Previous research has identified that mental health providers must be treat the Veteran population effectively. There vital elements need assessed: specific contextual knowledge, professional competence, confidence in working within population. This sought identify elemental components of cultural competence by evaluating Veteran-specific training program called “Healing Our Heroes”. The results concluded direct military experience was not significant factor ability work population; however, possessing knowledge critical obtaining competence.