Tulane hosts military mental health workshop, doubling the number of trained civilian therapists in Louisiana
In June, 37 mental health providers from Louisiana and neighboring states convened at Tulane School of Social Work to learn how to better support service members, veterans, and their families.
Tulane’s Porter Cason Institute for the Family, which partners with community organizations to provide innovative clinical training to family therapists, decided to host the seven-hour seminar after identifying the need for stronger mental health support for Louisianian families connected to the military.
“Deployments and military service ripple through families, communities, children's schools, and medical systems,” said Parker Robinson, director of the Porter Cason Institute. “We are building well-trained therapeutic communities to expand the pool of truly qualified mental health professionals who can support and strengthen families.”
By partnering with Tulane and Star Behavioral Health Providers, we are building a unified network of military and civilian providers, ensuring high-quality, culturally competent care is accessible in every community.
Louisiana Army National Guard state surgeon Colonel Katrina E. Lloyd
The session, Introduction to Military Culture and the Military-Connected Experience, was led by Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP), a nonprofit organization funded through the National Guard Bureau that offers free military-informed continuing education workshops for social workers and other mental health providers and hosts a directory of trained civilian providers who serve military-connected populations.
Prior to the training, there were only 24 mental health providers in Louisiana on the SBHP directory – in comparison to more than 3,600 nationwide. That’s despite the state being home to more than 200,000 veterans and 12,000 active-duty service members.
This training was the first in a three-step program designed to build a strong foundation of knowledge in military culture and experience, provide insight into ethical dilemmas faced by civilian mental health practitioners who work with service members and veterans, and deliver assessments and interventions for common behavioral health challenges like posttraumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, and suicidal ideation.
“I believe this training is important because mental health care is a critical component of military readiness. Our service members stand on the front lines for us, and it is our collective duty to stand on the front lines for them as well,” said Louisiana Army National Guard state surgeon Colonel Katrina E. Lloyd, who provided the day’s opening remarks.
Beyond diagnosable conditions, military families often seek support for fears about deployment and separation, stress about relocation, grief, and adjusting to civilian life.
“By partnering with Tulane and Star Behavioral Health Providers, we are building a unified network of military and civilian providers, ensuring high-quality, culturally competent care is accessible in every community. This isn't just about healthcare, it’s about military readiness and keeping our promise to those who serve,” said Col. Lloyd.
If you're interested in attending a military mental health training, please reach out.
