Towards A Trauma-Informed Existential Career Development Group for Veterans-in-Transition: A Conceptual Exploration

ABSTRACT

After examining the extant literature on career-development in Veterans, the author will outline a new Trauma-Informed Existential Career Development (TI-ECD) group specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Veterans-in-transition out of the military. The author will explicate how the group aligns with the principles and praxes of trauma-informed care and explore implications for multiculturalism, social justice, and research. Finally, limitations of the group and it’s suggested means of evaluation will be explored and a challenge offered to future professionals that may come into contact with Veterans-in-transition out of the military.

KEYWORDS:

• Veterans
• career
• trauma-informed
• meaning-making
• existentialism

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aaron J. Smith

Aaron J. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychology at Western Washington University. Dr. Smith can be reached at [email protected]