Social Work Discourse

Social Work 640 and My Practice

My Ability to Work with Military Families and Children I believe that working with military families is more difficult than working with the military member or veteran, alone. I feel that I can identify with my clients’ veteran status and shared experiences (identification and countertransference); however, as I spent a large portion of time away from my family, I would probably feel guilt stemming from my own experiences of leaving behind my family if I were to work with military spouses and children. Also, another phenomena germane to military families that would be difficult for me to reconcile, is the heightened impact that military issues cause for military children. Lack of communication, role exit,

I work within the West Los Angeles VA Domiciliary; all of my clients have an “in-patient” status. Generally, the clients’ PTSD, substance abuse, and other mental health issues have weakened or destroyed relationships with their families. Often, the younger veterans have not yet exhausted their relationships with their families, but my older veteran clients have exhausted the sympathy and trust which family members previously have given to them. Often, older veterans are not on speaking terms with their children, either. Subsequently, broken relationships in the veterans’ systems lead to many of my clients’ homeless

As a Marine, I think that I saw how unfortunate family life can subsist within the infrastructure. Aside from a few senior enlisted during my eight years tenure, I cannot remember seeing a family that did not break up or which I believed would eventually break up. I have also experienced a lot of hardships that the military can place upon its members. As I exited the Marines and eventually began reconnecting with other military members, I noticed that the guys were not alright. Since I have often felt to be the “odd duck” amongst other military members and veterans, I also knew that this “out-of-steppedness” allows me to see life from another’s point of view, judge others less harshly, and act empathetically towards others—the qualities that are needed to give dignity to those of my community who need it most. As the Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Program was willing to pay for USC’s military sub-concentration, it only seemed natural to work with this population of people. To be sure, I did not get to the place that I stand on my own, I am just happy to be able to stand here at