At this time of year, psychology doctoral students all over the country are starting the internship application process. And many are pondering if becoming a military psychologist is the right choice for them. I was once faced with the same decision, and after years of working for the military on active-duty and as a civilian, I am sharing some general advice on what is needed to work within this system.
Mobile applications to support resilience-building have been an option for providers for more than a decade. But it can be difficult to know which apps best fit your client population and their goals. This blog summarizes and links three recent review articles that provide information about the functionality and effectiveness of resiliency-building apps for military-connected populations.
For the past couple of weeks I’ve been hearing about “NOvember” campaigns such as “putting the ‘no’ in ‘November’” and “The NOvember Challenge.” There are a few different versions of the campaign, but essentially it is a call to say “no” to unhealthy/unenjoyable/non-enriching requests and habits. Although this call to action has been around for years, it’s suddenly become relevant to me
Recently we hosted a webinar titled “CDP Presents: Debunking Common Misperceptions about Sleep Interventions” that addressed how as behavioral health professionals we can critically evaluate the regular barrage of claims we hear about sleep “tips” and products. I say critically not necessarily in a pejorative sense – that is, as a disapproval although that may end up being the case – but rather in the sense of approaching claims with a consistent evaluative framework. This kind of approach allows us to compare claims against scientific knowledge and evidence.
Take a moment and think about the ways you prepare for emergency situations in your personal life. Various activities might come to mind, like stocking up on essentials at the grocery store when a major storm is about to blow through your community. Perhaps you imagine gathering phone numbers and contact information for loved ones and providers that serve you or your family members, imagining a scenario in which hard news needs to be communicated or individuals found for support. Whatever the emergency that came to mind, it is likely that you thought of your readiness to respond; use of information, tangible resources, or products; and/or connection with others.