Скачать или смотреть Understanding the SMVF Community in Civilian Mental Health Settings

What do civilian mental health providers need to understand about service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF) — especially in rural communities?
In this episode, Katt Whittenberger, retired Navy Senior Chief and Executive Director of Mountain Valor Veteran Services, speaks directly to civilian providers about the realities veterans bring into non-VA systems.

Drawing from personal experience transitioning out of the military, Katt explores:
loss of belonging and identity after service
isolation as a protective response
communication fatigue and constant self-editing
why some veteran spaces still don’t feel inclusive
rural access barriers
military sexual trauma (MST) and why prevalence matters more than raw numbers
how institutional betrayal erodes trust in all systems — not just the military
This is not a lecture on VA benefits or military culture.
It’s a grounded conversation about context, trust, and why veterans often show up guarded in civilian care — and what actually helps.

About Mountain Valor Veteran Services
Mountain Valor is a veteran-led nonprofit serving rural Virginia through weekly in-person outreach, education, and benefits navigation for veterans, caregivers, spouses, and survivors. Mountain Valor also hosts Mountain Valor Fest, the state’s only large-scale rural veteran outreach event, and is expanding in 2026 to include focused outreach in elder care and aging veteran settings.
🔗 Learn more: https://www.mtnvalor.org

Content Advisory
This episode includes discussion of military sexual trauma and systemic harm. Listener discretion is advised.