In this episode, Army psychologists MAJ Gaines and MAJ Walls, share how being a military psychologist is changing the landscape of psychology through innovative fellowships, immersive training experiences, and leadership opportunities unlike anything found in traditional civilian careers. From applied work with service members in high pressure environments to specialized training that accelerates professional growth, they discuss how the Army develops psychologists into adaptable clinicians, researchers, advisors, and leaders.

The discourse also explores how Army psychologists support mental readiness, contribute to national defense, and shape the future of behavioral health care across the military and beyond. Whether you are interested in psychology, military service, or leadership development, this episode offers an inside look at a career path built on purpose, innovation, and impact.

You can contact MAJ Gaines at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilgainesphd or [email protected]

You can contact MAJ Walls at https://www.linkedin.com/in/contessatwalls/ or [email protected]

Want to get connected with our team or guests? Have feedback, suggestions, or recommendations? Send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Army Veteran, Marissa Snowden, whose journey didn't end at retirement-it evolved into a mission to better understand the psychological realities of military life. After leaving active duty, she has pursued graduate studies with a strong focus on research. Drawing from both personal experience and academic expertise, she shares how her time in uniform shaped the questions that now drive her work.

The conversation explores her development of a unique measurement model designed to better assess the mental and emotional impacts of military service. She discusses key research areas, including how deployment influences life after service, as well as the often overlooked roles of autism and depression in veteran reintegration. With a blend of lived insight and scientific rigor, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the challenges veterans face, and the innovative ways research is helping to address them.

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You can contact Marissa Snowden via Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-snowden-9548132b6/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3ByQb4MGlDRaKB0GSXE%2Bf8Lw%3D%3D

Want to get connected with our team or guests? Have feedback, suggestions, or recommendations? Send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with members of the California National Guard to talk about what makes the guard unique, the wide range of missions they support, and how they are taking new approaches to support the mental health of service members and their families. LTC Harris and MAJ Burns offer a behind-the-scenes look at the people, missions, and support systems that make the California National Guard a vital part of both national defense and local community response.

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You can find the California Military Department app in your preferred app store.

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Successful decrease in the stigma toward mental health services has led to an increase in the number of Service Members seeking care, resulting in challenges to military mental health providers and systems in meeting the increased demand. In this episode, Dr. Ethan Bannar sits down with Colonel Elisha Parkhill Pippin, Director of Psychological Health for the United States Air Force, to discuss her 2024 article in the Air Force Times and her recommendations for balancing evidence-based practice with satisfaction-based medicine. Together they explore the current difficulties faced by providers, the impact of homegrown/unit-based efforts to meet the increasing needs of the force, and discuss ways that providers can utilize available resources to better serve the populace. Tune in to hear more about the Air Force Targeted Care Initiative and Mental Health Strategic Initiatives Group, aiming to change the culture surrounding evidence-based practice in our Armed Forces!

Col. Pippin can be reached at [email protected], and her article can be found here: https://www.airforcetimes.com/opinion/2024/05/20/mental-health-professionals-overlooked-in-air-forces-resilience-push/

Want to get connected with our team or guests? Have feedback, suggestions, or recommendations? Send us an email at [email protected]

One of the biggest limitations in Disaster Mental Health (DMH) training has always been the difficulty in replicating high intensity environments within a structured training space. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Jinkerson sits down with Dr. Ryan Landoll, former Chief of the Behavioral Health Optimization Program of the United States Air Force who now serves as Assistant Dean for Preclinical Sciences at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Together they explore the limitations of standard mental health training models for military DMH and the importance of scalable training programs that can offer practical experience without the risks of a war zone. If you're interested in learning more about trauma-based simulation, the role of trauma familiarization, patient flow management, and psychological first aid in Disaster Mental Health, or the role that Generative AI can play in DMH training, this episode is for you!

Dr. Landoll can be reached at [email protected]

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Selecting a career path is a daunting task. Whether we are helping new recruits to choose their first MOS, counseling current subordinates looking to make a switch, or helping our peers who are transitioning back to civilian life, the role of psychology in these decisions is significant. Please join Dr. Jeremy Jinkerson as he sits down with Dr. Brianna Werner to discuss Vocational Psychology and the role it plays in these critical conversations!

Want to get connected with our team or guests? Have feedback, suggestions, or recommendations? Send us an email at [email protected]

In a large system like the United States Air Force, finding suitable candidates for some of the most high speed positions can be an intense balancing act. Join us this month as Dr. Ethan Bannar sits down with Lt Col Emily Grieser, an Air Force Assessment & Selection psychologist, to discuss the ins and outs of her experience providing this critical service, the training experiences that prepared her for success, and potential future directions for this field. If you are interested in the process to become an A&S psychologist or just want to learn more about how these decisions get made, be sure to tune in to this month’s episode!

Lt Col Grieser can be reached at [email protected] 

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In a world where suicide in our Armed Forces continues to persist, how we respond to this ever-evolving crisis is imperative. In this episode, Dr. Jinkerson sits down with Lt Col (Dr.) Chris Button and Dr. Ian Stanley, two of the nation's experts in assessing and preventing suicide. Lt Col Button is currently serving as the Suicide Prevention Program Manager for the Department of the Air Force, while Dr. Stanley currently works as the Psychological Health Lead at the Colorado University Center for Combat Research, both of them focus on preventing suicide in Service Members. From research on factors leading to suicide to lethal means safety, the suicide prevention landscape continues to evolve. Want to learn more about this mission critical topic? This is the episode for you!

Dr. Stanley can be reached by email at [email protected]

Lt Col Button can be reached by email at [email protected]

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Do you have a hard time getting patients to stick with trauma-focused treatments? Do you or your patients ever wish you could escape reality and spend some time as someone new? In this episode, Dr. Jinkerson sits down with the Military Psychology Podcast’s own Dr. Brooke Long to discuss the use of the popular tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons as a treatment modality for PTSD. Outside of her roles in editing and producing for the podcast, Dr. Long is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Clinical Supervisor at the Road Home Program in Chicago, IL, where she developed and runs a novel D&D psychotherapy group dubbed “Roll for Healing” (a punny wordplay on the D&D phrase “roll for initiative”) focused on treating Veterans and Active Duty suffering from PTSD and other invisible wounds of service. From exposure therapy to social skills training, cognitive defusion to emotion regulation, and even empathy building, cultural humility, and therapist improv, D&D has shown tremendous efficacy in symptom improvement and psychosocial functioning. Want to hear more about this unique form of treatment or learn more about how to start a D&D therapy group yourself? This is the episode for you!

Dr. Long can be reached at our podcast email below, or by connecting to her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookelongpsyd/

Want to get connected with our team or guests? Have feedback, suggestions, or recommendations? Send us an email at [email protected]

In the age of social media and technological advancement, we are seeing more and more patients requesting the newest and most “trending” treatment methods for their physical and mental health concerns. Navigating this ever-evolving landscape can be tricky, particularly when these techniques do not align with the published Clinical Practice Guidelines for evidence-based care. In this episode, Dr. Jinkerson sits down with Dr. Emily O’Hara, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, the only integrated Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs treatment site in the nation, where she currently serves as the Psychology Program Manager and Section Chief overseeing outpatient PTSD programming, Primary Care Mental Health Integration, and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics in McHenry, IL, Evanston, IL, and Kenosha, WI. In this episode, we discuss the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines within Active Duty and Veteran populations and Dr. O’Hara shares her experience with research and implementation of these complementary approaches to treatment in this unique integrated setting. Ever wondered about the difference between an FDA-approved vs. FDA-cleared treatment? Have an interest in learning more about acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, mindfulness, and/or the FreeSpira device? This is the episode for you!

For additional questions or to connect with Dr. O’Hara, she can be reached at [email protected]

Want to get connected with our team or guests? Have feedback, suggestions, or recommendations? Send us an email at [email protected]