By: Alyssa Theis, LMFT, PMH-C
Welcoming a new baby into the world is a time of joy, anticipation, and great change. For Active Duty Service Members (ADSM), veterans, and their families, the perinatal journey can also bring unique layers of stress and vulnerability. Military life has certain demands, like frequent moves, deployment-related stress and trauma, and shifting support systems, that can deeply shape how parents experience pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
Why Does Therapy in the Perinatal Period Matter?
According to one report, 49.9 percent of ADSMs are married and 35.1 percent of ADSM have children (U.S. Department of Defense, 2023). One study in 2022 found that 16% of female ADSM reported being pregnant within the prior year (RAND Corporation, 2022). Approximately 4000 female veterans access VA maternity benefits per year, with indications that this number is increasing (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d.). These statistics point to how important it is that folks treating active duty service members be well versed in perinatal mental health.
There are a number of risk factors that exist for both ADSM, family members, and veterans during the perinatal period, including the impact of deployment stress and other stressors, that are unique to military life and can in ways contribute to the development of mental health issues (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d.). Mental health conditions like PTSD among women veterans has been shown to be associated with higher rates of pregnancy complications and other challenges in pregnancy and postpartum (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d.). It’s critical when working with this population that clinicians approach all treatment, regardless of modality or therapeutic approach, from a trauma-informed perspective.
Working through a Trauma Informed Lens
ADSM, their families, and veterans come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring with them a wide range of experiences including, for some, a history of trauma. Here at Freedom Within Therapy and Wellness Center (FWC), we emphasize approaching our work through a trauma-informed lens that honors the resilience, complexity, and lived experiences of military families. By fostering a sense of safety and trust, we can help to create a safe and predictable environment for clients. It’s crucial that we as therapists in the room are able to validate their experiences, specifically related to their military service and life, and recognize systemic barriers to care they may face. It can be valuable to help clients explore their social connections with others familiar with military life, especially if they’ve recently relocated to the area, are expecting to relocate, or have a spouse who is deployed.
Furthermore, we as providers need to be well-informed about the cultural aspects of working with the military population. The therapist’s ability to understand the potential stigma associated with being an ADSM seeking mental health treatment, on top of being pregnant, can make a tremendous impact on the development of the therapeutic alliance and trust in the relationship. There are many trainings available online for clinicians to gain more information about military culture so as to be better informed before stepping into the room with a client in this population.
Supporting our Service Members, Veterans, and their Families
Supporting active duty service members, veterans, and their families during the perinatal period requires more than just clinical skill. It calls for compassion, cultural awareness, and a trauma-informed mindset. When we as providers take the time to understand the unique stressors and strengths of military life, we create space for genuine healing and connection. Every client deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported. By approaching our work with curiosity, empathy, and respect for the experiences that shape our clients, we can help military families in the perinatal period move toward resilience, growth, and wellness, one session at a time.
At Freedom Within Therapy and Wellness Center (FWC), we work with many different clients from diverse backgrounds including ADSM, their family members, and veterans. This experience has given us a deep understanding of both the military community and the complexities of perinatal mental health. It has also encouraged us to seek more thorough training and competency in these areas in order to best serve our clients. We encourage other providers to also expand their breadth of knowledge so that we may all work together to provide the best possible care to our service members, veterans and their families.
References
RAND Corporation. (2022, September 13). Landmark Women’s Reproductive Health Survey Shows Need for Improved Health Care Access. https://www.rand.org/news/press/2022/09/13.html
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. (2023). 2022 demographics profile of the military community.
Military OneSource. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Reports/2022-demographics-report.pdf
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Women veterans and pregnancy complications. https://www.va.gov/HEALTHEQUITY/Women_Veterans_and_Pregnancy_Complications.asp