- This event has passed.
A Closer Look at Moral Injury: Existential Challenges Faced by Returning Veterans – Along with “Almost Sunrise” Film Screening
September 20, 2017 @ 12:00 PM - 4:30 PM
and the NASW-NYS Mohawk Valley Division Presents:
A Closer Look at Moral Injury: Existential Challenges Faced by Returning Veterans – Along with “Almost Sunrise” Film Screening
Wednesday, September 20, 2017 | 12:00PM – 4:30PM
NYSED Approved for 5.0 CE Credit Hours*
Location: Rome Capitol Cinemas
220 W. Dominick Street, Rome, NY 13440
FREE FOR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS
NASW Member Fee: $20 | Non-Member Fee: $35
*This workshop is approved for Continuing Education Credits for NYS licensed social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
WORKSHOP PRESENTER
Aynisa Leonardo, LCAT, ATR-BC
Co-Founder
MILITARY RESILIENCE PROJECT, INC
Director of Military Services
LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR RECOVERY
Aynisa Leonardo is a Licensed Clinical Art Therapist (LCAT, ATR-BC), who has been in the field of veteran mental health services for 11 years now. She is the Director of Military Services at Long Island Center for Recovery. Her prior experience includes working in inpatient, outpatient, and non-profit settings with Veterans and Active Duty service members, experiencing PTS, addiction, family conflict, and other transitional challenges. She has concentrated on advanced program development and clinical education, locally and nationally, to best treat and support our nations’ military members, families, and uniformed service personnel. She founded the Military Resilience Project in 2013, which offers community based wellness events for veterans and their families.
Coordinator: Susan Koniewicz-Everett, LCSW-R, Mohawk Valley Division Chair
Panelists: Anthony Rabasca, Chaplain Scott Ehler, Eric Noble
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
| 12:00 PM | Introduction |
| 1:00 PM | Almost Sunrise Film Screening (90 min) |
| 2:30 PM | Break (15 min) |
| 2:45 PM | Panel (60 min) with Anthony Rabasca, Chaplain Scott Ehler, and Eric Noble |
| 3:45 PM | Spirituality Debrief, Chaplain Ehler (30 min) |
| 4:15 PM | Mindfulness Exercise (10 min) |
| 4:30 PM | End |
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Service Members and Veterans are faced with biological, social, familial, psychological, and existential challenges when coping with the tension that exists between military and civilian cultures. This workshop will provide an overview of military culture and transitional challenges, as they relate to values and morality. Trends of Moral Injury will be clearly outlined and discussed. Moral Injury touches on one’s spirituality, identity, and ethics, in a way that has large potential to be misunderstood. This workshop will depict the factors that can lead up to a Moral Wound, as well as it’s lasting implications. Presenter will also discuss ways to build meaningful narratives around this societal trend, in order to learn how we can better bridge gaps and create avenues for collective support within our communities.
Learning Objectives:
Participants Will:
• Learn 3 trends that lead to Moral Injury in military survivor populations
• Learn 3 psychosocial theories related to the concept of Moral Injury.
• Learn 3 long-term clinical implications caused by Moral Wounds from war.
• Learn 3 techniques for healing that touch on existential/spiritual themes.
WATCH THE TRAILER: ALMOST SUNRISE
Almost Sunrise follows two Iraq veterans, Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, both tormented by depression for years after they returned home and pushed to the edge of suicide. The two embark on an extraordinary journey – a 2,700 mile walk across the country from Wisconsin to California, in order to reflect on their haunting experiences of war and to ultimately, save themselves. Learn more at sunrisedocumentary.com
TRIGGER WARNING: During the film, there is occasional graphic content, with themes of war and death. There will be clinicians and trained staff available throughout the day, should anyone need support. We do like to issue a mild trigger warning so everyone registering for this event is prepared.
The Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative is a collaborative endeavor of the Medical Society of the State of New York, New York State Psychiatric Association, and New York Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers to educate and train community mental health and primary care providers on veterans-specific mental health issues, including among others post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, suicide, suicide prevention and substance use disorders. The initiative is made possible by a grant from the New York Legislature and is administered by the NYS Office of Mental Health.
