About the Blog

In this blog, I try to provide service professionals (e.g., mental health clinicians, physicians, attorneys, educators) in the broader community a deeper understanding of the psychological, social, and spiritual challenges faced by veterans returning to civilian life after serving in combat, so that professionals may more effectively “pave the road back” for these men and women to have meaningful lives relieved of the pains of their past and opened to the possibilities of their future.

To do this, I try to listen as carefully and as openly as I can to combat veterans, to their sufferings, their regrets, their pride, their camaraderie, their challenges and their hopes, both in person and in correspondence.  My goal is to document as faithfully and as deeply as I can what they tell me and what others are trying to do for them.

Given that, I welcome all input, but especially input from the men and women who served.  Please feel free to comment, critique, ask questions, suggest, whatever.  It is a privilege to be a fellow professional with many of you.  It is even more a privilege to work with each of you who served, and if I can be of help in spreading the word for each of you, I am most grateful.

Please note:  if ever I post about an encounter with a veteran, know that I have written a fictional account, but one that does reflect my encounters with the men and women who have bravely shared with me.

3 Responses

  1. To Whom It May Concern,

    My name is Stephanie Pieper and I am a high school student working on a project to aid veterans with PTSD. I began this project while researching how I can aid veterans in any way, as it is something that has always been dear to me. When I came across PTSD, I was frankly surprised that I had never heard of the epidemic that such vast amounts of soldiers and veterans face. The facebook page I have created (http://www.facebook.com/VeteranswithPTSD) is the first step I have made in my efforts in this cause. I am trying to raise awareness among my fellow classmates and community because I have found that many are unaware of the disorder. I am now reaching out to veterans, families, and friends effected by PTSD, like yourself, to deepen my understanding of what I can do to make a difference. If you have any advice for me as for what I can do to help veterans, it would be appreciated. What drove you to start a blog? What motivates you to work with veterans with PTSD on a daily basis? What is one thing you would like my generation to know about PTSD? Thank you for taking the time to read this and I sincerely give you my best. The work you do to help veterans is truly incredible.

    Stephanie Pieper

  2. Pingback: A Tribute: NYT Faces of the Dead – “I See Them Every Day” « Off The Base

  3. thanks to Mr. stephanie pieper….. for sharing this information service professionals and Broader Community….
    ultimate views on this……
    paving is connect , what an real way….

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