Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs Executive Officer Ruth Coleman, in an interview yesterday, said 15 people, six of whom are spouses of military personnel or veterans, underwent stress management counseling with Cathy Illarmo, a team leader from the Guam Veterans Center’s readjustment counseling services.
The veterans and stress management briefing was held on Feb. 26-27 at the Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs Office on Capital Hill and the Army Reserve Center in Puerto Rico.
Although there were few participants, the event was still a success for the six spouses of servicemembers currently deployed, Coleman said.
These dependents, she added, learned how to go on with their daily activities while coping with mental stress caused by anxiety.
For the active duty servicemen, the briefing served as refresher on managing their emotions, Coleman said.
Illarmo, she added, conducted one-on-one counseling with each participant.
The post-traumatic stress disorder among combat veterans and active duty personnel is the main issue that counselors address during these sessions.
To some individuals, such disorders happen overnight while for others, it take years to develop.
Coleman said the counselor will be on island each month.
