Psychosocial Approaches to Improving the Military-to-Civilian Transition Process

Abstract: This special issue of Psychological Servicesprovides a glimpse of some of the most recent work in thearena of psychosocial interventions for military service members who are reintegrating into civiliansociety and becoming veterans. The psychological effects that can occur as members go through themilitary-to-civilian transition as they leave the military have been extensively recorded and treated. Whilepsychosocial interventions have been utilized throughout history, we are seeing a new interest and recentrenaissance in their use. These psychosocial interventions will help our veterans reintegrate into civiliansociety not just by focusing on reducing the symptoms from their visible and invisible wounds but bytaking a more holistic and integrative perspective that works to improve the veterans’ functioning in theirsurrounding social environments through community reengagement, treatment of the individual and theirsocial environment, and functional improvement. The articles in this special issue illustrate howclinicians and researchers are validating new techniques to improve functioning among those learning tochange careers as warriors in their new civilian occupations.