The purpose of this study is to provide an inclusive portrait of the experience of female spouses living with traumatized male Canadian soldiers healing from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By facilitating the articulation of the spouses' stories this research gives a voice to and fosters appreciation for this neglected population. As well, this study helps clarify the needs and possible therapeutic interventions for spouses of soldiers in psychotherapy for PTSD. Although recently there has been an increased focus on addressing PTSD in soldiers, there has been comparatively little research and clinical attention given to the soldiers' families. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with six spouses of former peacekeeping Canadian soldiers who received group therapy for PTSD. Using the Life Story interview method, a spontaneous picture of the spouses' experiences was elicited as part of a comprehensive relationship narrative. This provided the opportunity for understanding the experience of living with a soldier in treatment for PTSD within a couple relationship and larger social context. Narrative summaries were created from the interviews and follow-up was conducted with each participant to gain feedback on these narratives. Participants were also given the opportunity to read each other's narratives and discuss their impressions. The narrative summaries are presented along with thematic results. The participants' stories revealed instances of aggression, primary trauma and problems related to their husbands' periods of alcohol abuse, so Figley's model of Secondary Traumatic Stress was not the best conceptual fit to explain the experiences of these women. Limited support was found, however, for Hobfoll's (1998)model of a loss spiral to help describe the descent into chronic disability associated with combat-related PTSD as well as the difficulties soldiers experience in their transition from military service. This study's implications for practice include recommendations for groups for military spouses; the need to address the iatrogenic suffering of soldiers and their spouses; treatment recommendations for soldiers with PTSD. Future research also needs to include delivery and evaluation of a group-based counselling intervention for the spouses of traumatized soldiers.

The purpose of this study is to provide an inclusive portrait of the experience of female spouses living with traumatized male Canadian soldiers healing from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By facilitating the articulation of the spouses' stories this research gives a voice to and fosters appreciation for this neglected population. As well, this study helps clarify the needs and possible therapeutic interventions for spouses of soldiers in psychotherapy for PTSD. Although recently there has been an increased focus on addressing PTSD in soldiers, there has been comparatively little research and clinical attention given to the soldiers' families. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with six spouses of former peacekeeping Canadian soldiers who received group therapy for PTSD. Using the Life Story interview method, a spontaneous picture of the spouses' experiences was elicited as part of a comprehensive relationship narrative. This provided the opportunity for understanding the experience of living with a soldier in treatment for PTSD within a couple relationship and larger social context. Narrative summaries were created from the interviews and follow-up was conducted with each participant to gain feedback on these narratives. Participants were also given the opportunity to read each other's narratives and discuss their impressions. The narrative summaries are presented along with thematic results. The participants' stories revealed instances of aggression, primary trauma and problems related to their husbands' periods of alcohol abuse, so Figley's model of Secondary Traumatic Stress was not the best conceptual fit to explain the experiences of these women. Limited support was found, however, for Hobfoll's (1998)model of a loss spiral to help describe the descent into chronic disability associated with combat-related PTSD as well as the difficulties soldiers experience in their transition from military service. This study's implications for practice include recommendations for groups for military spouses; the need to address the iatrogenic suffering of soldiers and their spouses; treatment recommendations for soldiers with PTSD. Future research also needs to include delivery and evaluation of a group-based counselling intervention for the spouses of traumatized soldiers.

The purpose of this study is to provide an inclusive portrait of the experience of female spouses living with traumatized male Canadian soldiers healing from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By facilitating the articulation of the spouses' stories this research gives a voice to and fosters appreciation for this neglected population. As well, this study helps clarify the needs and possible therapeutic interventions for spouses of soldiers in psychotherapy for PTSD. Although recently there has been an increased focus on addressing PTSD in soldiers, there has been comparatively little research and clinical attention given to the soldiers' families. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with six spouses of former peacekeeping Canadian soldiers who received group therapy for PTSD. Using the Life Story interview method, a spontaneous picture of the spouses' experiences was elicited as part of a comprehensive relationship narrative. This provided the opportunity for understanding the experience of living with a soldier in treatment for PTSD within a couple relationship and larger social context. Narrative summaries were created from the interviews and follow-up was conducted with each participant to gain feedback on these narratives. Participants were also given the opportunity to read each other's narratives and discuss their impressions. The narrative summaries are presented along with thematic results. The participants' stories revealed instances of aggression, primary trauma and problems related to their husbands' periods of alcohol abuse, so Figley's model of Secondary Traumatic Stress was not the best conceptual fit to explain the experiences of these women. Limited support was found, however, for Hobfoll's (1998)model of a loss spiral to help describe the descent into chronic disability associated with combat-related PTSD as well as the difficulties soldiers experience in their transition from military service. This study's implications for practice include recommendations for groups for military spouses; the need to address the iatrogenic suffering of soldiers and their spouses; treatment recommendations for soldiers with PTSD. Future research also needs to include delivery and evaluation of a group-based counselling intervention for the spouses of traumatized soldiers. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The conflict in Afghanistan which has predominated much of the first decade of the new millennium has resulted in the creation of a new generation of Canadian war veterans. This veteran culture will include Canadian military personnel who were either directly or indirectly involved in active peacekeeping duty during their careers. Some of these men and women choose retirement to pursue other interests or second careers in the civilian world. Others are facing involuntary early retirement due to permanent medical or combat-related stress factors, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Medical release, in combination with age and socioeconomic circumstances can result in adjustment difficulties (Sweet, Stoler, Kelter, & Thurrell, 1989; Westwood, Black & McLean, 2002). A qualitative study of the experiences of ten Canadian soldiers in transition from military life to civilian education environments over a three-month period from November, 2011 to February, 2012 was carried out. The following themes emerged as major areas of discussion: transition issues, unanticipated transitions and non-events, camaraderie and the veteran identity, transferable skills, and support and resources. The transition model developed by Schlossberg and presented by Goodman, Schlossberg, and Anderson (2006) was used as a guiding theory to develop an understanding of the transition experience in reference to this new population of Canadian military veterans. Theories of cross-cultural transition were used as a framework for discussion. Recommendations for facilitating transition through education for Canadian soldiers are included. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-04-23 17:09:52.269

The Great War was in many ways a conflict defined by technology. The rapid advancements in technology over the decades leading up to 1914 coupled with the outdated tactics employed by all sides created the stalemate of Trench Warfare. Improvements to the existing technology, the addition of new technology, as well as an evolution in tactics led to the breakout, and eventual Allied victory, of 1918. These changes in tactics and technology significantly affected the lives of frontline soldiers. This thesis asks if the tactical and technological changes, in the final two years of the war, were reflected in diaries and memoirs of Canadian soldiers serving at the front. The diaries and memoirs of the soldiers do reflect many of the changes found in the secondary sources. Surprisingly, however, the primary sources often provide more detail about how these weapons were employed by the Germans. Unless the soldier in question was directly involved in their use, or was witnessing a spectacular event, accounts of Canadian artillery, machine gun and poison gas use are often short and lacking in detail.