Head Space and Timing

Duane France, Combat Veteran & Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Veterans' Mental Health from a Combat Veteran's Perspective

I’m a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer and clinical mental health counselor practicing in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Now that I’m retired from the military, I’ve come to realize that my mission is now the welfare of the veterans I’m honored to support in their journey to mental health and wellness. Learn more about Duane >

The Latest from Duane

Inside the Military Mind: Equine Therapy and Military Family Identities

Photo of two people brushing and petting a brown horse who is facing the camera wearing a bridle

On today's episode, Duane France talks with Suzy MacKenzie Founder and Executive Director of Eagle's Nest Ranch on Equine Therapy.

Inside the Military Mind: How We Feel About Afghanistan

Veteran PTSD - Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Clifton Flint, formerly 48th Security Forces Squadron base defense operations center controller, poses for a photo to represent posttraumatic stress disorder (USAF photo by SSgt Micaiah Anthony)

The Insight segment focuses on the current events in Afghanistan, how they're impacting those who have served, and some potential ways to address how we feel about it.

Inside the Military Mind: Service Members and Mental Health - Who Might Be Overlooked?

Duane France has a conversation with Layla Hernandez, Behavioral Health Manager for Silver Key Senior Services. In the Insight Segment, Duane looks at former service members who might be overlooked when it comes to mental health.

Inside the Military Mind: Paradoxes Service Members Face and Onward to Opportunity

This week Duane France explores the paradoxes service members face, a conversation with Eli Varney, combat veteran and mental health counselor and the resource of the week: Onward to Opportunity.

Inside the Military Mind: The Homefront Military Network and CASA

Duane France talks with Kate Hatten, Executive Director of The Homefront Military Network, highlights the resource of the week, CASA of the Pikes Peak region.

Inside the Military Mind: Why Service Members Avoid Therapy and Project Sanctuary

Duane France talks with Charlton Clarke, a licensed professional therapist and co-clinical director at the Family Care Center. Plus the reasons why service members avoid therapy and the resource segment highlighting Project Sanctuary.

Inside the Military Mind: The Healing Power of Poetry

A photo of an old notebook with a page of handwritten poetry beginning with the lines: "With one hand placed / Lightly on her slender waist-" by Kenyon Cox

This week on Inside the Military Mind, your host Duane France interviews Molly Wingate, founder and executive director of Poetry Heals. Plus, information on Angels of America's fallen and more on Inside the Military Mind, presented by Family Care Center.

If the War Is Done, Is the Work Done?

Painting of a man clearing a large field of wheat with a large wheat scythe (grain cradle), titled, "The Veteran in a New Field," by Winslow Homer | The war is done, is the work finished?

For many men and women, there is an entire other lifetime ahead of them after leaving the military.

Inside the Military Mind

Skip the stigma. Get and stay mentally healthy.

Changing the Way You Think about Veteran Mental Health

You may think you know about Veteran Mental Health: PTSD, TBI, depression, anxiety, all of the bad and broken stuff. That kind of thing happens, but it's not what veteran mental health is all about.

The Worst Case Scenario Paradox

The Worse Case Scenario Paradox: Soldiers view a “sand table” model as 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds”, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division hold a leader’s live fire exercise. Photo by Sgt. Thomas Calvert

...“hope for the best, plan for the worst.” Eventually, the “hope” part fades away, and they get into the habit of planning for the worst. Then they simply expect the worse to happen, especially as it has happened frequently in the past.

The Taking Credit Paradox

It can be awkward or uncomfortable for veterans to accept or acknowledge personal compliments, which can possibly speak to their self-esteem and self-worth. Resolving the Taking Credit paradox can improve self-worth and make post-military life much more pleasant.

The Networking Paradox

Veterans don’t seem to understand that some of the skills that they developed in the military are easily transferrable. Networking seems overwhelming and daunting…

The Mastery Paradox

Many veterans find it difficult to transition from a highly interconnected collectivist culture to a highly dispersed and somewhat individualistic culture.

The Perspective Paradox

They say that hindsight is always 20-20…that we understand the ramifications of our behavior only from the perspective of looking back on that behavior.

The Everyone Served Paradox

A colors team from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard present the colors at the Air Force Memorial July 4, 2017, Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)

I have seen combat veterans sneer at non-combat veterans, thinking that they’re “not worthy.”

The Unrealistic Expectations Paradox

While in the military, service members are held to and expected to maintain high standards; outside of the military context, high standards are not held or maintained.

The Cruel to be Kind Paradox

Cruel to be Kind: A recruit carries another recruit during the Confidence Course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Sept. 17. Marine Corps Pfc. Cristian Torres

Service Members and Veterans can demonstrate their genuine concern for others by being aggressive or mean, either to help improve others or to protect others from the veteran’s own pain.

The Heritage Paradox

The Commanding General of 1st Marine Division and a member of 1st Marine Division Association place a streamer during the battle colors rededication ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, 1.31.2020. (U.S.M.C. photo by SSgt Melissa Marnell)

Veterans are proud of the heritage of military service that they belong to, yet know that they are a very small part of that history

The Small Things Paradox

Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan 05.06.2013 A crew member of Taskforce Iron Warrior observes the land below while transporting Soldiers and equipment to their respective locations. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Charles Morgan)

Veterans have learned to value the important things in life, yet have difficulty letting go of the small things

The Risk Taking Paradox

Aircrew members from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco lower a rescue swimmer towards the cliffs of Mori Point in Pacifica, CA, during vertical surface cliff rescue training, 4.16.2019. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Akiyama.

Service members and veterans are experts at calculating and mitigating risks in the military but engage in high-risk behaviors outside of the military environment

The Safety Paradox

U.S. Airmen discuss a plan of action before participating in a joint hazardous material training at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Jan. 19, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Maldonado)

In the military, risk and danger are part of the obstacles to overcome; many veterans, however, see the world as an unsafe place that they need to protect against once they leave the military.

The Relational Paradox

A US Navy Chief Machinist’s Mate greets his family after returning home. (U.S. Navy photo by John Narewski/Released)

Service members and veterans form intimate bonds with their teammates that will last a lifetime, yet struggle to form or reform intimate relationships with others

The Relaxation Paradox

An Air Force Noncommissioned Officer rests on the ramp of a C-130J Hercules before a mission departing Maputo International Airport, Mozambique, March 30, 2019. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Corban Lundborg

I want to clear my mind and enjoy life, but I cannot relax; everything matters, and people die when mistakes are made

The Courage Paradox

A service member jumps out of an Air Force C-130J Hercules during a military freefall jumpmaster course over Aviano Air Base, Italy, Sept. 11, 2020. DoD Photo By: Air Force Senior Airman Savannah Waters

Courage is not the absence of fear, as some think; instead, it is the act of continuing in the face of adversity in spite of the presence of fear.