Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D.
Founder and President, Give an Hour™
Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., named to TIME’s 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, is the president and founder of Give an Hour™. A licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in the Washington, D.C., area for over 20 years, she served as an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University, where she participated in the training and supervision of developing clinicians. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1991, her M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1987, and her B.A., summa cum laude, in psychology from California State College in 1982. Concerned about the mental health implications of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in 2005 Dr. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour, a national nonprofit providing free mental health services to the military and veteran community. Its nearly 7,000 mental health professionals have given more than 175,000 hours of care and support to those in need, and the organization now also leads the Campaign to Change Direction, a collective impact effort to change the culture of mental health in America. Dr. Van Dahlen has received numerous awards, including the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation and the 2013 Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship of the Manhattan Institute. In 2014 she was named a Woman of Distinction by the Coastal Bend
For More Information:
Give an Hour: http://www.giveanhour.org/
The Campaign to Change Direction: http://www.changedirection.org/
SUMMARY:
Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., named to TIME’s 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, is the president and founder of Give an Hour™. A licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in the Washington, D.C., area for over 20 years, she served as an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University, where she participated in the training and supervision of developing clinicians. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1991, her M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1987, and her B.A., summa cum laude, in psychology from California State College in 1982.
Dr. Van Dahlen has received numerous awards, including the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation and the 2013 Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship of the Manhattan Institute. In 2014 she was named a Woman of Distinction by the Coastal Bend.
Concerned about the mental health implications of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in 2005 Dr. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour, a national nonprofit providing free mental health services to the military and veteran community. Its nearly 7,000 mental health professionals have given more than 175,000 hours of care and support to those in need, and the organization now also leads the Campaign to Change Direction, a collective impact effort to change the culture of mental health in America.
Give an Hour’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society, beginning with the mental health needs of those who serve and their families. The organization is currently focusing on the psychological needs of military personnel and their families because of the significant human cost of the current conflicts.
A major barrier preventing military personnel from seeking appropriate treatment is the stigma associated with treatment. Many fear that seeking mental health services will jeopardize their career or standing. Others are reluctant to expose their vulnerabilities to providers who are often military personnel themselves, given the military culture’s emphasis on strength, confidence, and bravery. Countless servicemen and servicewomen have experienced psychological symptoms directly related to their deployment. A good experience in counseling or therapy should be about helping the individual figure out what is it that’s causing the pain or suffering.
Give an Hour is also partnering with other veteran organizations to educate all Americans about five signs of emotional suffering: change of personality, agitation, withdrawal, lack of personal care, and hopelessness. These signs should not be ignored. Reach out and connect to those veterans manifesting these signs.