Dallas-Area Clinic Announces Training Program

In an effort to provide high-quality, culturally-competent care to as many veterans and military families as possible, the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) has created training and clinical practice opportunities throughout the country for early-career clinicians who share the commitment to serving veterans and military families. Locally, Beth Sparks is part of CVN’s Scholars and Fellows Training Program serving the Dallas area as an intern at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare.

“The experience I am able to receive along with the service I have been able to provide to the community through CVN’s Scholars and Fellows Training Program has been two-fold; I can gain expertise in the field while also giving back,” Sparks said. “I am very grateful to have the opportunity to assist in providing therapy to veterans and military families in Dallas.”

Last month, in partnership with the National Council for Behavioral Health, the Cohen Veterans Network released a study revealing the root cause of the country’s mental health crisis: America’s Mental Health 2018. Among the key findings is a lack of access to quality mental health care, fueled in part by a shortage of culturally-competent providers. To help address this issue, CVN launched a Scholars and Fellows training program for its clinics throughout the country, including those in Texas.

Sparks is a social work intern at the Cohen Clinic at Metrocare. A veteran herself, Sparks has a great perspective on transitioning from military to civilian life. Sparks was active duty Marine Corps, deploying to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and an active duty Marine spouse for 12 years. During this period, she volunteered and worked with military families, assisting them through periods of stress and crisis and connecting them to important resources.

She is currently attending Columbia University to obtain her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. After Sparks completes her MSW, she plans to work as a therapist with military families as well as other populations experiencing stressful life events. As a CVN Scholar, Sparks receives a stipend while gaining valuable experience. She and the other scholars who are part of the program are invited to apply to become Cohen Fellows as they go for their licensure or actively seek out professional roles within the network in areas such as Case Management.

Outside of the training program through CVN, the Cohen Clinic at Metrocare also has additional training. Dr. Laura Oei is a psychology postdoctoral fellow at the clinic. She earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Texas Woman’s University and completed her pre-doctoral internship training with the VA North Texas Healthcare System. During her training, she developed a commitment to working with veterans and has specific interest in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using evidence-based interventions.

The Cohen Clinic at Metrocare is also a site for the UT Southwestern Medical Center APA-approved psychology predoctoral internship through the Department of Psychology. Jessica Wiblin is an intern with this program at the clinic. Her primary interests are in providing optimal clinical interventions for veterans and their family members, with a particular interest in suicide prevention and risk assessment. She currently conducts research with veterans at the Dallas VA Medical Center.

“We know there is a shortage of well-trained mental health professionals, specifically clinicians who can best care for those with the stresses and unique challenges that sometimes stem from military service,” said CVN President & CEO Dr. Anthony Hassan. “There is no better place to get practical experience than our Cohen Clinics, which are using the best possible evidence-based treatments with our clients.”

Learn more about the CVN Scholars and Fellows program.

ABOUT THE COHEN VETERANS NETWORK

The Cohen Veterans Network is a 501(c)(3) national not-for-profit philanthropic organization for post-9/11 veterans and their families. With clinics throughout the country, including The Steven A. Cohen Clinic at Metrocare, CVN focuses on improving mental health outcomes, with a goal to build a network of outpatient mental health clinics for veterans and their families in high-need communities, in which trained clinicians deliver holistic evidence-based care to treat mental health conditions. Learn more about the Cohen Veterans Network.