Long misunderstood, too often ignored, and repeatedly misdiagnosed, it has gone by a multitude of names. World War II veterans struggled with the symptoms of “battle fatigue,” while their fathers and uncles spoke in whispers of “shell shock,” the mysterious malady that for many defined the months—even years—following the First World War. And five decades before, men in Confederate grey and Union blue returned from the bloodiest war in American history, forever burdened with memories of death and devastation, an enigmatic syndrome that became known as “soldier’s heart.” It was not until the Vietnam War that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) began gaining recognition as the real and debilitating affliction it is.
Read the full story »
Nine-year-old Micah wasn’t ready to talk about what he was feeling. But the cardboard tank he fashioned out of paper towel tubes, broken boxes, and egg cartons spoke volumes about what was on his mind. Micah is a participant in the Home Again program, which helps children cope after a parent returns from war.
For those who get the news, it’s a moment of profound tragedy, one that will change their lives forever. And for those charged with delivering the message, it is usually “the worst duty they have ever been assigned.”
Notifying the next of kin of a military death.
In a land where trauma has often defined everyday existence, a new project is taking shape and bringing hope and healing to survivors. The Global HOPE Training Initiative—HOPE stands for Healing Opportunities through Purposeful Engagement—calls upon the expertise of Chicago School faculty to train teachers strategies and skills that can be used in the assessment, prevention, and treatment of trauma.
I arrived at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology 10 years ago with a charge from the Board of Trustees to take our mission and approach to psychology education to new frontiers and to connect to more students and communities. Every day since then I’ve joined you and others in advancing this vision. Along the way we never stopped in our cause to make The Chicago School of Professional Psychology a preeminent and nationally recognized graduate school.
Since 1993 when the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy became law, it has dictated the way in which gay and lesbian military personnel have been identified and treated. Although U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently announced the easing of DADT restrictions, the psychological impact that has been experienced by servicemen and women—gay, straight, and transgendered—remains. To discuss this issue and its effect on the military and those serving, we gathered four Chicago School faculty.
The topic of veterans is an acutely personal one for me. My brother and I followed each other in our tours of duty in Vietnam. Though we both were disabled during our service, Tom, now deceased, suffered far greater harm. My disability was mostly physical, while Tom’s cut to the heart of how he perceived himself as a person, and cast an ever-present shadow over his remaining years.
John Fowler (M.A. ’09) needed to find a job. With graduation looming, he turned to social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter in search of a career consulting position that would put his master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology to good use.
Paul A. Dillon was 25, a young husband and new father, armed with two college degrees and a promising future, when he was forced to come face to face with his own mortality. He was not alone, but that didn’t make it easier. The year was 1970. The place was South Vietnam. Four decades later, Mr. Dillon sits on The Chicago School Board of Trustees, one of the institution’s strongest proponents of using the power and the potential of psychology to support the millions of troops and veterans who came before and after him.
Dr. Michael Barr, assistant professor of business psychology, was quoted in a Desert News website story titled, “Layoffs Can Take Their Toll on Workplace Survivors, Too” (2/1). He was also quoted in a College Recruiter website story titled, “Being Positive Doesn’t Mean Being Panglossian,” about positive thinking in the workplace (2/18).
1842-2009A Short History of Professional Psychology
Download the front | Download the back
In honor of The Chicago School's birthday, Psychology Professor Paul Larson and Communications Director Matt Nehmer have spent more than a year compiling a history of our first three decades. A summary of that history—in milestones and photos—occupies one side of the commemorative poster. On the flip side you will find a graphic representation of the history of psychology itself. To learn how to order a flat copy—framed or unframed—contact us.
Chicago School News Chicago School Events
