Planning for the Tough Stuff

Helping Military and Veteran Spouses Navigate Hard Conversations

Talking to your partner about mental health, stress, or safety can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This interactive session will begin by building a shared understanding of the differences between military and veteran culture and how that can impact spouses and their relationships. From there, we’ll explore practical tools and strategies for navigating difficult conversations, like how to talk about mental health, safety planning, and secure firearm storage, with care and confidence.

Led by Dr. Kristen Vescera, a combat veteran and expert in veteran mental health, this session offers a supportive space to gain insights and prepare for the conversations that matter most to your family’s well-being.

What You’ll Gain

• A clearer understanding of how military/veteran culture may be impacting your relationship
• Practical language and tools to guide difficult conversations with your spouse
• Key considerations for safety planning, including safe storage options and support resources

About the Speaker

Dr. Kristen J. Vescera is a combat Veteran with ten years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve. She holds a PhD in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University, an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and an MA in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado Denver. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Education at the Department of Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention and leads communications for the Worried About a Veteran initiative.

Worried About a Veteran is a public health campaign that empowers family members and friends to take action when they’re concerned about a veteran. The initiative offers clear guidance to help you have a supportive conversation and connect the Veteran to care—before a crisis.

About EmpowerEd

EmpowerEd offers expert-led, topic-driven seminars designed to equip military and veteran families and community members with valuable information, practical tools, and trusted resources. Learn more about EmpowerEd.

Most sessions are followed by an optional peer support event, Let’s Talk About It—a space to reflect, connect, and share takeaways in a supportive community. While attending the seminar is encouraged, it’s not required to join the discussion. Please note that registration for Let’s Talk About It is separate from the EmpowerEd seminar.

This Event is Open To

This event is open to all members of the military and veteran-connected community. Check Eventbrite for details on other offerings.

Take the First Step Toward Improving Your Wellness–Sign up Today!

Looking for one-on-one support? Peer 2 Peer Connect pairs you with a trained VSN Peer Leader for individualized support. For more resources and updates, follow @veteranspousenetwork and subscribe to the VSN Newsletter. Questions or concerns? We’re here to help at vsn@austin.utexas.edu.