Veterans’ Mental Health & Wellness Summit
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Breakfast
📍 Under the Oaks Café
Keynote Address: The Other Sea Story
📍 Auditorium Room 1.110 – Join Virtually
Beyond Burnout: Protecting the Heart of the Helper and the Mission It Serves
📍 Auditorium Room 1.110 – Join Virtually
Burnout rarely travels alone—it arrives alongside secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and moral injury, each with distinct drivers but a shared effect on clinician attrition. This session moves past naming these conditions to distinguishing them, then equips participants with evidence-based protective factors organized through Dr. Brandy Biglow’s H.A.R.M.O.N.Y. framework for clinician wellbeing.
Breakout Session 1
The Invisible Transition: Military Sexual Trauma, Identity, and Healing
Leaving the military is standardly complex, but for survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), it impacts identity, relationships, physical/mental health, and trust. This panel explores survivor-centered, evidence-informed approaches.
Speakers:
- • Shannon Hough (Shield of Sisters)
- • Dr. Jennifer Costello, DBH, LCSW-S (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor)
- • Dr. Tina Atherall, DSW, LMSW (PsychArmor)
- • Jo Harrison, MEd, LPC-S (Shield of Sisters)
Beyond the Uniform: Navigating the Military to Civilian Transition
Focuses on supporting Veterans transitioning out of service, key risk factors encountered during reintegration, and strategic actions organizations can implement statewide and nationally to reduce suicide rates.
Speakers:
- • Sean M. Hanna, LAc, MAOM (Meadows Mental Health Policy Inst.)
- • Jaclyn Conroy Wild (Endeavors)
- • Brooke Fina, LCSW, BCD (UT Health San Antonio)
- • Karah Smith, MA, LPC‑S – Moderator (Endeavors)
Beyond the Veteran’s Care: Translating the Caregiver Journey
Traces Caregiver Integrated Care from discovery to implementation. Demonstrates how caregiver wellbeing directly influences the surrounding care environment for Veterans.
Speakers:
- • Dr. Roxana E. Delgado, PhD, MS (UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing and the Military Health Institute)
- • Dr. Micah Wright, PhD (UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing)
Lunch
📍 Under the Oaks Café
Breakout Session 2
From Understanding to Action: Advancing Moral Injury Research
Explores moral injury, how it differs from related mental health concerns, and introduces the BRAVE (Building Resilience and Advancing Veteran Engagement) initiative.
Speakers:
- • Dr. Kelly Lynn Clary (Texas State University, School of Social Work)
- • Dr. Katherine Selber (Texas State University, School of Social Work)
Not your Grandma’s Opioid Use Disorder… or is it?
Examines evidence-based approaches to OUD treatment, debunks common misconceptions about maintenance therapy, and explores protective factors in addiction treatment.
Speaker:
• Dr. Daniel (Dan) Lavin, DO, ABPN (Bird Creek Behavioral Health)
Attachment, Regulation, and Repair: The Family’s Role in Healing
Using a trauma-informed family systems framework, this workshop explores how attachment, caregiver functioning, and family dynamics drive recovery and resilience.
Speaker:
- • Ashley Jensen, LMFT, MBA (Cohen Veterans Network)
Breakout Session 3
Building Collaborative Partnerships Across Veteran-Serving Organizations
Leaders from government, non-profits, and national entities discuss intentional collaboration and public-private partnerships to strengthen behavioral health outcomes.
Speakers:
- • César J. Blanco (Texas Senate, District 29)
- • Dan Bean (K9s For Warriors)
- • Megan Bunce (George W. Bush Institute)
- • Terri Tanielian (Elizabeth Dole Foundation)
- • Benjamin Miranda, Jr., M.Ed., PMC, CMSgt (Ret‑USAF), Moderator (Endeavors)
Beyond Resilience: Supporting Military and Veteran Families Today
A panel discussion focused on understanding the core strengths of military/veteran families and actionable ways service organizations can meet their current needs.
Speakers:
- • Dr. Elisa V. Borah, MSW, PhD (UT Austin, School of Social Work)
- • Dr. Gabby L’Esperance, PhD (Military Family Advisory Network)
- • Kimberly Anderson, CWP, Moderator (Endeavors)
The Power of Hope, Rooted in Faith
📍 Auditorium Room 1.110 – Join Virtually
Join two experts in faith-based support for veterans and military families as they explore how hope serves as a powerful foundation for healing, resilience, and post-traumatic growth, and the challenges of life after military service.
Speakers:
- • Dr. Mark Mayfield, PhD, LPC (CO), LPC-S (TX) (American Association of Christian Counselors)
- • Kevin Weaver (The Warrior’s Journey)