Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Sarah Walsh

Keywords

Black Women veterans, military trauma, military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health care, qualitative study, lived experiences, trauma recovery

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

The research investigated how Black women veterans managed their traumatic experiences while interacting with mental health services. Black women veterans developed trauma from different origins, which include combat experiences, systemic racism, interpersonal violence, and service reintegration difficulties. Black women veterans faced multiple barriers to healthcare access because they experienced both cultural stigma, limited representation, and healthcare institution inequities, despite their high rates of trauma-related conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder( PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The existing barriers prevented these individuals from using available services, which resulted in incorrect diagnoses and diminished trust in available treatment options. This research employed a qualitative phenomenological method to study Black women veterans' life stories, which revealed their experiences of resilience, challenges, and their processes of meaning creation. The research demonstrated how trauma affected their decisions to seek help in their relationships with healthcare providers and their mental health management approaches in a system that failed to recognize their distinct requirements. The research used Black women veterans' testimonies to develop a better understanding of how race and gender intersect with trauma and veteran identity. The research results helped develop culturally sensitive practices and policy modifications, which promoted fair mental health services for this population.

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