Psychologist shares tips for resiliency

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Colby L. Hardin
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Team McConnell personnel had the opportunity to attend resiliency training at the base theater July 23, here.

Dr. Craig Bryan, a clinical psychologist in cognitive behavioral psychology, held three presentations to discuss the topic of career satisfaction and resiliency.

Bryan, a former Air Force captain, serves as a consultant for the Department of Defense on suicide prevention and mental health promotion. In 2009, he deployed to Iraq where he served as the director of the traumatic brain injury clinic.

"One of the things that I despised most when I was active duty was computer based training" said Bryan. "I'm hoping that this will be more practical than the 'check the box' training that we have to accomplish so regularly."

Approximately 700 individuals attended one of three briefings.

Two briefing were targeted for Airmen, ranks E-1 through E-5, and O-1 to O-3, and covered topics to include fatigue countermeasures, and "living a life worth living."

The third briefing was directed toward supervisors and focused on "things suicidal people say."

"He is definitely in the thick of things and he knows the latest and greatest research methods and trends" said Jennifer Johnson, 22nd Air Refueling Wing community support coordinator. "He's able to take things and put it into a perspective that I think really help our Airmen as a whole."

A recent push by Air Mobility Command has mandated a one-day resiliency course for all Airmen and civilians. Briefings such as Bryan's aim to supplement that training.

For more information on resiliency training, contact the Airmen and Family Readiness Center at (316) 759-6020 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.