February 2021 SOCIALite: Jodie Kay Gaines

I have always had a passion for helping people but did not officially find my way to the field of social work until I met my husband. My husband is a disabled combat veteran who endures many service-connected injuries, including the effects from both PTSD and TBI. In collaborating regularly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for his care, I found a strong passion to join the esteemed social work profession with the vision of assisting and supporting veterans and their families. My intention is to pursue my LCSW credentials following attainment of my MSW and LSW.

Professionally and academically, I am most eager to continue learning more about trauma and addiction treatment, especially as it relates to the military combat veteran population. Whenever I have the opportunity, I am always reading new material that pertains to veterans, PTSD, and TBI. In the recent past, I had launched a support group for spouses, caregivers, family, and friends of veterans that suffer from the effects of PTSD and TBI. I hosted this support group four times a month within the South Bend and Laporte, Indiana communities for an entire year. Despite substantial and persistent advertising, there was no community involvement which facilitated my decision to dissolve the support group. In the future, I have the hopes of resurrecting the support group again.

Throughout the course of my life, the most important lesson I have learned is that change in inevitable. Sometimes that change is anticipated and welcome. Other times it is unforeseen and challenging; the complexities from the COVID-19 pandemic this year is a prime example. No matter the origin, change can be particularly stressful. Incorporating regular self-care practices can help make those alterations slightly less distressing.

Favorite quote –
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”~ Maya Angelou