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Barbara Van DahlenAmerican clinical psychologist and founder of Give an Hour
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Barbara Van Dahlen
- Influenced by Her Father
- The Creation of Give an Hour
- Advocacy and Contributions
- Recognition and Continued Work
Biography of Barbara Van Dahlen
Barbara Van Dahlen, 52, is an American clinical psychologist and the founder and president of the organization Give an Hour. She has been practicing as a licensed clinical psychologist in Washington, D.C. for the past 19 years, specializing in diagnosing and treating children with illnesses. Throughout her career, Dr. Van Dahlen has constantly interacted with and coordinated the activities of various large organizational networks, including school districts and psychiatric clinics.
Influenced by Her Father
Dr. Van Dahlen's choice of profession was largely influenced by her father. She says, "I am the child of a veteran myself. My father served in World War II. It had a profound impact on my life. I was very close to my father. He passed away in 1986. He served in the Pacific theater. It was long before I was born, but I grew up hearing his stories about his service. He never talked about the difficulties or the dark side of war. He was wounded. I am sure he saw many horrible things. He didn't talk about that, but he did share with me what he gained from the experience."
The Creation of Give an Hour
Deeply concerned about the mental health of Americans facing the severe consequences of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour in 2005. Her project was created as a national network of mental health professionals who continue to provide free services, including consultations, to U.S. troops, veterans, and their families. Currently, the network collaborates with approximately 5,000 individuals, who have collectively provided services worth $2.4 million.
Advocacy and Contributions
As part of her work with Give an Hour, Dr. Van Dahlen has participated in numerous conferences and hearings on issues concerning veterans. She has been involved in discussions at the Pentagon, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the White House, and Congress. Currently, Barbara works on several state programs designed to address the problems faced by "men and women in uniform and their families" at a local level. She also writes a monthly column for the organization Veterans Advantage, which provides necessary support to American veterans and active-duty service members and contributes to the understanding of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.
Recognition and Continued Work
Dr. Van Dahlen has become a leading source of providing crucial information and expertise in the field of studying the psychological impact of war on service members and their families. She has turned her organization Give an Hour into a powerful tool for mobilizing communities to support active-duty service members. In the summer of 2009, Barbara launched the limited liability company "You Serve LLC" to facilitate cooperation between the government and nonprofit organizations in creating assistance programs for the military community. In February 2010, Woman's Day magazine included Dr. Van Dahlen in its honorary list of "50 Women Who Are Changing the World for the Better."
