Kaela Vance, LPCC-S Completes Star Behavioral Health Tier 3 Training in Military Mental Health Care

At Teal Saguaro Wellness, providing effective mental health care means understanding the full context of a client’s lived experience. For military-connected individuals, that context often includes unique stressors related to service, deployment, reintegration, loss, and trauma exposure.

To better serve this population, Kaela Vance, LPCC-S, owner of Teal Saguaro Wellness and a grief and trauma therapist, has completed Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) Tier 3 training, the highest level of certification available through the nationally recognized program.

This advanced training strengthens Teal Saguaro Wellness’s ability to provide evidence-based, military-informed mental health treatment for service members, veterans, and their families.

What Is Star Behavioral Health Providers?

Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) is a nationwide initiative designed to improve access to high-quality military mental health services by training civilian therapists in military culture and best clinical practices. The program equips licensed mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively treat military-connected clients.

SBHP is a collaborative effort supported by the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University and the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Providers who complete SBHP training are listed in a public directory, allowing military-connected individuals to locate clinicians with specialized training in veteran and military family mental health.

Training is completed in three progressive tiers, with Tier 3 representing the most advanced level of clinical specialization.

What Does Tier 3 Training Include?

Tier 3 training focuses on advanced clinical application and treatment planning for complex presentations commonly seen in military-connected populations. This level emphasizes mastery of the Unified Protocol (UP), a highly researched, transdiagnostic treatment model developed by Dr. David Barlow and colleagues.

The Unified Protocol is an evidence-based approach that targets emotional regulation difficulties across multiple diagnoses, making it especially effective for individuals experiencing overlapping concerns such as:

• Trauma and PTSD symptoms

• Grief and loss

• Anxiety and depression

• Chronic stress and emotional avoidance

Rather than treating diagnoses in isolation, the Unified Protocol addresses shared emotional processes that contribute to distress.

Tier 3 training includes:

• Comprehensive instruction in all eight Unified Protocol modules

• Demonstrations of core intervention techniques

• Comparison of UP with traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Clinical application for military-connected clients

• Experiential learning and case-based discussion

Completion of Tier 3 indicates that a provider is trained to deliver evidence-based trauma treatment with flexibility and clinical depth.

Why Military-Specific Mental Health Training Matters

Military service can shape emotional functioning in ways that are often misunderstood in civilian settings. Service members and veterans may experience cumulative trauma, moral injury, identity disruption, prolonged hypervigilance, or grief related to loss of role, community, or comrades.

Without military-specific training, these experiences may be misinterpreted or treated narrowly. Military-informed therapy requires an understanding of:

• Military culture and values

• Deployment-related stress and reintegration challenges

• Family system impacts of service

• Emotional expression shaped by training and survival contexts

Tier 3 training equips clinicians to respond with precision, safety, and respect—supporting both symptom reduction and long-term emotional resilience.

How This Training Benefits Clients at Teal Saguaro Wellness

As a grief and trauma therapist, Kaela Vance integrates somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care into her work. Completing SBHP Tier 3 training enhances this approach by providing a structured, research-supported framework for treating complex emotional patterns.

Clients seeking military-connected mental health therapy may benefit from:

• A therapist who understands military culture without requiring explanation

• Evidence-based treatment for trauma, grief, anxiety, and mood concerns

• Care that addresses emotional regulation rather than emotional suppression

• Thoughtful pacing that respects nervous system readiness

• Therapy aligned with personal values and long-term goals

This level of training supports ethical, effective treatment for individuals whose experiences do not fit neatly into single diagnostic categories.

Supporting Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families

Military mental health care extends beyond the individual. Partners, children, and families often experience secondary trauma, grief, relocation stress, and role changes related to service.

SBHP training emphasizes family-aware and systems-informed care, aligning closely with trauma-informed best practices. This perspective allows therapy to support not only recovery from distress, but also healthier relationships and long-term stability.

A Commitment to Evidence-Based Military Mental Health Care

Completing Tier 3 training reflects a commitment to ongoing education and clinical excellence. Mental health providers who pursue advanced military-specific training demonstrate accountability, humility, and respect for the complexity of service-related experiences.

For clients, this means working with a therapist who:

• Prioritizes evidence-based trauma treatment

• Engages in continued professional development

• Understands military culture and its psychological impact

• Approaches healing with nuance and clinical integrity

At Teal Saguaro Wellness, this commitment is central to the care provided.

Moving Forward

Access to effective military mental health services begins with informed, specialized care. Kaela Vance, LPCC-S’ completion of Star Behavioral Health Providers Tier 3 training ensures that military-connected clients receive therapy grounded in research, cultural understanding, and trauma-informed practice.

If you are a service member, veteran, or family member seeking grief or trauma therapy, Teal Saguaro Wellness is committed to providing care that is both compassionate and clinically sound, call 614-647-4357.