Cape Cod Grandmothers Against Gun Violence
P.O. Box 877, Barnstable, MA 02630

Grandmothers Zoom Meeting – May 5, 2021 – 10:30 am
Dr. Jocelyn Howard - Director of Cape Cod Vet Center

Jocelyn Howard
Dr. Jocelyn Howard, Psy.D. 		Dr. Jocelyn Howard is the Director of the Cape Cod Vet Center, a Providence VA Medical Center facility located in Hyannis, MA. Dr. Howard earned her Doctorate degree in clinical psychology at the University of Denver. Her specialty areas are treating trauma survivors, particularly veterans with combat PTSD, and families and children of veterans. She has extensive experience conducting therapy and supervising other providers through her 20 years of experience as a VA Psychologist with the Denver, Salt Lake City, and Providence VA Medical Centers. She has worked as a Research Clinical Psychologist on both local and national grants focused on developing cutting-edge PTSD treatments for veterans. Additionally, she has supervised numerous doctoral level clinicians around the country in their provision of PTSD treatment to Veterans diagnosed with PTSD. She takes an active role in suicide prevention among Veterans.

An Introduction to VA Vet Centers

Vet Centers are community-based outpatient counseling facilities that are separate from VA medical clinics and hospitals. Vet Center employees welcome home war Veterans with honor by providing quality readjustment counseling in a caring manner. Vet Centers understand and appreciate Veterans’ war experiences while assisting them and their family members as they work toward a successful post-war adjustment in or near their community. Vet Centers also provide resource and referral information about Veteran benefits.

Lethal Means Safety

Dr. Howard is excited to discuss Vet Center services, common reactions and concerns among returning combat Veterans, and Lethal Means Safety.

Lethal means are objects (e.g., medications, firearms, sharp instruments) that can be used to inflict self-directed violence. Lethal Means Safety (LMS) is an intentional, voluntary practice to reduce one’s suicide risk by limiting access to those lethal means. Individuals who reduce their access to lethal means during times of heightened risk are reducing their risk of dying by suicide.