Dr. Bridget Cantrell was appointed the 2008 and 2004 Outstanding Female Non-Veteran for her service to veterans by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2008, she received the Didi Hirsch Foundation Leadership Award for Erasing the Stigma of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
She has her Doctorate of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology and is a private practitioner. Dr. Cantrell is one of a small number of specially selected and trained mental health providers for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD Program. She is also a provider under the Mental Health Fee Service Program, Puget Sound Veterans Health Care System (Seattle VA Medical Center).
Specializing in trauma for several years her primary work now encompasses treating war veterans from all eras and their family members. She also works with those veterans who have been sexually abused while serving in the military. In 2003, she received the Highest Productivity award for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) PTSD program.
Her dissertation research entitled “Social Support as a Function of PTSD within Washington State Vietnam Veteran Populations” was presented to the Washington State Senate Select Committee for Veterans as part of the Governor's Master Plan for the needs of veterans. Her research included a five-site sample of Vietnam veterans’ bio-psychosocial needs that was used for planning future programs for the King County Veterans Program.
Dr. Cantrell's research findings were formally presented at the European Traumatic Stress Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland. She was also invited to present in Brisbane, Australia at the Brisbane International Traumatic Stress Conference, as well as the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.
In the Spring of 2004, she formally invited by the U.S. Army to provide mental health services to the paratroopers of the 173d Airborne Brigade stationed in Vicenza, Italy. While there, she focused upon helping these troops reintegrate with their loved ones and readjust to peacetime conditions after their prolonged combat exposure in Northern Iraq. Information and observations from this time of working with the Iraqi Freedom veterans gave birth to a new workbook course entitled “Turning Your Heart Toward Home”. This course was followed by the co-authored book “Down Range: To Iraq and Back” … which now has more than 500,000 in print. In her latest co-authored work, “Once a Warrior: Wired for Life” Dr. Bridget Cantrell takes readers on to the next step in the process of coming home and re-integrating when a tour of duty is finished. This book focuses on how to once again become a civilian after being trained in for military duty.
Dr. Cantrell’s newest books: “Souls under Siege: The Affects of Multiple Troop Deployments—and How to Weather the Storm”, will help us all find ways to support and tend to those living under the pressures of multiple deployments. Its thrust is to not only expand awareness of the issues involved, but to also outline sensible tools for finding relief in these trying times. “Souls under Siege” is not a book to sit idle on your shelf. It will become a useful guide to be used over and over again.
Once a Warrior: Wired for Life” her new interactive workbook comes alive and takes participants on the next step from theory to practical application. Following closely the concepts of her book "Once a Warrior: Wired for Life" Dr. Cantrell has formulated this interactive guide in fifteen practical steps. It is an easy-to-follow workbook course geared to assist military personnel in utilizing their tremendous potential in achieving success and happiness after military service. It highlights a successful path on the journey from warrior to civilian.
Dr. Cantrell is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) and The International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). Currently she is the President/CEO of Hearts Toward Home International, a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery and reintegration of trauma survivors. Hearts Toward Home International has been recognized as the 2008 Best of Bellingham Award in the Non-profit Charitable Organization category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington, a Nationally Board Certified Mental Health Counselor. Presently, she provides mental health services to active duty from all branches of the military, reservists, and Washington State National Guard troops and their families. This work focuses on treating military personnel who have experienced combat exposure or trauma, family deployment stress and readjustment issues after coming home. She assists family members in supporting themselves and their deployed loved ones. Dr. Cantrell is also involved with veteran advocacy at the Federal and State level to uphold the rights and ensure proper treatment of veterans.
Dr. Bridget Cantrell travels extensively around the globe teaching and lecturing military personnel and their families regarding the different aspects of re-integration after experiencing war. Her workshops have been given in both the European and Pacific duty assignments. Please contact her directly to schedule a time when she can work with your unit or organization (360) 714-1525 or email at bc@bridgetcantrell.com
She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where her office is located.
