Alumni Webinar Series | Supporting the Transition from Soldier to Civilian: The Landscape of Military Social Work

Friday, November 14, 2025, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM ET

Online via Zoom

Note: This course is available for free to U-M SSW alumni as part of our Alumni Webinar Series, which features invited alumni speakers. Please know that non-alumni participants are welcome to register as well!

Continuing Education Offered

• 2 hours regular live interactive online

Description

This continuing education course is designed for social workers and mental health professionals seeking to enhance their competence in working with Veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. Participants will explore the foundational aspects of military culture, common psychosocial challenges faced during reintegration, and the clinical implications of various discharge statuses. The course will examine the impact of trauma, chronic pain, loss of identity, and disrupted family dynamics on former service members.

Participants will also engage in an interactive, case-based activity to identify appropriate interventions and gain practical strategies for building trust and rapport with veterans from diverse backgrounds. Emphasis will be placed on the social worker’s role in supporting veterans across settings, including psychotherapy, housing support, substance use treatment, and social reintegration. The training will prepare professionals to respond with cultural humility and effectiveness when supporting those who have served.

Objectives

1. Describe core aspects of military culture and how they influence service member identify and reintegration.
2. Apply culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies for building rapport and supporting veterans. Describe the diverse roles of social workers in veteran care, including case management, therapy, housing, and support for social and family functioning.

Agenda

Friday, November 14, 2025

• 12:00pm–12:15pm Welcome & Course Overview
• 12:15pm–12:45pm Understanding Military Culture & Challenges of Service
• 12:45pm–1:15pm Discharge Types & Implications + Interactive Activity
• 1:15pm–1:45pm Reconnection, Identity, and Rapport-Building
• 1:45pm–2:00pm Facilitated Discussion & Q&A

Instructor

Zahara Williams, LCSW-S is a licensed therapist, author, consultant and corporate trainer. Zahara obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. As a clinician with 20 years of experience, Zahara has held a myriad of roles which has provided her with the opportunity to fuse clinical expertise with program development. She has served as an Adjunct, Clinical Supervisor, Partnership Coordinator & Consultant. Her clinical expertise is centered around grief, trauma, couples therapy and chronic pain. She is formally trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy, Cognitive Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Gottman Couples Method & Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Chronic Pain. Zahara’s approach involves supporting clients as they go on a thought provoking journey, focused on healing, gaining clarity, releasing unhealthy patterns and developing healthy relationships. Zahara’s methods involve identifying and removing barriers that hinder growth and contribute to unhealthy patterns that serve as the breeding ground for discomfort and emotional dis-ease. 

CE Approval Statement

The University of Michigan School of Social Work, provider #1212, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The University of Michigan School of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 5/15/2023-5/15/2026.

Social workers participating in this course will receive 2 general continuing education contact hours.