2026-2027 SDCA Professional Webinar Series
Check them out and get signed up

 
November 20th:

 From Service to Soil: Farming as an Intervention for Military Veterans
 presented by B.T. Necole Gonsahn, MA NCC
Friday November 20th, 12pm CT / 11am MT 
(1.0 contact hour)

 

Description:

This lecture examines the psychological and identity challenges veterans often face when transitioning from military to civilian life, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and loss of purpose (Demers, 2011). Grounded in counseling theory and nature-based interventions, the presentation explores farming as a therapeutic approach to support emotional healing and identity reconstruction. Agricultural activities—such as gardening, crop cultivation, and livestock care—are discussed as mechanisms for promoting mindfulness, routine, and renewed meaning (Buzzell & Chalquist, 2009; Soga et al., 2017).

Learning Objectives:

 

1. Attendees will identify common psychological and identity-related challenges experienced by veterans during the transition to civilian life, including PTSD, depression, and loss of purpose.
2. Attendees will describe how agricultural activities (e.g. gardening, crop cultivation, livestock care) contribute to emotional regulation, routine development, and meaning making. 
3. Attendees will examine the role of veteran-focused agricultural programs in promoting community connection and identity reconstruction.

 

 

Speaker Biography: 

 

B.T. Necole Gonsahn received her Master of Education Degree in Mental Health Counseling from University of of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Currently Necole is a Counselor I at Blue Ridge Mountain Recovery Center providing clinical services through a Veterans Track Program, supporting veterans with mental health and substance use concerns in both PHP and outpatient settings. Worked with veterans while considering military experiences, trauma exposure, reintegration challenges, substance use, and other concerns affecting behavioral health and recovery. Conducted clinical assessments and ongoing evaluations to identify presenting concerns, treatment needs, risk factors, and appropriate levels of care.  

Currently, Necole is also a Therapist with Family and Friends Counseling conducting individual and couples psychotherapy sessions with civilian and veteran populations treating anxiety, PTSD, depression, and related mental health conditions while maintaining accurate and timely clinical documentation, treatment plans, and progress notes using Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. As well provides trauma-informed, evidence-based care while supporting client recovery, coping skills development, and psychosocial functioning.

 

 

SDCA Members: Free

Non-Members: $25

Register HERE

 

 

*This event will be recorded for later viewing, if you want access to the recording, you must register for the event! An email will come out after the event with home study instructions for contact hour credit. 

 

 

 

 

Questions? Feel free to contact us at [email protected]

   The South Dakota Counseling Association has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2042. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The South Dakota Counseling Association is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

This organization, South Dakota Counseling Association approval ID 1058, is approved as a provider for continuing education by the: South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners.

Sadie Hanson-ACEP Administrator
Po Box 38
Platte SD 57369
[email protected]
www.sdcounseling.org