Being female an asset for psychologist in Iraq

Stewart was devastated, but she remembered the kindness of the psychologists who helped her make sense of the tragedy. Her own traumatic event stuck with her and by junior high school she knew she wanted to be a forensic psychologist.

Stewart arrived at the hospital in July 2006 and by Labor Day she knew she would be deploying to Iraq. She reported in February 2007 to Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, a Marine Corps base where she was assigned to the Combat Stress Department.

The staff consisted of Navy psychiatrist Capt. Christopher Kowalsky, psychiatric technician HM2 Steven Nicholson and Stewart. The team was responsible for about 3,000 military personnel and treated more than 800 patients during Stewart's seven-month tour of duty.

They primarily dealt with combat-related stress, but also treated sleep and adjustment disorders, acute stress and depression.

Being a female psychologist worked to her advantage in Iraq. Her patients found it was more comfortable opening up to her. The majority of her patients suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety that can occur in anyone who has gone through a traumatic event.

Many of her patients witnessed death and destruction on a regular basis. They were constantly under attack, making sweeps, going door to door. They saw things that most of them couldn't even describe to their mothers or girlfriends.

Marines and soldiers were hesitant to seek help for PTSD fearing the stigma of being labeled as weak. Many didn't want to talk about what they had witnessed on the battlefield. As the troops became more comfortable with seeing Stewart on the base and hearing of her caring nature, they became more at ease in talking to her about their issues. She reassured them it was OK to talk about their problems before they became more serious.

Stewart worked tirelessly to educate the Marine battalion commanders about combat-related stress. "It is not anything to be embarrassed about," she told them. Senior enlisted personnel and officers also suffer from PTSD too. Occasionally a Marine would be ordered to seek mental health counseling in Iraq, but according to Stewart, you can't force anybody into therapy.

"We got a lot of that in theater. They have to come in on their own and talk about it," she said.

Since her return to Jacksonville in July, she has been treating more patients for PTSD. It is easier to me to relate to some of their experiences. I have a better understanding than I did prior to deployment," Stewart said.

Upon reflection, Stewart feels she made a difference in the lives of her patients. She joined the Navy as a clinician to get the well-rounded experience she couldn't get anywhere else.

She relied on her faith, her colleagues and the love of her work to keep herself grounded while deployed. She also tried not to take herself too seriously.