Victor Montgomery
"Life in the Balance" Speaker, Author | Warriors in Recovery - from Addiction & Suicide Ideation
Honeoye, NY, UNITED STATES
Healing Suicidal Veterans - "Life in the Balance" - Seminars- Interventions for Alcohol and other Drug Addictions & Suicidal Ideation
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Biography
Victor Montgomery III is an educator and an expert in Crisis Intervention, Suicide Rescue, Combat Trauma and Addiction Counseling. Vic believes in the client-centered value of ‘heart-to-heart resuscitation'. He practices the style of counseling for eliciting behavioral change, helping veterans and active duty warriors examine and resolve the key issue of ambivalence. An increasing number of veteran combat warriors experience a 'wounded soul' and culture shock and therefore have returned home to their families with a unique set of mental and behavioral health distresses that need to be evaluated carefully. For many, the idea of suicide looms nearby.
Mr. Montgomery is the author of Healing Suicidal Veterans – Recognizing, Supporting and Answering Their Pleas for Help (New Horizon Press, October 2009); and seminar speaker and author of “Life in the Balance” Seminars designed for communities interested in understanding the dynamics of war trauma, the psychological wounds of war and what happens in the war zone. Vic demonstrates how to recognize suicide signs - symptoms and triggers, alcohol and drug addiction awareness and what family and friends can do to help a depressed and struggling vet.
As a Marine Corps veteran, and trained interventionist, Vic has worked with countless veterans and their families through VA crisis hotlines and out-patient clinics from California to New York. He received his Master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Phoenix; Graduate Studies in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Development from Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, California. Vic received specialized training for veteran suicide crisis interventions and rescues by clinicians at the VA Medical Center and in 2008 served on the National Suicide Crisis Hotline in Canandaigua, New York as a hotline therapist.
The author has worked many years as a primary therapist, family counselor, educator, and certified and registered addiction specialist. He has counseled men and women and families for over twenty years. Today, Vic and his wife reside in Western Upstate New York.
Industry Expertise (8)
Education/Learning
Mental Health Care
Training and Development
Military
Professional Training and Coaching
Health and Wellness
Health Care - Services
Health Care - Providers
Areas of Expertise (6)
Warriors in Recovery
Crisis Intervention - Suicide Ideation
Alcohol and Other Drug Additions
Veteran Combat Trauma
The Psycholoical Wounds of War- What Happens in the War Zone?
Life in the Balance
Accomplishments (2)
"Life in the Balance " Seminars (professional)
2009-02-03
“Life in the Balance” Seminars designed for communities interested in understanding the dynamics of war trauma, the psychological wounds of war and what happens in the war zone. Vic demonstrates how to recognize suicide signs - symptoms and triggers, alcohol and drug addiction awareness and what family and friends can do to help a depressed and struggling vet.
Author: Healing Suicidal Veterans: Recognizing, Supporting and Answering Their Pleas for Help (professional)
2008-07-25
The book explores the psychological as well as the soul wounds of war trauma and the ways they contribute to the tragedy of suicidal thinking. The book offers veterans strategies for realizing they are not failures if they seek help, and it gives families and loved ones ways to understand, cope with and help their veteran in need.
Education (2)
Vanguard University of Southern Clifornia: Bachelor of Arts Summa cum Laude, Psychology 2005
Emphasis in Human Development
University of Phoenix: Masters in Education- MAEd, Education 2008
Affiliations (1)
- American Legion
Links (1)
Testimonials (2)
Helena Davis, M.A., LMHC, Director of Training and Special Projects | MHANYS’ Annual Conference 2009- Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc.
“Vic, thank you so much for participating in the panel presentation that was part of MHANYS’ Annual Conference on October 30th… The vast majority of participants rated all aspects of the presentation as excellent. One participant remarked that she appreciated how you spoke from the heart. Your perspective is unique and one that participants really needed to hear.” , (2009)
Kathy Paupore, VA Nurse, | Iron Mountain VA Medical Center, Michigan
Dear Victor, I came across your book recently at our local library, thanks for writing it. I have been a nurse at out local VAMC in Iron Mountain, MI for the past 3 years. Your book should be required reading for all nurses coming into the VA. We so often take care of veterans with PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality, chemical dependency, etc. Your book offered much insight into the reasons for these disabilities... Thanks Again, Kathy Paupore, VA Nurse, Iron Mountain Michigan, January 2010
Event Appearances (5)
Healing Suicidal Veterans - Recognizing, Supporting and Answering Their Pleas for Help
Mental Health Conference Albany, New York
2009-01-01
Panel Discussion - Veteran's Mental Health Issues
MHANYS’ Annual Conference, Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. Marriott Hotel, Syracuse, New York
2009-10-30
Life in the Balance
Seminar Rochester, New York
2011-04-01
Life in the Balance
Seminar Syracuse, New York
2011-09-16
Life in the Balance
Seminar and Panel Discussion - Suicide Buffalo, New York
2010-10-08
Sample Talks (2)
"Life in the Balance"
A deep, up close and personal look into the hearts, minds and the real lives of 11 men and women combat veterans, disoriented, confused, suicidal and disillusioned by the ravages of war trauma and the psychological wounds and mental health disabilities that dominate their very being when they returned home to their families, from the war zones, forever changed. Learn how to identify signs and symptoms of suicide ideation and alcohol and other drug additions and when and where to go for help.
Healing Suicidal Veterans
When the Warrior returns home...what now? Issues of family readjustment, mental health care, suicide ideation intervention, homelessness, alcohol and other drug intervention techniques: Heart-to-Heart Resuscitation Model.
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