BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The skill set of the new 307th Bomb Wing’s new director of psychological health is right in line with Air Force Reserve Command’s push to develop resiliency in its Airmen. Tiffany Williams, a Licensed Master Social Worker, was recently hired as the 307th Bomb Wing’s director of psychological health, bringing a combination of civilian and military experience to help the Reserve Citizen Airmen of the unit.
The Shreveport native has extensive civilian experience including stints at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and Ochsner LSU Medical Health.
One of Williams’ unique qualifications is her on-going service as a non-commissioned officer in the Louisiana Army National Guard. That duty has sent her around the globe, giving her a personal perspective of the stressors that sometimes occur when juggling a civilian and military career.
A veteran of multiple deployments to the Middle East, Williams has walked the proverbial walk so many Reserve Citizen Airmen have completed. She said her experiences in her military and civilian careers complement one another and make her more sensitive to the needs of Airmen.
“I really enjoy being in the military and I have a passion for helping others, so this position is a perfect fit,” said Williams.
That desire to serve Airmen propels Williams to take on the inherent challenges of the job. One of those, according to Williams, is an on-going stigma about seeking help from a mental health professional while still serving in the military.
“We have to work toward creating a better climate for members seeking mental health services,” said Williams. “Someone may need help, but fear being penalized or looked down upon for seeking that help.”
Williams emphasized that Reservists seeking mental health services for themselves, or a fellow Airman, may not necessarily hinder their career.
Col. Steven W. Kirkpatrick, 307th Bomb Wing commander, reiterated this sentiment.
“Sometimes you just have to take a knee, get the help needed to get well, and then rejoin the family,” he said.
Williams said getting help starts with a simple phone call.
“A member can always pick up the phone to let me know their situation and schedule an appointment.”
The therapy process can also be simple in certain situations. Williams said she generally starts with short-term, solution-focused therapy. The approach helps Airmen sort through thoughts and emotions to identify root causes of problems and find solutions to begin fixing them.
If further help is required, or a traditional reservist lives too far from Barksdale AFB to get help between UTA’s, Williams can still offer hope.
“I can conduct research for resources in their area, contacting those agencies and providing referrals,” she explained.
Through her time as a social worker in the civilian sector, Williams has developed an extensive network of civilian agencies available in the local area. She wants to use these resources to help Airmen, as well.
“My goal is to bridge the gap for our Reservists between what is available to them and what might be available to an active-duty Airman,” she explained.
In spite of all the resources available to Reserve Citizen Airmen in crisis, Williams said a proactive approach is the best course of action in building a resiliency skill set.
“Self-care is definitely critical because we all have stressful times such as meeting deadlines, deployments and financial matters,” she said.
Taking care of one’s personal needs does not have to be complicated. It just has to help relieve some of the pressure of daily life.
“It can be whatever you enjoy, such as meditation, going to a spa or spending time with family,” said Williams. “Whatever the member chooses, it must be a practiced routine.”
Members wishing to learn more may contact Williams at 318-529-3076.