It has helped quite immensely, especially on the relational side from clinician to client. It's actually one of the reasons that I decided to work with this specific Lifemark clinic. Being so close to the military base, I knew that they did work with PCVRS and veterans and, obviously, as a reservist, that's quite close to home in my heart.
I find that in having that shared experience with veterans, perhaps I'm not the same rank, the same trade or the same branch, but I understand just a little bit of that side of them, that window of their experience. It's allowed me to connect relationally with them. As a kinesiologist, I'm getting people to move their bodies in ways that they don't want to because of physical pain and the other loads, mental and emotional things, that they're carrying as well, so often they're quite physically guarded.
I have found that by sharing the information that I am a reservist, I'm not saying that I'm better than them or know exactly what they're experiencing, but I can understand a little bit of what they've gone through. It has allowed them to experience a space where they feel safe and maybe a little bit more understood than in other spaces with someone who hasn't experienced the CAF.