Companions for the Journey

Companions for the Journey: Amanda Yeck is a clinical psychologist working in outpatient mental health at the Asheville VAMC, specializing in post-9/11 service members. Her clinical passions include working with trauma and moral injury. When she is not working at the VA, she is beer-tending at her favorite local brewery, mountain biking, hiking, eating, and spending time with her family/friends and two German shepherds Katy Gift is a nurse educator at the VA in Biloxi, MS. Prior to coming to the VA she spent 20 years as a nurse in the US Navy. Among the many things she did in the Navy, Katy provided care to individuals faced with Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and military sexual trauma (MST). These days, when she isn’t teaching the next generation of nurse leaders, Katie is knitting her way through meetings or headed to dulcimer festivals. “Jeremiah Richards is a Staff Chaplain at the Charles George VA Medical Center working in Hospice/Palliative Care and helping co-facilitate a Moral Injury Group, Post-traumatic stress Group, Post-traumatic Growth Group, and a Bereavement Support Group. His passion for Moral Injury grew out of his desire to help a seminary friend returning from combat – he felt helpless and set out to learn how he could help. Jeremiah is married to Cara, for 24 years and they have four children. He enjoys time with family/friends, hiking, playing cards and board games, watching movies, reading, and sampling new IPA’s.” Jim Kirkendall is a retired Army Chaplain who began his military career in the Navy, served with the US Marine Corps, and transferred to the Army to finish out his 26 years. He is doing his best to retire again from serving as a part time hospice chaplain. Jim has a passion for helping others who have served in the military which is a good thing because his wife volunteers him for all kinds of things! In his spare time he transports grandkids and great grandkids and works on projects around the house. Jo Kirkendall is a Staff Chaplain at the VA in Biloxi, MS and a Navy Veteran. She facilitates Warrior 2 Soul Mate workshops (couple communication), Tai Chi classes, and provides bereavement care among other things. Her newest passion is introducing Veterans to Labyrinths and leading labyrinth walks. When she is not coming up with more programs, she loves planning trips, going camping, buying fabric and occasionally finding time to sew – especially “little zipper bags.”

Sessions
Sat 1:00pm - 1:50pm Caring for the Wounds You Cannot See River