In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Kristen Rheinlander, Director of Corporate Partnerships at The Headstrong Project, to discuss her journey as a military child, her career in professional sports, and how she ultimately found her calling supporting the military community through veteran-focused nonprofit organizations. Kristen shares how growing up as an Army brat shaped her resilience, adaptability, and perspective on military life. She reflects on her early career as a collegiate athlete and her path through sports marketing, corporate partnerships, and Major League Baseball before making a pivotal decision to pursue work with the USO and dedicate her career to serving the military community. The conversation explores the challenges of military transition, the importance of purpose and identity after leaving a career or profession, and why mental health support is such a critical component of the veteran and military family experience. Kristen also provides an inside look at The Headstrong Project and its unique approach to delivering confidential, trauma-focused mental health care to service members, veterans, military spouses, and military children. Listeners will gain insight into: • Growing up as an Army brat and the resilience that comes from military life • The unique challenges and opportunities experienced by military spouses and families • Kristen's journey from collegiate athletics into professional sports • Building a career in sports marketing and corporate partnerships • Her transition from Major League Baseball to serving the military community • Finding purpose through volunteering and giving back • The importance of identity and purpose during career and military transition • Why veterans and athletes can face similar challenges when their careers come to an end • The difficulty many veterans face when asking for help • Breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health in the military community • How The Headstrong Project provides trauma-focused mental health care • The importance of military-cultural competency in mental health providers • Headstrong's network of more than 300 vetted clinicians • Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, and Prolonged Exposure therapy • Providing care through both in-person services and telehealth • How Headstrong helps military families navigate PCS moves without disrupting treatment • Headstrong's collaboration with the VA while maintaining direct access to care • The importance of connecting individuals with the right clinician from the beginning • Why trust, comfort, and rapport are critical to successful mental health treatment • How word-of-mouth referrals are helping veterans discover Headstrong • The role corporations and philanthropic partners play in expanding access to care • Kristen's vision for bringing Headstrong's services to more communities across the country Kristen also explains why access to mental health care needs to be immediate when someone is finally ready to raise their hand and ask for help. She shares how Headstrong's clinician-matching process is designed to meet individuals where they are and connect them with providers who understand their military experiences and unique circumstances. The conversation also highlights the broader role that purpose, community, and service play in successful transitions. Whether transitioning from military service, professional athletics, or another career, finding a new sense of identity and belonging can be just as important as finding the next job. Looking ahead, Kristen discusses her vision for The Headstrong Project, including expanding in-person services across the country, growing corporate partnerships, and ensuring that more members of the military community have access to high-quality, confidential mental health care when they need it most. Whether you're a veteran, military spouse, military family member, transitioning service member, employer, or simply interested in supporting the military community, this episode offers an important conversation about resilience, purpose, mental health, and the power of asking for help. 🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in private equity, entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service. #TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #MilitaryVeterans #MilitarySpouses #MilitaryFamilies #VeteranMentalHealth #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #VeteranSupport #MilitaryCommunity #HeadstrongProject #Leadership #Resilience #Purpose #VeteranCareers #VeteranLeadership #ServiceMembers #PrivateEquity #Entrepreneurship Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation: Tweet us at @brendan_aronson Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet
