Michaela Quimby’s Bio

My name is Michaela Quimby and I am a junior at Westfield State University in Westfield, MA. I am interning at Becky’s Fund from February to May. I grew up in a small suburb about 20 minutes north of Boston. My town is the kind of place where “everyone knows everyone” so living in DC is a huge change of pace compared to small-town New England.
I grew up in a home where I was taught to always be patient with people because you never know the demons they are dealing with. My older brother is autistic. He looks the same as you and I but his mannerisms may seem peculiar to someone who is not familiar with his disability. My mother has raised me to be understanding of all people because we all come from different places and we all have different problems. Her lessons are the reason why I want to go to college to help those who cannot help them self.
My career goal is to be a counseling psychologist specializing in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The military faces two major challenges in relation to PTSD and domestic violence. The first being that PTSD is a taboo subject many veterans do not want to talk about. They sweep their problems under the rug and take them home with them. Often anger is taken out on their loved ones and leaves a family in pieces. The second issue relating the two is sexual assault within the military. Every day women are sexually abused in the military yet the government continues to ignore this crisis. Many people do not know that there are actually more women suffering from PTSD in The United States due to rape than veterans returning from combat. It is time to remove the stigma of counseling and help these men and women.
While I am interning here at Becky’s Fund I hope to focus on the issue of families facing PTSD at home. I want to learn more about how we can help those dealing with PTSD at home with their loved ones. What programs can we offer them? What support systems are necessary? What therapy works best? Is only one type of therapy effective or can we individualize it? PTSD is not a new disorder but the effects are finally coming to surface. I hope with Becky’s Fund I can help end this crisis.