The Heart Behind the Healing: Dr. Rebecca Fulcher’s Work in Military Mental Health
Behind every service member and veteran who receives proper care is a dedicated healthcare provider working hard behind the scenes—someone who’s driven not just by expertise but also by compassion, purpose, and a desire to make a difference. Dr. Rebecca Fulcher is one of those providers.
As a clinical psychologist at Naval Medical Clinic (NMC) Quantico and a Matrix Provider, Dr. Fulcher has spent over 10 years helping service members overcome the mental health challenges of military life. For her, clinical psychology isn’t just a career—it’s a calling.
The Personal Journey That Led Dr. Fulcher to Clinical Psychology
For Dr. Fulcher, the decision to become a clinical psychologist wasn’t random. It was deeply personal.
When her brother suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at 18, she witnessed firsthand how little support was available for both patients and their families.
“There was no assistance for the patients or family members on how to cope with something that significant,” she recalls. “That experience drew me to wanting to work in the field so that I could one day help in those situations.”
For the past 14 years, she’s been doing just that: working at NMC Quantico to help countless service members confront and manage the challenges of being in the military.
What Do Clinical Psychologists Do?
A clinical psychologist or mental health counselor helps people manage life’s toughest challenges. They listen, assess, and guide individuals toward solutions that improve their mental and emotional well-being.
While they don’t prescribe medication like psychiatrists do, clinical psychologists focus on therapy and problem-solving strategies that empower people to manage challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress.
They also offer family and couples therapy to help people strengthen relationships and work through conflicts. Some lead group therapy sessions, where people with shared experiences can support and learn from one another. They also provide psychological assessments, which help uncover things like learning difficulties or underlying emotional issues affecting someone’s daily life.
Where they work can be just as varied as what they do. You’ll find them in private practices, hospitals, community health centers, and military clinics—all with the shared goal of helping those in their care navigate a wide range of emotional and behavioral struggles.
Why Counseling Psychologists Matter in Military Life
Military life is tough—there’s no sugarcoating it.
Service members deal with things most people never have to think about. Long deployments keep them away from their families for months, sometimes even years. Constant relocations mean packing up, starting over, and rebuilding a new life every few years. And for some, there’s the emotional weight of combat. It’s no surprise that many struggle with their mental wellness at some point.
The challenges don’t end when service does. When service members leave the military and become veterans, everything changes. The structure they relied on is gone, and civilian life can feel unfamiliar and isolating. Many veterans struggle to find purpose, adjust to a different work culture, and reconnect with family and friends. For others, physical injuries, chronic pain, or mental health conditions like depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) become daily battles.
Without proper support, these stressors and trauma can affect every part of their life, from physical health to relationships and family dynamics. This is where clinical psychologists come in. They offer a safe space for service members to talk about what they’re going through and help them make sense of their experiences, build resilience, and improve their overall mental wellness. They also work with their families to rebuild connections, especially after deployments that were tough on spouses and children.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to solve an immediate problem. Clinical psychologists help service members and veterans build skills that will last a lifetime. They teach them how to identify their triggers, manage stress in healthy ways, and build support systems that keep them grounded.
Dr. Fulcher’s words capture it best: “This type of work is so important because the amount of pressure and stress a service member endures can take a real toll on how well they’re functioning. Being able to get help through our services makes them stronger in all areas of life.”
Mental Wellness in the Military: A Work in Progress
In 2010, when Dr. Fulcher started her career in clinical psychology, mental wellness wasn’t something people talked about openly. Seeking help often came with stigma and fear of judgment.
There was this unspoken belief that asking for help could hurt your career—or worse, that it meant you weren’t strong enough to handle the pressures of military life. As a result, many service members stayed silent. Studies show that around 60% of military personnel experiencing mental wellness struggles didn’t seek help, with stigma being one of the biggest reasons why.¹
The consequences of this are heartbreaking. Untreated mental health struggles often led to feelings of isolation, substance abuse, and, tragically, suicide. Military suicide rates have risen over the past two decades, with far too many service members and veterans losing their lives to battles fought in silence.²
Thankfully, things are starting to change. The Department of Defense (DoD) has recognized how serious this issue is and has taken steps to address it. They’ve rolled out several initiatives to reduce the stigma around mental wellness and make it easier for service members to get the help they need.
These efforts include integrating mental health care into primary care settings, expanding telehealth options, and modernizing training programs to encourage open conversations about mental wellness. So far, there has been progress regarding military personnel seeking the help they need.
“I’ve seen a vast change,” Dr. Fulcher says. “Service members are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental wellness and reaching out for help without hesitation.”
This shift has been life-changing for many. Dr. Fulcher has seen patients who couldn’t sleep because of nightmares finally rest peacefully. She’s watched struggling marriages become strong again. She’s helped service members regain their confidence and sense of purpose.
“It makes me feel grateful to be a part of their lives,” she shares. “There really isn’t anything else I would want to do.”
Personal Insights Built on Years of Experience
Through years of working with military service members, Dr. Fulcher has learned that the most meaningful breakthroughs often happen face-to-face. While the growing availability of telehealth services is a step in the right direction, she believes there’s no substitute for the connection and nuance of in-person care—especially for trauma-focused therapy.
“To be able to sit with a client in person, to see their body language and respond in real-time, creates an added connectedness,” she explains. “The treatment feels more authentic that way. When you’re doing trauma work, it’s just so much more helpful to be able to do it in person.”
Subtle shifts in tone, body language, and unspoken cues are easier to pick up during in-person sessions, helping to create a deeper, more personal connection. For Dr. Fulcher, these moments of genuine connection can be the catalyst for real healing. Feeling seen and understood on a human level is critical, especially for trauma work, and being physically present can make all the difference.
Her experience has taught her that quality care isn’t just about access—it’s about connection. For healthcare providers like Dr. Fulcher, finding a role where you can truly make those connections is key to delivering life-changing care.
That’s precisely what Matrix Providers helped her do.
A Meaningful Career Made Possible Through Matrix Providers
Finding a fulfilling career at NMC Quantico wasn’t a journey Dr. Rebecca Fulcher walked alone. With help from Matrix Providers, she found a role that allowed her to combine her skills and personal experiences to serve military service members.
One of the things she values most about working with Matrix Providers is how much we focus on supporting both patients and providers. For us, it’s not just about placing professionals in positions—we make sure you’re in the right role and equipped with the tools and resources you need to thrive.
“Matrix is very focused on providing top-quality providers to serve our service members so that they can be the best service members they can be—without having to compromise their mental or physical health,” she says.
If, like Dr. Fulcher, you’re passionate about providing healthcare to veterans, we’d love to connect you with work opportunities where you can thrive. Explore our career page and apply for healthcare roles that match your preferences. If you have questions or specific job requests, contact us today—we’re always happy to help!
References:
1. Sharp, Marie-Louise et al. “Stigma as a barrier to seeking health care among military personnel with mental health problems” National Library of Medicine, 2015, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25595168/.
2. Department of Defense. Annual Report on Suicide in the Military: Calendar Year 2023. Department of Defense, 2024, www.dspo.mil/Portals/113/2024/documents/annual_report/ARSM_CY23_final_508c.pdf?ver=xIhrQKit1ObMxkyAKcoBvQ%3d%3d.