Priya Butcher was born at Cannon AFB, NM to two active-duty Air Force Security Forces members. She was born into (brat), worked in (veteran) and has supported (dependent and contractor) the military her whole life! Her personal career started 9 months after graduating high school and working at KFC – she just knew there was more out there she could do with her life! Priya chose to become an Air Force service member and follow in the footsteps of her parents. Her desire was to extend their legacy and become part of the Security Forces family, but she was routed into Mental Health.  

 While assigned to Mental Health, she worked inpatient mental health, then obtained her certification as a substance abuse counselor and assisted in running the ADAPT program for 5 years. In her last two years she helped manage the Family Advocacy Program. Her experiences in the Air Force also include a deployment to Kirkuk, Iraq in 2004. Her primary duties in that capacity were as a medic and to provide frontline Mental Health support.  

Priya faithfully served the Air Force for 8 years but decided to expand her capabilities by pursuing graduate education and independent licensure to be of more help to veterans suffering from substance abuse and trauma. Post-military, Priya completed her undergrad with UMUC (BS in Psychology, Minor in Criminology, and a Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Care) and completed her graduate studies with Wayland Baptist University (MA Counseling). Priya is now currently independently licensed in New Mexico as an LPCC and LADAC and in Texas as an LPC.  

Priya’s other work after the military included a Behavioral Health Therapist in the detox unit of an inpatient substance abuse program (Turquoise Lodge) in Albuquerque, NM, a contractor for Outpatient Mental Health at the Naval Hospital on Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan and most recently, a Behavioral Health Consultant in the Family Health Clinic for the 59TH MDW at JBSA Lackland, TX. 

Priya really enjoys serving others in her role here at Warriors Heart! 

MY WHY

Although my parents were stellar police officers with many accolades and accomplishments, they, like many others in Security Forces culture of “work hard, play harder,” had their share of issues. My father served in 2 combat tours; during the Vietnam War in 1970-1971 and the Gulf War (Desert Storm/Desert Shield) from 1990/1991. My father developed PTSD and suffered from it and alcoholism for several years. My mother also had her own struggles with alcoholism for 8 years due to the military culture and the stress of the job. During their time serving, and growing up in the same household, I saw first hand what untreated mental health and substance abuse issues can do to a person and how it affects the relationships and family around them. During my time in Iraq, I also developed PTSD and later sought treatment to help myself heal. Twenty years later, it still can be a battle from time to time, depending on the environment I’m in but I’ve always been grateful and thankful for the treatment I received to help my symptoms become more manageable.  

I’ve determined to use my experiences from my upbringing, my time within the military, and even my work experiences after the military, to help bring hope and healing to others who are battling substance addiction and PTSD. And to encourage other Warriors out there to do the same!