Rewire: A Schema Focussed Military to Civilian Transition Program
Tracks
Prince Room and Virtual via OnAIR
| Monday, March 2, 2026 |
| 1:40 PM - 2:10 PM |
| Prince Room |
Overview
Megan Fry, M Fry Psychologist
Details
Three Key Learnings:
Understand the Military Mode and its role in the military-to-civilian transition: Participants will learn how military training shapes an adaptive identity for service, but the implications of this post-service. Explore the application of Schema Therapy in veteran populations: Attendees will gain insight into how schema-focused interventions can be adapted for working with military personnel, targeting identity reconstruction, psychological flexibility, and emotional connection. Identify practical strategies to create psychologically safe spaces for veterans: The session will provide tools and clinical strategies for fostering environments that support vulnerability, challenge stigma, and promote integration and meaning after service.
Understand the Military Mode and its role in the military-to-civilian transition: Participants will learn how military training shapes an adaptive identity for service, but the implications of this post-service. Explore the application of Schema Therapy in veteran populations: Attendees will gain insight into how schema-focused interventions can be adapted for working with military personnel, targeting identity reconstruction, psychological flexibility, and emotional connection. Identify practical strategies to create psychologically safe spaces for veterans: The session will provide tools and clinical strategies for fostering environments that support vulnerability, challenge stigma, and promote integration and meaning after service.
Speaker
Mrs Megan Fry
Clinical Psychologist / Director
M Fry Psychologist
Rewire: A Schema Focussed Military to Civilian Transition Program
Presentation Overview
The transition from military to civilian life is one of the most challenging periods veterans face, with 44–72% experiencing significant psychological distress. While much attention has been given to conditions like PTSD, and more recently to the role of military identity, there remains a lack of structured, evidence-based programs addressing the psychological, cultural, and identity shifts that occur post-service.
Schema Therapy (ST) is an integrative, evidence-based approach targeting the origins of psychological distress. ST challenges maladaptive beliefs and behaviours and it can help individuals reorganise their life narratives—making it uniquely suited to address the meaning-making challenges veterans face after military service.
Rewire is a manualised schema-focused group program, developed by the presenter, to address the ‘psychological impacts of military service’ and to improve transition outcomes. Central to the intervention is the concept of the Military Mode—an adaptive coping style shaped by military socialisation, characterised by traits such as stoicism, unrelenting standards, and hyper-vigilance. While functional during service, this mode can become maladaptive post-discharge, impeding emotional connection, psychological flexibility, and wellbeing.
The Rewire program consists of 12 x 90-minute sessions integrating education, experiential activities, and reflective practice. A pilot study (under review) suggests Rewire is both feasible and acceptable, with preliminary outcomes indicating improvements in distress, emotional connection, psychological flexibility, and life satisfaction.
This presentation will introduce the Military Mode Model, outline the Rewire framework, and explore clinical insights from its delivery. It aims to deepen understanding of military identity, stigma, and psychological safety in the veteran community—highlighting how vulnerability and strength can co-exist in the post-military journey.
Schema Therapy (ST) is an integrative, evidence-based approach targeting the origins of psychological distress. ST challenges maladaptive beliefs and behaviours and it can help individuals reorganise their life narratives—making it uniquely suited to address the meaning-making challenges veterans face after military service.
Rewire is a manualised schema-focused group program, developed by the presenter, to address the ‘psychological impacts of military service’ and to improve transition outcomes. Central to the intervention is the concept of the Military Mode—an adaptive coping style shaped by military socialisation, characterised by traits such as stoicism, unrelenting standards, and hyper-vigilance. While functional during service, this mode can become maladaptive post-discharge, impeding emotional connection, psychological flexibility, and wellbeing.
The Rewire program consists of 12 x 90-minute sessions integrating education, experiential activities, and reflective practice. A pilot study (under review) suggests Rewire is both feasible and acceptable, with preliminary outcomes indicating improvements in distress, emotional connection, psychological flexibility, and life satisfaction.
This presentation will introduce the Military Mode Model, outline the Rewire framework, and explore clinical insights from its delivery. It aims to deepen understanding of military identity, stigma, and psychological safety in the veteran community—highlighting how vulnerability and strength can co-exist in the post-military journey.
Biography
Megan Fry is a Clinical Psychologist, Advanced Individual Schema Therapist, Supervisor, and Trainer with over 20 years’ experience. Drawing on her lived experience as a former soldier and military psychologist, Megan specialises in supporting current and ex-serving military personnel. She runs a schema-focused private practice and developed Rewire, a group-based schema therapy program designed to support the Military-to-Civilian Transition. Her innovative, tailored approach is showing strong clinical outcomes in her practice and pilot research. Passionate about training and supervision, Megan is known for her contributions to adapting Schema Therapy to meet the unique needs of veterans.
