A Texas Christian University psychology research team is earning international recognition for its innovative approach to supporting veterans’ transition to civilian life. Ph.D. student Renee Castillo ’22, a U.S. Army veteran, partnered with psychology professor Cathy R. Cox to present their project at Duke University’s Veteran Transitions Research Lab (VTRL) Challenge. Their proposal was selected as one of six finalists worldwide and ultimately was awarded $20,000 in funding.  

“Our goal is to support veterans during their transition to civilian life — and ultimately reduce stress, depression and suicide risk by reminding them that they’re not alone in how they feel,” Cox said. She leads the project alongside her Davis College of Science & Engineering colleagues: Thomas Sease (MS ’22, Ph.D. ’23) of TCU’s Institute of Behavioral Research, Matthew Espinosa (MS ’22, Ph.D. ’25) and Ph.D. students Castillo and Tiffany Bui (MS ’24).  

Hosted by Duke and sponsored by major industry partners, including CVS Health and Amazon, the competition invited teams to propose social and behavioral science studies aimed at improving veterans’ post-service experiences.  

Castillo and Cox’s project, developed through IBR and The Cox Lab in TCU’s Department of Psychology, explores how existential isolation — the feeling that no one truly understands one’s inner experiences — affects veterans’ adjustment to civilian life. The team is designing a six-week intervention that encourages veterans to reflect on moments when they felt genuinely understood or connected to others. Over six months, researchers will track changes in participants’ mental health and physical well-being.  

A ‘Very Uncertain Time’ 
For Castillo, the work carries deep personal meaning.  

“I’ve been at TCU since I left the military in 2020, during a very uncertain time in my life,” she said. “From the moment I started my undergraduate studies in the psychology department to now, pursuing my Ph.D. at the IBR, TCU has always supported me; I’ve never once felt like I didn’t belong. That’s why it was such an incredible honor to represent TCU at Duke University.” 

Drawing from her own experience as a veteran and student, Castillo brings an invaluable perspective to the research.  

“Unlike interpersonal isolation, many veterans may not be socially isolated in the traditional sense; they might have co-workers, friends and family support, yet still feel deeply alone,” she said. “As a veteran myself, this was something I often struggled with during my transition from an active-duty soldier to a full-time student.”  

Cox said veterans may come home and try to explain what combat felt like but face challenges.  

“Their family listens with love, but they can’t fully grasp the emotions or the intensity of that experience,” Cox said. “That gap between being with people yet feeling alone is what we’re trying to address.” 

The project’s proposed “I-sharing” intervention asks veterans to recall moments when they shared a genuine experience with someone, whether or not that person was a veteran. Castillo said those reflections can help foster a sense of belonging.  

“Even though I had amazing family and social support, I still internalized a sense of isolation because as much as they cared they couldn’t fully understand, and I couldn’t fully comprehend what I was feeling,” Castillo said. “From my own experience, I can say this approach works. I wasn’t really able to enjoy being a 30-year-old undergrad until I humbled myself, reflected on shared experiences with other students and allowed myself to embrace those moments. ... It almost feels like some sort of relief and a sense of comfort to know that there is an actual term that describes how I’ve felt in the past.”

‘Meaningful, Applied Research’ 
This recognition from Duke validates years of research on existential isolation at TCU, Cox said.  

“Being recognized by Duke’s VTRL shows that the questions we’re asking — about how veterans can feel more understood and supported — really matter on a national level,” Cox said. “It highlights the kind of meaningful, applied research coming out of TCU. We’re not just studying theory — we’re developing interventions that can improve people’s lives.” 

The $20,000 award will allow the team to recruit recently separated veterans, conduct longitudinal data collection and provide participant support.  

“It lets us move from ideas on paper to data that can make a real difference in veterans’ lives,”  Cox said.  

For Castillo, the experience also reflects the value of TCU’s collaborative research culture. She credits mentors, including Cox, Espinosa, Sease and Kevin Knight, IBR director, for fostering an environment that encourages interdisciplinary interaction.  

“I feel genuinely blessed to be part of such a supportive academic community,” Castillo said.  

Knight said the achievement exemplifies TCU’s commitment to applied behavioral science and student leadership.  

“We strongly encourage our students to pursue interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty outside of IBR, and Renee’s work with Dr. Cox is a shining example of this initiative,” he said. “We are incredibly proud of her receiving this award and serving as such a great ambassador for TCU IBR.” 

A Broader Conversation 
With data collection beginning soon, Castillo and Cox hope their findings will inform ways to improve veterans’ well-being and spark broader conversations about veterans’ experiences.  

“Research like this opens the door for deeper conversations about the diversity within the veteran community and why it’s important not to view veterans as a single, uniform group,” Castillo said. “My hope is that by bringing more awareness to concepts like existential isolation, we can help veterans feel more comfortable with who they are and begin developing interventions that address veterans as individuals, not just as a collective.” 

Castillo also credits TCU’s Veterans Resource Center for fostering the kind of community that makes those connections possible.  

“The director, April Brown, is phenomenal — she’s a veteran herself and has done an amazing job creating a space where veterans can connect and build community,” she said. “I recommend the center to any veteran or military-affiliated student who feels like they don’t belong. Being intentional about finding community on campus is so important for a veteran’s success at TCU.” 

The team plans to present its findings at future conferences and continue advancing TCU’s reputation as a leader in behavioral research that makes a real-world impact.   

-McKenzie Lane