In 2012, Kirsten deployed to Afghanistan and credits this experience as the #1 most challenging, influential, and rewarding timeframes of her professional career. This opportunity was a culminating event for her clinical skillset as she addressed the mind, body, and spirit of service members with upper extremity injuries, emotional/physiological concerns, and/or sustained traumatic brain injuries. Kirsten felt like she had the most impact on service members in this setting since her work often began within the first few hours after injury and could last for a few days to a few weeks.
"I believe that sometimes the bad times in our life put us on a direct path to the very best times in our life… you just need to be respective and elicit mental flexibility."
Kirsten Holley, on maintaining an outlook of survival