Washington, D.C.
Crystal Bettenhausen-Bubulka is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, military spouse, and mental health advocate dedicated to eradicating social isolation and loneliness. With over fifteen years of experience in social work and gerontology, Crystal specializes in grief, end-of-life care, and supporting military-connected individuals through life challenges and transitions.
She is the founder and CEO of Through The Kaleidoscope Lens Therapy & Consulting and the founder and executive director of Strength In Service, a nonprofit committed to building social health and increasing access to mental health care for military families. Through both organizations, Crystal provides clinical supervision, offers psychotherapy in California, North Dakota, and Hawaii, and leads efforts to support the next generation of social workers.
As a 2024 Pat Tillman Scholar, Crystal is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Southern California, focusing on social health as a key strategy in suicide prevention. Her work centers on the Grand Challenge of eradicating social isolation and loneliness. She is also a proud alumna of the Military Spouse Advocacy Network’s Leadership Development Program, which includes a certificate from Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI).
Her work integrates macro leadership, trauma-informed care, and a mission-driven approach to social wellness. She advocates for shifting from resilience fatigue to antifragility—where growth, not just survival, is the goal.
Crystal is currently PCS’ing from Coronado, California, to Washington, D.C., with her husband, a career Navy officer of 31 years. They have three daughters—their eldest also a student at USC. They travel with their Maltese pup, Commodore Hei Hei, and Russian Blue cat, Apollo. Their military journey has taken them from Japan and Bahrain to Hawaii and California—each move reinforcing Crystal’s purpose: to foster belonging, strengthen connection, and lead with heart.
Ambassador story coming soon!