With the end of the war in Iraq and the pending drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, the United States will see a substantial increase in the amount of combat veterans in the civilian world. At current there are approximately 300,000 veterans in the United States who suffer the effects from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by combat operations. With this number sure to grow over the next few years, it is paramount to identify the organizations the government has set up to serve this population. The Department of Veterans Affairs has established the Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) division of its healthcare branch. The RCS has established 302 Vet Centers across the country to provide servicemen and women with readjustment counseling to help make the transition from military to civilian life (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012). This paper will discuss the organizational structure, functions, and design of RCS to illustrate how it will meet the needs of veterans.…
CBT aims to help manage problems by changing the way we think and behave. It can’t remove our problems but it helps us to deal with them in a more positive way that is why this therapy is also known to treat anxiety and depression and other mental disorders. Unlike some other psychotherapies, CBT deals with the current problems rather than the issues from the past. CBT targets to help break down overwhelming problems into smaller parts to show how these negative patterns can be changed to improve the way we…
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a common type of mental health counseling that with the help of the therapist allows the client to become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking and enables the client to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way. This therapeutic approach is not distinct, but is a culmination of various cognitive and behavioral therapeutic techniques. The team will examine the aspects of CBT covering the description, history and research of this technique. The team will also provide information that will explain the appropriate uses of this practice, why it is necessary, and the patients that benefit from this behavioral changing technique. There are issues and concerns involved with CBT that will also be addressed.…
(2011). Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com The author illustrates how finding a safe common ground between combat veterans suffering from PTSD and the therapist is a successful approach as it enables the veteran to find their own solutions for their problems…
Jane is a 22 year old single white British female who lives with her parents in a house outside the city. She is heterosexual and has had a boyfriend for seven years. She feels unable to discuss her issues with her boyfriend. Her parents both have mental health issues and Jane does not feel able to talk to her mother about her problems. She has an older brother she has a good relationship who lives with his girlfriend, a four hour drive away.…
“Currently, Trauma Management Therapy is proving to be the most effective treatment for chronic combat-related PTSD. This form of therapy is a multicomponent approach, and it recognizes the complex nature of the often chronic nature of combat- related disorders” (Encyclopedia of Trauma…). Every VA medical center has Post-traumatic Stress Disorder specialists who provide treatment options to veterans suffering with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. They offer one-to-one mental health assessments and testing, one-to-one psychotherapy also involving family therapy sessions. They also provide group therapy, and incorporate medicine if needed. Along with all these options they also provide inpatient and outpatient programs geared toward specific needs. The number of Vietnam vets in VA treatment programs for PTSD more than tripled between 1999 and 2011, going from 90,695 to 299,076 (Carson).…
According to Holmström, veterans are likely to develop mental health problems that may diminish the quality of their lives. Holmström provides essential information that can be used to understand the needs of veterans in their bid to adapt to civilian life. For instance, PTSD has been recognized as a leading problem for veterans, predominantly men (8). Holmström validates his article by providing evidence from individuals working in the health care industry. He focuses on the importance of comprehending the culture of military people to ensure that they can be assisted to cope with changes in civilian lives.…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD) is far too common these days in our military veterans. Whether a diagnosis is made or not, America’s Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are wandering around, some jobless, some homeless, and some just lost and attempting to find their place in society. This can lead to self-depreciating behavior involving drugs and alcohol, a failure to thrive in our communities, or in some cases suicide. These veterans have been referred to as the “walking wounded” or have been said to suffer from “hidden wounds”.…
The approaches included CBT and supportive counselling techniques such as, education about trauma reactions, as well as problem solving skills. During the counselling sessions, the counselor provided Mr. Gill with education and resources specific to MVC such as, accessing physiotherapy, obtaining a lawyer and income assistance support. Cognitive behavior therapy “aims to isolate dysfunctional thoughts and assumptions about the trauma which serve to perpetuate distress” (Clapp & Beck, 2012, p. 127). This cognitive intervention focuses on challenging the negative automatic thinking, and substituting it with more balanced thoughts (Clapp & Beck, 2012). I believe that CBT has worked effectively to manage Mr. Gill’s thoughts, as he described few instances when he actively applied this technique and found it helpful in maintaining his…
Ironically, mental health courts and inpatient psychiatric hospitals use the same treatment plans. For example, CBT and psychopharmacology treatments are used in both instances. The only difference between the two is the levels of intensity and supervision. One difference between mental health courts and inpatient psychiatric hospitalization is that supervision within the mental health courts is provided through case management. In this setting, the case managers job is to make sure the treatment plan is appropriate, recommend adjustments to the plan when applicable, and to schedule regular meetings with the mentally ill or disabled individual (BJA: Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses, 16). The main purpose of these meetings is for the case…
Many children are exposed to traumatic events before they even become adults. All around the world they are exposed to child abuse, rape, natural disasters, terrorism, car accidents, and school violence among many others. Studies have shown that these traumatic events, if left untreated, can result in significant psychological problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other anxiety disorders, depression, or a number of other behavioral difficulties (Cohen, Mannarino, Berliner & Deblinger, 2000). These difficulties can become chronic and produce negative effects which could last into adulthood. It is therefore imperative that effective treatment strategies be found to help symptomatic traumatized children in order to minimize these negative effects.…
Needs assessment is an effective way to enhance programs and serve the specific population. It is necessary to follow the four steps when conducting a needs assessment. Each step contains great importance and can modify the program for best (Astramovich, 2011). I have conducted a needs assessment for adult military personnel who have been diagnosed with PTSD. Through the use of surveys, interviews, and focus groups researchers are able to enhance CBT programs throughout military bases. It is essential to educate everyone on the idea that CBT can be extremely effective for individuals suffering from…
Given this knowledge, one can now empathize with veterans who face challenges in locating providers who use best practices to treat depression and PTSD. Since some practitioners lack the training of evidence-based guidelines and core competencies, the DoD and VHA have begun developing and implementing programs to train in this lack of…
I am investigating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) in veterans and how it can be treated. PTSD has been around since the world's very first conflicts, but it wasn’t until the 1900’s that is was medically recognized as a Mental disorder. The amount of veterans suffering from this disorder without treatment is un-imaginable. Often times veterans refuse to seek treatment for this disorder because they are afraid of the consequences of treatment. Veterans wouldn’t need to be treated if we take care of the problem before they come home. We train them for war, so why not train them to come home?…
Dr. Sandro Galea, a Columbia University Epidemiologist, reinforced this, “Both [the Defense and Veterans Affairs] departments lack a coordinated, consistent, well-developed, evidence-based system of treatment for PTSD”. In general, the United States’ approach to PTSD care needs be reformed by implementing more programs, and requiring a higher standard of…