Track 1: PTSD Track
Monday, June 15, 2015
Session 1 (GS): Military Culture and Terminology: Enhancing Clinical Competence
8:15-10:00 a.m.
This training module is for civilian mental health providers who want to develop a better understanding about how the military works and who comprises the armed forces. It provides an overview of military culture to include basics about its history, organizational structure, core values, branches of the service, mission, and operations, as well as the differences between the Active and Reserve components. Participants acquire greater competency in working with Service members by learning military culture and terminology, and discussing how aspects of the military culture impact behaviors and perspectives.
Session 2 (GS): The Deployment Cycle and Its Impact on Service Members and Their Families
10:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
This training module is intended to provide civilian mental health providers with an overview of the demographics of military families and the impact of the deployment cycle on the Service member and family unit. It explores the unique experiences that Service members and their spouses and children face across the deployment cycle by examining research findings and psychosocial stressors associated with stages of the deployment cycle. Strategies for promoting family resilience during separation and reintegration are discussed.
Session 3 (GS): The Unique Challenges of Military Families
2:45–4:45 p.m.
This training module provides civilian mental health providers with an overview of the unique characteristics of military family life. It begins by defining the military family, provides information on marriage and divorce in the military, and reviews normative stressors and resilience mechanisms in military families. It then explores the impact of the deployment cycle on the family unit and identifies relevant themes for therapy with military families at each stage of the deployment cycle.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Session 4 (GS): Overview of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the Military
8:00-10:00 a.m.
This training module examines mechanisms of blast-related TBI and the signs, symptoms, severity ratings and rates of TBI in the military population. A brief overview of the brain, TBI pathophysiology, and TBI assessment domains as well as screening consequences are provided. The session reviews complications following TBI, the overlap between TBI and PTSD, and resources for families and patients in the military with TBI. Videos are used to highlight key points about mild TBI.
Session 5 (GS): Alcohol and Drug Use in Military Veterans
10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
This training module reviews the epidemiological evidence describing alcohol and drug use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders in civilian and military populations. Commonly used brief assessment instruments for substance use disorders (SUDs) are described, as well as procedures for increasing the accuracy of self-reports. Evidence-based psychological and pharmacological treatments for SUDs are briefly described, ranging from brief interventions that can be incorporated as part of screening for appropriate cases to continuing care approaches for individuals with more severe and chronic problems.
Session 6 (GS): Assessment and Treatment of Depression and Suicidal Behavior Associated with Military Service: An Overview
1:45-4:45 p.m.
This training module outlines the rates of depression and suicide in the civilian, military and veteran population, and provides information about the etiology of depression and suicide. A body of nomenclature for labeling suicidal related behavior is provided. Risk factors, warning signs and protective factors related to suicide are covered. Strategies for assessing depression and suicidal behavior are addressed, and specific psychometric tools are provided. Components of a thorough clinical interview to assess suicide risk are identified along with a theory which addresses the fluctuating nature of suicide risk. Treatments consistent with the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines to address depression and suicidal behavior are provided, with emphasis given to Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy. A specific treatment protocol for treating suicidal behavior is outlined in detail.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Session 7 (GS): Sexual Assault in the United States Military
8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.
This training module reviews the prevalence of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact in the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. It delineates some of the unique factors which contribute to the impact of sexual harassment and sexual assault on Service members. Clinical issues unique to male sexual assault and harassment survivors are reviewed. This session also reviews clinical presentation of military sexual assault survivors who report repeated traumatization.
Session 8 (GS): Ethical Considerations for Working with Military Members and Veterans
10:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
In this training module, comprehensive understanding of informed consent, boundaries of cultural and clinical competence, disposition-driven diagnoses, multiple relationships, and professional fitness are all discussed in breadth and depth in the context of civilian practitioners working with military-connected clients. Decision-making models are presented to address ethical dilemmas, with specific discussion of the role of dual-relationships within a clinical framework. Extensive, complex vignettes are discussed in workshop/group format to ensure comprehensive, nuanced discussion. This presentation is augmented by videos designed to prompt discussion and examples of applied ethical principles.
Session 9 (Track 1): Sleep Disorders: An Overview of Sleep Disorders Common in Military Members
2:45-4:45 p.m.
In this interactive training module, participants will gain an understanding of why people sleep, how sleep is regulated, and sleep architecture. The range of sleep disorders, with a focus on those most common in military members, will be discussed. An emphasis is placed on the importance of a thorough assessment of sleep, including sleep assessment tools and interview techniques. Finally, we will review insomnia, breathing-related sleep disorders, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and parasomnias and provide an overview of the evidence-based treatments for each.
Thursday-Friday, June 18-19, 2015
Session 10 (Track 1): Evidence-Based Treatment for PTSD: Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
8:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
This intensive 2-day module provides training in PE, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD described in the manual Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD – Therapist Guide, by Foa et al., 2007. It covers the theoretical underpinnings and research behind PE, and reviews the main clinical techniques used in this structured protocol. Step-by-step instructions for conducting PE therapy sessions are shared, including in-vivo and imaginal exposure, along with strategies for working with over- and under-engaged patients and other difficult cases. Video examples of PE cases are used to demonstrate therapist skills. Participants are expected to do role-plays in class to practice PE techniques.
*Note: This is a two-day session. Full attendance both days is required. No partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.