Blog posts with the tag "Clinical Skills"

Staff Perspective: Behaviorism Saves the Day!

By Andrew Santanello  on 21.06.2017 10:41 am

While working with clients, it can be all too easy to give into the desire to avoid our own discomfort. We buy into our own emotional reasoning and rob our clients of the opportunity to discover their ability to be resilient. When we are staring suffering in the face, our clients need us to put aside our own fears. We cannot cater to the irrational thoughts and emotions that would have us take a “safer” and “more supportive” approach. We need to trust in our training and the principles that operate behind the drama. Our clients need us to help them to discover these principles in action so that they can begin to understand the way to recovery for themselves.

Staff Perspective: Preparing Patients for PTSD Treatment - EBP Education and Treatment Planning

By Jeffrey Mann  on 15.03.2017 10:12 am
Jeff Mann, Psy.D.

Over the last several years there has been an increased emphasis on providing evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) in military and Veteran healthcare environments to treat PTSD. The Institute of Medicine (2007) produced a report indicating that the DoD and VA lacked evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatments they are providing. The report was not suggesting the treatments themselves were not effective, but simply that both the VA and DoD did not have a system in place for measuring the effectiveness of the treatment in those environments. Further inquiry in a variety of studies indicated that only a small portion of individuals diagnosed with PTSD even received EBPs.

Staff Perspective: The Problem with Sleep Hygiene

By Diana Dolan  on 01.03.2017 12:09 pm
Diana Dolan, Ph.D., CBSM

SrA Pruitt slumps in the chair in her primary care provider’s exam room.  She’s frustrated she hasn’t slept much in the past five months since her promotion and just wants a magic bullet to help her fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.  She clearly did not expect her provider to ask her to see me; she crosses her arms and says bitterly “…but I’ve already tried all those things that are supposed to make my sleep better.” 

Staff Perspective: The Virtual Hope Box!

By Sharon Birman  on 22.02.2017 10:53 am
Sharon Birman, Psy.D.

Electronic Health (eHealth) has long been integrated into the mental health field allowing for healthcare practices supported by electronic processes or communication.  One type of eHealth is Mobile Health (or mHealth) interventions, which refers to the use of mobile devices for a number of activities that could include Internet access or searches, text messaging as well as smart phone applications that could be used within a mental health context. Although research remains limited, attention to mobile apps has been rapidly growing due to the increased use of technology in the mental health field.  Mobile mental health support can be very simple but effective, providing users with convenience, anonymity, consistency and round-the-clock service.  Often, technology is utilized to complement traditional therapy rather than replace it.

Staff Perspective: Group vs. Individual Treatment with Cognitive Processing Therapy

By Debra Nofziger  on 07.12.2016 11:50 am
Debra Nofziger, Psy.D.

To “group” or not to “group”…. Have you ever found yourself asking that question as a provider?  There is, of course, the general concept of group theory and what patients work best in a group and those that don’t.  It can be easy to spot people who will not interact with others well, to one extreme or the other.  But it can be harder as a provider to determine the more intricate question of what type of behavioral health problem can be better served in a group format instead of individual. 

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