Blog posts with the tag "Providers"

Staff Perspective: Updated VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD (Part One)

By Andrew Santanello  on 04.06.2018 2:17 pm

In late 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the Department of Defense published an update to their practice guidelines for the management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This two-part blog will highlight the major recommendations of the new practice guideline: part one will focus on recommendations for screening and assessment and part two will focus on treatment considerations. Although we hope that these blogs help to clarify the major elements of the new guideline, we strongly suggest that all clinicians review the guideline for themselves.

Staff Perspective: Getting Trained in Sleep Disorder Assessment and Treatment

By Timothy Rogers  on 04.04.2018 10:31 am
Timothy Rogers, Ph.D.

The lack of training pertaining to the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders is not uncommon amongst behavioral healthcare providers.  When I am conducting trainings for CDP, few attendees endorse receiving any formal training pertaining to the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders.   However, when asked about the patients that they work with, most attendees indicate the vast majority of their patients have sleep problems.  This critical knowledge gap between training and clinical needs of patients underscores the importance of training in the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders.  In particular, I want to highlight some key points I have taken from my training in this area and have found to be very helpful in my clinical practice, supervision and training.

Staff Perspective: Putting on the Uniform

By Lisa French  on 06.12.2017 10:15 am
Lisa French, Psy.D.

Have you ever wondered, “Should I put on the uniform? Is a career as a military psychologist right for me?” If only there was a program that could introduce interested graduate students on what it is like to serve as a uniformed provider. Oh wait, there is! The CDP is preparing to host their 4th annual, The Summer Institute: Preparing for a Career in the Armed Forces. This five-day course is designed for doctoral students in clinical or counseling psychology who are interested in joining the U.S. military and serving military patients

Staff Perspective: Preparing Spiritual Leaders to Provide Culturally-Informed Care

By Jenna Ermold  on 27.09.2017 10:41 am
Jenna Ermold, Ph.D.

While most of our CDP blogs focus on some aspect of military behavioral health to include understanding, evaluating and treating various psychological wounds of war and reintegration challenges, we don’t often consider and discuss the spiritual conflicts that arise for many of our military-connected clients. These spiritual wounds and needs can have a significant impact and often caring for those needs goes beyond the skillset of a behavioral health provider. A referral or concurrent care addressing both behavioral and spiritual health needs might be the best course of action. 

Staff Perspective: My client says marijuana helps with PTSD symptoms. That can’t be the case… right?

By Josh Gray  on 30.08.2017 9:28 am
Josh Gray, Ph.D.

If a client proclaimed during a session that drugs with abuse potential are beneficial in managing PTSD symptoms, most therapists would identify this as cause for concern. When drugs with abuse potential are used in response to PTSD symptoms, they generally maintain or exacerbate the condition. For example, the classic client with alcohol use disorder and PTSD drinks to avoid trauma-related thoughts and reduce heightened arousal symptoms (e.g., hypervigilance).

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