Blog posts with the tag "Clinical Skills"

Guest Perspective: Targeting suicide risk itself, not psychological disorders, reduces suicidal behavior

By Craig Bryan  on 15.03.2016 11:18 am

This past year our research team published the results of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) testing brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) as compared to treatment as usual (TAU) for the prevention of suicidal behavior among military personnel. BCBT is the first scientifically-supported intervention for preventing suicidal behavior in the military. Soldiers who received the 12-session BCBT were 60% less likely to make a suicide attempt during the 2-year follow-up as compared to Soldiers who received TAU. As the public’s awareness of BCBT grows, there has been considerable interest in understanding more about this treatment. Below I provide answers to some of the most common questions asked about BCBT.

Staff Perspective: Evidence-Based Care: Why Are Providers So Resistant to Treatments We Don’t Know?

By Debra Nofziger  on 13.01.2016 10:52 am
Debra Nofziger, Psy.D.

While every provider may experience some initial discomfort with implementing an unfamiliar treatment, I am often surprised with how resistant many mental health providers are toward learning and implementing evidence-based treatments.  An article on this topic by Scott Lilienfeld and colleagues demonstrates this resistance, reasons for it, and potential ways to work through it.  I believe providers on all sides of this issue should read this article as a way to both consider another perspective and to clarify their own opinions.

Staff Perspective: Suicide Postvention - Don’t Forget Clinician Survivors

By Lisa French  on 21.10.2015 1:44 pm
Lisa French, Psy.D.

Clinicians are affected when a patient suicides.  We may all be affected differently.  Some of us may grieve the loss, some of us may question our competence, and some of us may fear seeing future suicidal or high-risk patients.  There are also confounding variables that may arise following the suicide event that can complicate or extend the grief process, including legal/ethical issues, administrative requirements, and clinic procedures to name a few. 

Staff Perspective: Summer Vacation: The Benefits of “Exposure”

By Paula Domenici  on 19.08.2015 1:07 pm

For most of us, summer conjures up the idea of vacation. Rather than thinking of vacation as only a time for leaving behind something stressful or routine, I have come to see it as an opportunity for proactively adding to my treasure chest through real life exposures. Yes, the kind we refer to in Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy.

Staff Perspective: In Support of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (Part 2): Now What?

By Diana Dolan  on 12.08.2015 10:57 am
Diana Dolan, Ph.D., CBSM

We reviewed some evidence for the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) in Part 1 of this article, and began to discuss how clinicians can structure a group, such as components, number of sessions, and session length.  Today, let’s follow-up to share some logistics about how to set your CBTI group up for success.  Specifically, you’ll want to consider who sends patients to your group, which patients sent are the best fit for your group, group sizing and composition, and how to document your group’s progress, including outcome measurement.

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