As Suicide Prevention month just wrapped up, I wanted to share an article I recently read focusing on the suicide risk for transitioning Service members. Data has shown that the period of transition from military service to civilian life is one of increased risk for Service members.
When we were first kicking around the idea for the Practical for Your Practice podcast, we decided we wanted the show to feel like a conversation among colleagues–nothing scripted and nothing preachy or condescending–about the real world challenges of implementing EBPs. Our intent from the very beginning was to invite listeners into these conversations–to feel as though they were our colleagues participating in these discussions, either while driving in to work, taking a walk at lunch, or winding down after a long day.
I’ve had mixed experiences with group therapy in my clinical practice. There’s no doubt that groups offer unique benefits beyond individual therapy. But they can also be difficult to initiate, in terms of recruiting group members, conducting screenings, and finding a time (and location) that works for all. And, in my experience, the choice to offer a group can sometimes be made out of necessity, as opposed to being a thoughtful recommendation based on the particular needs of the patient(s)
As behavioral health providers, many of us receive training, and are well positioned to help people after a disaster or traumatic event. But what do you do in situations of ongoing threat, ongoing stress and adversity, perhaps lasting months or years? In this episode of Practical for Your Practice, we are joined by the amazing Dr. Patricia Watson, a psychologist at the National Center for PTSD, who walks us through the incredibly versatile Stress First Aid (SFA) model.
How much advice should a provider provide, if the provider could provide advice? As behavioral health providers we often, with good intentions, get swept up in a mission of change with (for?) our clients. A client states problems they are experiencing and we clearly see what needs to be “fixed” and jump in with our EBP guns blazing. But perhaps, at times, we are a little too quick on the draw.