Track 1: PTSD Track
Monday, April 14
Session 1 (GS): Military Culture and Terminology: Enhancing Military Cultural 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 provides 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 separations and reunions are discussed.
Session 3 (GS): The Unique Challenges of Military Families – 2:45–4:45 p.m.
This training module provides an overview of the unique characteristics of military family life. It reviews the demographics of military families, describes military marriages and the impact of military life on child development, explores the impact of deployments on military families, and highlights risk and resiliency factors in military families. Strategies for working with military families are also discussed.
Tuesday, April 15
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. We also provide a brief overview of the brain, TBI pathophysiology, and TBI assessment domains as well as screening consequences. The workshop 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.
Coming Soon
Wednesday, April 16
Session 7 (GS): Ethical Considerations for Working with Military Members and Veterans – 8:00 a.m.- 12:15 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 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.
Session 8 (Track 1): Sleep Disorders: An Overview of Sleep Disorders Common in Military Members – 12:45-2:45 p.m.
In this interactive training module, participants will gain an understanding of why people sleep, how sleep is regulated, and sleep architecture. It also includes discussion of the range of sleep disorders with a focus on those most common in military members. 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.
Session 9 (GS): Sexual Assault in the United States Military – 3:00-5:00 p.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 OIF/OEF veterans as well as male sexual assault and harassment survivors are reviewed.
Thursday-Friday, April 17-18
Session 10 (Track 1): Evidence-Based Treatment for PTSD: Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) – 8:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m. each day
*Note: PE is a two-day session. Attendance both days is required. This session is a training of advanced psychotherapy practices, and attendance is limited to licensed mental health providers and those working in a clinical capacity under supervision.
This intensive 2-day workshop provides training in Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, 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, including in-vivo and imaginal exposure, along with strategies for working with over- and under-engaged patients and other difficult cases, are shared. Videotaped examples of PE cases are used to demonstrate therapist skills. Participants are expected to do role-plays in class to practice PE techniques.