Military

Post Traumatic Growth – Good News for Trauma

Speaker(s):

Presentation: Post Traumatic Growth is how people transform after adversity. This presentation will review trauma, and discuss the paths to PTG. This will be helpful for therapists who work with PTSD. Treatment for PTSD can be frustrating for therapists and clients as it takes time. By learning about growth after trauma this will help in treatment planning and give hope and direction to PTSD clients. Based on the books “What Doesn’t Kill Us” by Stephen Joseph, PhD and “Upside” by Jim Rendon.

Objectives:

Review the latest treatment techniques for PTSD
Implement strategies for clients and their families to process and hope for future outcomes
Identify paths to post traumatic growth

Slides:

McAndrew_POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH II

Battlemind, Understanding PTSD in Combat Veterans

Speaker(s):

Brian Ouellette, MA and Stephanie Starkey, MA, LPC, CCTP

Presentation: Battlemind examines the impact of deployments on veterans, including how it can affect their relationships. It looks at relationship dynamics associated with multiple deployments, as well as how PTSD symptoms can develop. The last part of this presentation involves showing a film called Now After, done by an Iraq Veteran who was a film student at the University of Southern California at the time. During the last part of this presentation, we focus on tips of what not to say or do to a veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Also discussed are Vet Centers and how they can be utilized to assist veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other readjustment issues.

Objectives:

Review particular strategies to be used in support of military personnel and their families
Summarize trauma and substance abuse issues as well as how co-occurring disorders may be present in military veterans
Describe therapeutic approaches that are currently used by the Veterans Administration to meet the behavioral health needs of their clients

Slides:

Ouellette_STI2017

Thakur, MD, Hemant

COL (Ret.) Hemant Thakur M.D. is a medical doctor, Assistant clinical professor, OIF/OEF Veteran and specialist in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a board-certified psychiatrist with specialized training in psychosomatic medicine, he has worked in various mental health settings, including alcohol/ drug rehabilitation programs. Dr. Thakur was a Colonel in the US Army Reserve and Director of PTSD Program for more than twenty years. He also worked for more than Twenty-eight years with the VA. He is an author of three books with his latest book, “Innovative Holistic Approaches to PTSD and Life Stress” and has lectured extensively in eight countries.

Monica Matthieu, PhD

This workshop is designed to prepare front line workers with competencies for engaging and responding to adults who may be at risk for suicide. This training will focus on appropriate intake questions, assessment issues, and a recommended tool for managing risk, with specific focus on safety planning in the context of suicide prevention. The focus of this presentation is on assessing and managing adults at risk for suicide and skills related to micro practice. Case examples will focus on the veteran population and materials from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ suicide prevention program.