Saturday, April 11, 2015

PTSD, TBI and art therapy. part 4

I am proposing a workshop for vets and thought it responsible of me to do some research into a little of what vets are going, their concerns, and perhaps determine if there is a standard protocol for interacting with those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
I researched first the field manual used by counselors put out by the American Psychological Association know as TIP 42.

https://youtu.be/7zKsLoPY6Wg?list=PLNuFJFRYMHW_nHFIt1nLbDOEB5RbHRCYe 
 Clip I ran across on the Official Military Health website.
It touches on and demonstrates some of the tricky issues veterans are dealing with when traumatized or seriously injured.
Full article from the site
http://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2015/03/18/Art-Therapy-Provides-Pathway-to-Healing-for-Those-with-Traumatic-Brain-Injuries

Another article to check out
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/veterans-affairs-wait-times_n_7031226.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

What is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is really an anxiety based ailment (Shay, 2002 p.4)
In his incredible book Odysseus in America Dr. Shay describes his experiences working as VA counselor in D.C. He compares the classic work from Homer to the contemporary experiences of veterans returning home from war. That a two thousand year old work still sounds modern is one thing but that in all that time we haven't figured out how to stop making war is perhaps the real thing we should notice. 
Odysseus in America 
http://www.amazon.com/Odysseus-America-Combat-Trauma-Homecoming/dp/074321157X

Most importantly for me and my research he Shay sets out some guide lines or a kind of protocol for working with vets. As well he describes the stages vets must pass through to reach recovery. For my interest he suggests ways that art therapy music therapy and none professionals can and might be able to do more for vets than hours of therapy. He describes the way that vets mistrust, "the system," and therefore loathe people waving degrees and accolades around and that simple listening being genuine might get you further in getting to know vets and also aid them more.
The biggest suggestion he makes is that vets and only vets understand what they are collectively going through. Any program that might get vets together allows them to sort things out on their level with mutual trust, respect, and understanding.
Other books on my research reading list.

Driscoll, P., & Straus, C. (2009). Hidden battles on unseen fronts: Stories of American soldiers with  
traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Drexel Hill, PA: Casemate.

Muscari, M. (2012). What nurses know-- PTSD. New York: DemosHealth.

Samuels, M., & Lane, M. (2013). Healing with the arts: A 12-week program to heal yourself and

your community. New York, New York: Atria paperback.


Shay, J. (2002). Odysseus in America: Combat trauma and the trials of homecoming. New York, New
York: Scribner.

Turk, D., & Winter, F. (2006). The pain survival guide: How to reclaim your life. Washington, DC: 
American Psychological Association.


Zayfert, C., & DeViva, J. (2011). When someone you love suffers from posttraumatic stress: What 
to expect and what you can do. New York: Guilford Press.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons With Co-Occurring Disorders.Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 42. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13-3992. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
ps I looked through the above publication from the APA and the recommended citation wasn't APA. They even hate APA and they are the APA.

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