PTSD 101 Beyond the Basics

PTSD 101 Beyond the Basics

Looking for more detailed information about treating PTSD? These courses explore advanced topics.
Advanced Clinical Practice

Deepen your understanding of PTSD treatment with advanced courses taught by expert clinicians.

Recommendations for Acute Stress Management and Prevention of PTSD http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/acute_stress/Player/launchPlayer.html?courseID=1566&courseCode=PTSD101_watson_pfa

VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline Series (2010)

The course, Recommendations for Acute Stress Management and Prevention of PTSD, provides an overview of the Clinical Practice Guideline for acute stress management and prevention of PTSD. The author reviews the literature supporting interventions for acute stress and describes two specific protocols: Psychological First Aid and Stress First Aid.

Author: Patricia Watson, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Summarize the recommendations in the VA DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD (2010) for management of acute stress and prevention of PTSD
   2. Describe the evidence-informed principles underlying the intervention strategies of Psychological First Aid and Stress First Aid
   3. Describe the basic objectives and intervention strategies of Psychological First Aid and Stress First Aid

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Read the brochure (PDF) required for this course, which lists specialties that may receive credit. See more on CE Credits.


Cognitive Processing Therapy http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/CPT/Player/launchPlayer.html?courseID=1568&courseCode=PTSD101_cpt

VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline Series (2010)

This presentation provides an overview of the 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Cognitive Processing Therapy as a Level A psychotherapy intervention for PTSD.

The author carefully reviews the research support for Cognitive Processing Therapy and provides information about delivering the treatment.

Author: Kathleen Chard, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Summarize the VA/DoD 2010 Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD related to Cognitive Processing Therapy
   2. Review the empirical evidence supporting Cognitive Processing Therapy
   3. Describe and demonstrate the clinical application of Cognitive Processing Therapy

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Read the brochure (PDF) required for this course, which lists specialties that may receive credit. See more on CE Credits.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/prolonged_exposure/Player/launchPlayer.html?courseID=1521&courseCode=PTSD101_pe

VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline Series (2010)

This presentation describes the clinical application of Prolonged Exposure (PE) and provides a thorough review of research supporting its use for PTSD.

The author also reviews the 2010 VA/DoD Guideline recommendation for the use of PE with patients who have PTSD.

Author: Sheila Rauch, PhD, ABPP

Goals and Objectives

   1. Summarize the Veteran's Affairs / Department of Defense (DoD) 2010 Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD related to Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
   2. Review the empirical evidence supporting PE
   3. Describe and demonstrate the clinical application of PE

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Read the brochure (PDF) required for this course, which lists specialties that may receive credit. See more on CE Credits.


Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Stress Inoculation Training http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/emdr/Player/launchPlayer.html?courseID=1533&courseCode=PTSD101_emdr-sit

VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline Series (2010)

The purpose of this course is to review the VA/DoD 2010 clinical practice guideline recommendations regarding EMDR and SIT for PTSD.

The presenter provides an overview of the components of each treatment and presents the research evidence behind these models for PTSD.


Author: Joe Ruzek, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Summarize the 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations for EMDR and SIT
   2. Describe EMDR and the research literature supporting its use for PTSD
   3. Describe SIT and the research literature supporting its use for PTSD

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Coming soon.

Increasing Effectiveness of PTSD Treatments http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/PTSD_Treatment/player.html

This course addresses how to increase the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments for PTSD, particularly in difficult cases and situations. The author presents how to decide who is appropriate for evidence-based treatment using assessment. She discusses common barriers to effective delivery of PTSD treatment and provides solutions to overcome these barriers.

Author: Kathleen M. Chard, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Understand the limitations of evidence-based therapy for PTSD
   2. Identify and address potential treatment-interfering behaviors
   3. Develop strategies for managing complex cases

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Read the brochure (PDF) required for this course, which lists specialties that may receive credit. See more on CE Credits.

Overcoming Barriers http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/downloads/audio/murphy-rosen_barriers_a.zip

The course Overcoming Barriers to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment Engagement reviews strategies for improving PTSD patients' motivation to engage in treatment and to change long-standing maladaptive ways of coping with PTSD symptoms. Topics reviewed include behaviors that PTSD patients are often ambivalent about changing, roadblocks to admitting need to change, overview of a PTSD motivation enhancement group, treatment-related beliefs (fears and expectancies), and therapeutic alliance factors.

Author: Ronald Murphy, PhD (biography unavailable) and Craig Rosen, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Identify reasons why patients may be reluctant to change long-standing behaviors
   2. Outline key elements of the PTSD Motivation Enhancement Group
   3. Articulate common differences between clients' and therapists' perspectives and assumptions that may impede effective treatment

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Read the brochure (PDF) required for this course, which lists specialties that may receive credit. See more on CE Credits.

Couples and PTSD http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/couples_therapy/player.html

This presentation provides an overview of the research documenting the association between PTSD and intimate relationship problems.

The rationale and methods for including partners and loved ones in the assessment and treatment of PTSD are also discussed.

Author: Candice Monson, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Review research documenting association between PTSD and intimate relationship problems
   2. Discuss inclusion of partners in the assessment of PTSD and relationship functioning
   3. Review different methods of incorporating significant others in PTSD treatment

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Read the brochure (PDF) required for this course, which lists specialties that may receive credit. See more on CE Credits.

Group Treatment for PTSD http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/group/Player/launchPlayer.html?courseID=1527&courseCode=PTSD101_group

This presentation describes the clinical application of group therapy for PTSD and carefully evaluates the research support for group therapy.

The authors also review the recommendations provided by the 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD regarding the use of group therapy for PTSD.

Author: Denise M. Sloan, PhD and Tracie Shea, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Describe group therapy for PTSD
   2. Describe the important methodological factors to consider when evaluating clinical trial research on group treatment for PTSD
   3. Evaluate the available research for group treatment
   4. Review the 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for group treatment for PTSD

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Coming soon.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/ACTherapy/Player/launchPlayer.html?courseID=1468&courseCode=PTSD101_act

The purpose of this PTSD 101 course is to describe the theoretical underpinnings and clinical application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as it could be applied to PTSD.

The presenters also describe the limited empirical support for delivering ACT to persons with PTSD and discuss the need for more research.

Author: Robyn Walser, PhD and Sonja Batten, PhD

Goals and Objectives

   1. Describe Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Overview and theoretical underpinnings
   2. Review the state of the evidence
   3. Explore the six core processes used in ACT and introduce their clinical application

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Coming soon.