Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Week 5: Psychotherapy With Trauma
Disorders resulting from trauma are significantly different from other psychiatric mental health issues. Unlike disorders such as schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, trauma-related disorders do not occur randomly in the population. Instead, trauma is something that occurs as a result of the lived experience of a traumatic event. According to the National Center for PTSD, more than half of the population will experience trauma during their lifetime (National Center for PTSD, 2010). Although most people will recover from the trauma on their own, some require therapeutic interventions. While there are medications that can help individuals with trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the foundation of treatment continues to be psychotherapy.
This week, as you explore psychotherapy with trauma, you assess clients presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder. You also examine therapies for treating these clients and consider potential outcomes. Finally, you develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Learning Resources
Required Readings
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
- Chapter 13, “Stabilization for Trauma and Dissociation” (pp. 469–508)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Note: You will access this text from the Walden Library databases.
Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2012a). Academic year in residence: Thompson family case study [Multimedia file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Ochberg, F. (2012). Psychotherapy for chronic PTSD [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.
Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 84 minutes.
Optional Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). Behavioral health issues among Afghanistan and Iraq U.S. war veterans. In Brief, 7(1), 1–7. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA12-4670/SMA12-4670.pdf
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA14-4884/SMA14-4884.pdf
Wolpe, J. (n.d.). Joseph Wolpe on systematic desensitization [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 59 minutes.
Bruce, T., & Jongsma, A. (2010b). Evidence-based treatment planning for post-traumatic stress disorder [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.
Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 74 minutes.
Wilson, R. (2012). Exposure therapy for phobias [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.
Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 95 minutes.
Discussion: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
It is estimated that more than 6% of the U.S. population will experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime (National Center for PTSD, 2010). This debilitating disorder often interferes with an individual’s ability to function in daily life. Common symptoms of anxiousness and depression frequently lead to substance abuse issues and even physical ailments. For this Discussion, as you examine the Thompson Family Case Study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat clients presenting with PTSD. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Assess clients presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder
- Analyze therapeutic approaches for treating clients presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder
- Evaluate outcomes for clients with posttraumatic stress disorder
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide.
- View the media Academic Year in Residence: Thompson Family Case Study, and assess the client in the case study.
- For guidance on assessing the client, refer to pages 137–142 of the Wheeler text in this week’s Learning Resources. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Note: To complete this Discussion, you must assess the client, but you are not required to submit a formal Comprehensive Client Assessment.
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!
By Day 3
Post on or before Day 3 an explanation of your observations of the client William in Thompson Family Case Study, including behaviors that align to the PTSD criteria in DSM-5. Then, explain therapeutic approaches you might use with this client, including psychotropic medications if appropriate. Finally, explain expected outcomes for the client based on these therapeutic approaches. Support your approach with evidence-based literature. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing one alternative therapeutic approach. Explain why you suggest this alternative and support your suggestion with evidence-based literature and/or your own experiences with clients.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 5 Discussion Rubric
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 5 Discussion
Assignment 1: Practicum – Week 5 Journal Entry
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy*
- Evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic approaches for clients*
- Analyze legal and ethical implications of counseling clients with psychiatric disorders*
* The Assignment related to this Learning Objective is introduced this week and submitted in Week 7.
Select a client whom you observed or counseled that suffers from a disorder related to trauma. Then, address the following in your Practicum Journal:
- Describe the client (without violating HIPAA regulations) and identify any pertinent history or medical information, including prescribed medications.
- Using the DSM-5, explain and justify your diagnosis for this client.
- Explain whether any of the therapeutic approaches in this week’s Learning Resources would be effective with this client. Include expected outcomes based on these therapeutic approaches. Support your approach with evidence-based literature.
- Explain any legal and/or ethical implications related to counseling this client.
- Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
By Day 7 of Week 7
Submit your Assignment.
Assignment 2: Board Vitals
This week you will be responding to twenty Board Vitals questions that cover a broad review of your Nurse Practitioner program courses up to this point.
These review questions will provide practice that is critical in your preparation for the national certification exam that’s required to certify you to practice as a nurse practitioner. These customized test questions are designed to help you prepare for your Nurse Practitioner certification exam. It is in your best interest to take your time, do your best, and answer each question to the best of your ability.
You can access Board Vitals through the link sent to you in email or by following the link below:
https://www.boardvitals.com/
By Day 7
Complete the Board Vitals questions.
Week in Review
Now that you have:
- Assessed clients presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder
- Analyzed therapeutic approaches for treating clients presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder
- Evaluated outcomes for clients with posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
- Developed diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy
- Evaluated the efficacy of therapeutic approaches for clients
- Analyzed legal and ethical implications of counseling clients with psychiatric disorders
Next week, you will:
- Assess clients presenting with addictive disorders
- Analyze therapeutic approaches for treating clients with addictive disorders
- Evaluate outcomes for clients with addictive disorders
- Assess knowledge of concepts and principles related to the psychotherapy of individuals
- Develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy
- Evaluate the efficacy of motivational interviewing techniques for clients
- Analyze legal and ethical implications of counseling clients with psychiatric disorders. Psychotherapy With Trauma – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder