Getting HelpPsych. 190

Dr. Elena Klaw

Goals for Today Partner discussion activity: getting help What makes it hard to get help? Why do it? Barriers for Vets Treatments for PTSD Advice for helping professionals serving

Vets Guest Speakers: SJSU Director of Military

and Vet Program Services, U. Co. Services,

Partner Discussion Activity Think of a time that it would have

benefitted you to ask for help but you didn’t.

Why didn’t you ask for help?

Reasons We May Give Ourselves(See Kivel, 2010, Ch. 12)

“I don’t want to bother anyone. It really isn’t that important. No one would understand. How could they help

me anyway? I’m embarrassed to admit it happened to me. It will probably go away or get better. I don’t want to cause a problem. I should take

care of it myself. Other people’s problems are much more serious

than mine. They might laugh at me. I don’t know how to talk

about it. “

Social Reasons(Kivel, 2010, Ch. 12)

We see our problems as personal problems instead of looking at social forces (political, economic)

Protestant Ethic/Capitalism - Says we are responsible for what happens to us

Masculine values Fear of being vulnerable Fear of being out of control

So, why get help??

Why Should a Vet Get Help?(Hoge, 2010)

By integrating traumatic experiences, a person can reduce the number and severity of symptoms they experience improve their ability to relate to people, to function at work, and to enjoy life.

Barrier to Care for Vets

Less than half of Vets who need it seek help! • Warrior mindset• Fear that they won’t be able to handle memories

coming up, will lose control• Concerned therapist can’t understand• Seeing concerns as mental illness/disorder• Stigma• Navigating insurance, VA system• Career related consequences• Don’t think it could help

Therapies for PTSD Exposure – talking about the experience

in a structured way, most evidence Cognitive Restructuring- change thoughts Cognitive Processing – adds written

exposure and relaxation Eye Movement Desensitization and

Reprocessing (EMDR)- includese xposure, cognitive teechniques, relaxation

Group Therapy Medication: SSRI

Advice for Therapists Prepare but ask questions Provide empathy and normalize

• “Your reactions were really essential for you in combat but are hurting you now..”

• “You are not going crazy” Clarify that you are not judging See people as whole individuals Don’t use psych lingo to label Don’t tell people what to do! Be an ally through ups and downs