For this discussion, you need to be able to have access to this video. Please click on the link

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012a). Academic year in residence: Thompson family case study [Multimedia file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Week 5: Psychotherapy With Trauma

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.

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.

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.

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.

Photo Credit: RoosterHD/Creatas Video/Getty Images

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Learning Resources

Required Readings

American Nurses Association. (2014).
Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• Standard 3 “Outcomes Identification” (pages 48-49)

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.

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/S…

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/S…

Wolpe, J. (n.d.).
Joseph Wolpe on systematic desensitization [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 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.

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