Specialty Treatments Offered at the Madison VA PTSD Clinic - William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
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William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital

 

Specialty Treatments Offered at the Madison VA PTSD Clinic

PTSD Skills Group

Meets for 10 weeks, teaches a variety of coping skills for all the symptoms and problems often associated with PTSD. No trauma is discussed in group. There are brief written assignments each week to help Veterans learn how to use the skills outside of sessions. Both male and female Veterans are welcome as are Veterans from all eras.

Imagery Rehearsal Group Therapy

Meets for 4 weeks; aimed at reducing nightmares through teaching a strategy for changing nightmares into less distressing dreams (research shows that when nightmares are changed, all PTSD symptoms tend to improve). No trauma is discussed in group nor is the content of trauma related dreams. There are brief written assignments each week to help veterans learn how to use the skills outside of sessions. Click here for more information on nightmares and their treatment. 

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Veterans meet every week for 12 weeks with a therapist. Veterans are asked to write about their most traumatic experiences and read those accounts each day as part of the therapy. There are other brief written assignments each week. This is the best treatment in terms of demonstrated effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving daily functioning.

Seeking Safety Group

A present-focused group therapy to help people attain safety from trauma/PTSD and substance abuse. The group meets once a week for 25 weeks. Veterans can join these groups at any time after the initial orientation meetings. The key principles of Seeking Safety are:

  • Safety as the overarching goal (helping veterans attain safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions);
  • Integrated treatment (working on both PTSD and substance abuse at the same time);
  • A focus on ideals to counteract the loss of ideals in both PTSD and substance abuse;
  • Four content areas: cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, case management.

PTSD Class for Couples 

A 12-week class to help the Veteran and their significant other improve their relationship and reduce the veteran's PTSD symptoms. This is an educational group that will discuss the symptoms of PTSD, explore their effects on relationships, and introduce techniques for coping with these symptoms as a couple.

There are several effective treatments for PTSD and many individuals can recover from this disorder and lead productive and fulfilling lives. Click here for more information on treatments for PTSD.


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