Opening Insights
Veterans hold a place in our hearts, souls and nation that many of us revere in esteem and appreciation. Their stories are meaningful and powerful and have much to teach us as a nation, people and human race. While many seek to capture and share their stories (through legacy publishing), some are too traumatized and stuck to know where to start or how to remember without re-experiencing the emotional pain and trauma they struggle to understand, let alone communicate.
Informational Insights
While there are many treatments available to Veterans today, many of them fail to effectively create lasting change and serenity with Vets. Treatments such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Medication and even Mindfulness (Polusny, 2015), Transcendental Mediation (Moore, 2016) have been shown to be effective in treating PTSD in Vets, however long-term change and resolution is still tempestuous and for the most part many call for more evidence-based processes and test. The reality is if we need to keep proving the same approach and theory, there must be holes and limitations that are preventing us from achieving believable and undeniable results.
Group Therapy has been shown to support Veterans, and establish a sense of community (for a short time) yet the limitations are noted:
Despite the rich history of group treatments for PTSD, there is a surprising lack of methodologically rigorous studies in this domain. We know that at one point, “rap groups” were seen to be the treatment of choice for Vietnam Veterans (Foy et al., 2000) and support groups still play a significant role in many agencies that serve trauma survivors, including Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) settings (Hundt, Robinson, Arney, Stanley, & Cully, 2015).
Despite the popularity of support groups for trauma survivors, the group treatment research literature is characterized by open trial (e.g., Ready et al., 2008) or non-randomized designs (e.g., Resick & Schnicke, 1992), which are helpful in the beginning stages of treatment development.
However, the number of randomized clinical trials (RCT) is limited. Consequently, there are currently no group treatments for PTSD recognized as evidence-based (e.g., VA & Department of Defense [DoD], 2010).
(Sloan & Beck, 2006)
While the Veteran community is “tight” the reality is that they need to learn how to function within the world and the world needs to learn how to support them … until now no real platform and solution has existed to support Veterans and their environments.
The Pocket Wisdom Insights collaborative group process (when implemented under professional supervision) provides all the advantages of group therapy, as well as the transformative tools, educational skills, emotional development and culture to support individuals and the collective group to learn how “to be in the world, but not of the world” (Jorgensen, 2010). The group process based on principles allows group members to meet one another on an equal (learning) level creating a culture of common educational goals and purpose to uncover and discover resolution in believable and achievable ways.
This approach uses principle-based teachings to create a foundation of group norms and “rules.” These teachings are delivered through a systematic and seamless computer based process known as PLT (Personal Learning Technology). PLT incorporates delivery technology that aligns with and enhances CBT, and evokes an EMDR-like experience as the viewer engages in a systematic and structured eye movement experiences, which crosses the mid-line in a rhythmical matter, balances the brain and creates a state of mindfulness as emotional skills and resources are being learned. This provides a measurable evidence-based process comprising of the following interdependent features and Steps:
- Offline PLT Learning eMod Computer Viewings
- Offline Companion Study Guides/ Workbooks
- Online Feedback Assessments
- Online / eMail Content Feedback
- Online Facilitation
- Reporting
- Learner Participation and Contribution –Learner Applications
Using this proven and replicatable process as a foundation for group norms and “rules” has effectively shown to create a group environment conducive and supportive of change. More testing is needed to verify its effectiveness in RCT. We hypothesis that the application of the Pocket Wisdom Insights model will enhance the effectiveness, efficacy, reliability and viability of Group Therapy, while providing an evidence based approach that can lead to greater usage across multiple settings and spheres.
Sources:
Polusny MA, et al. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans. JAMA. 2015;314(5):456-465.
Moore, B. (May 28, 2016). Transcendental meditation shows promise as PTSD therapy. Military Times. Retrieved June 10, 2016, from //www.militarytimes.com/story/military/advice/kevlar-for-the-mind/2016/05/28/transcendental-meditation-shows-promise-ptsd-therapy/84971310/
US Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). PTSD: National Center for PTSD – Treatment of PTSD. Retrieved June 10, 2016, from //www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/treatment-ptsd.asp
US Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Veterans stories are not just stories, they are America’s history. Retrieved June 10, 2016, from //www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/28031/veterans-stories-not-just-stories-americas-history/
Sloan, D. M & Beck, J. G. Group Treatment for PTSD. PTSD Research Quarterly: Advancing Science and Promoting Understanding of Traumatic Stress.Retrieved June 10, 2016, from //www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V27N2.pdf
Possibilities for Consideration
Take a moment and examine…
- As you reviewed the material above, what stood out to you?
- What is the potential impact, economically and/or socially?
- What action is needed to stop or support this idea?
- You may want to consider whether you:
- want to be aware of,
- should become supportive of,
- would want to be active in this topic?
Add Your Insight
I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough; we must do.
LEONARDO DA VINCI