For God and Country: Applying Catholic Anthropology in the Treatment of Soldiers and Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

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Description: The seven values espoused by soldiers in the United States Army of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage are in perfect continuity with premises highlighted in the Catholic understanding of the human person. Because of the nature of their work, active-duty soldiers and combat veterans are vulnerable to developing symptoms of and meeting diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. While the application of evidence-based treatment approaches such as prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, written exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing are considered best practices in the treatment of trauma by the APA, this presentation seeks to highlight the growing body of evidence suggesting that addressing religious and spiritual dimensions of trauma and intertwining spiritually integrated interventions can benefit the healing process and enhance personal growth.

Category of Education: D1.1 Assessment/ Evaluation, Intervention

Intended Audience: 

• Students
• Psychologists
• Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors
• Clergy/Religious
• Medical professionals, M.D., P.A., Nurses

Content Learning Level: Intermediate 

Learning Objectives: 

• 1. Identify three potentially traumatic events (PTE) to which many active-duty Soldiers are susceptible (Being harmed while deployed, having a friend harmed while deployed, harming another while deployed).
• 2. Describe how evidence-based approaches to therapy effectively treat symptoms of PTSD.
• 3. Discuss how an approach to treatment that integrates Catholic anthropology can provide a broader framework that enhances thorough healing and growth.

Schedule: 

• Military culture and Army values with Catholic anthropology (25 min).
• Case study: MAJ K. (10 min)
• Etiology, symptoms, and approaches to treatment of PTSD (20 min).
• Integrating Catholic anthropological interventions in treatment and its efficacy (25 min).
• Case study: LTC S. (10 min)