Alternative Therapies For Ptsd

This book surveys promising alternatives to CBT and prolonged exposure therapy that are easier for trauma survivors to tolerate. It explores their strengths and limitations and provides practical guidelines for implementation.

The number of individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder has increased in the past decade, not only in the military and veteran population but within the civilian population as well. Traditional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have provided less-than-ideal results proving to be less effective when used alone to treat the disorder. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for PTSD supplements these traditional treatments, using new and effective techniques to fill the therapeutic void. The alternative therapies covered include acceptance and commitment therapy, acupuncture, alternative pharmacology, canine assistive therapy, family focused interventions, internet and computer-based therapy, meditation techniques, mobile applications, recreational therapy, resilience training, transracial magnetic stimulation, virtual reality exposure therapy, and yoga. Each chapter delivers the most up-to-date understanding of neurobiology, best practices, and key points for clinicians and patients considering inclusion of these treatments in patient care. Drs. David Benedek and Gary Wynn offer insight into the future of complementary and alternative medicine, shining a light onto how these techniques fit into clinical practice to create the most beneficial treatments for the patient. This book is both an essential resource and practical guide to everyday clinical interactions. It is a necessary addition to the medical library for students and senior clinicians alike.

"Traditional psychological treatments that are most often used to treat PTSD, including cognitive behavioral therapy and prolonged exposure therapy, involve revisiting past traumas, which can cause intense anxiety for clients and often leads to treatment dropout. This book surveys promising alternatives that are much easier for trauma survivors to tolerate and have demonstrated effectiveness in building coping mechanisms and reducing PTSD symptoms. The author, Robert Motta, draws from his own professional expertise as a clinician and from his personal experiences as a veteran seeking effective, accessible methods of treating his own PTSD. He summarizes what is known-as well as what is still unknown or unproven-along with other strengths and limitations of various nontraditional approaches, including mindfulness meditation, yoga, acupuncture, animal and nature-assisted therapies, emotional freedom techniques, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. These treatments are appropriate for clients regardless of their trauma history, whether it be war, rape, childhood abuse, or a car accident. Clinical vignettes provide practical insights for implementing these interventions with individuals of various ages and backgrounds"--

Traditional methods for addressing conflict and healing have been largely replaced in elite settings by modern approaches. Rather than old and new complementing one another, bias is present. New is widely perceived as better among elite institutions, even when research indicates otherwise. Within the realm of international development, the need for cost-effective, sustainable, and successful methods of healing must be explored. Natural Healing as Conflict Resolution is an essential reference book that examines and addresses systemic bias towards natural healing methods and explores the mutually beneficial relationships of natural healing through human and non-human life forms in the context of resolving conflict. It illustrates not only the more obvious biological/physiological benefits of complementary approaches, but also the spiritual, emotional, and psychological benefits of integrating natural means of healing to resolve conflict. As such, the book acknowledges the effectiveness and articulates the benefits of traditional indigenous healing methods and how they can be used in complementary, mutually beneficial ways with modern practices. Highlighting emerging topics that include ecopsychology, parapsychology, and holistic medicine, this book is ideal for conflict resolution practitioners, psychologists, trauma counselors, veterans associations, pet therapists, nature organizations, academics, scientists, eco-architects and designers, international development policymakers, peacebuilding institutions, natural and traditional healers, alternative/integrative medicine practitioners, spiritualists, researchers, and students.

This book is offered as a practical resource on safe, effective and affordable alternative treatments of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you or a loved one are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) this book provides valuable information about non-medication alternatives including lifestyle changes such as exercise and nutrition, herbals and other natural supplements, meditation and mind-body practices and many others. This book is written to give you the maximum amount of information in the least amount of time. From the contents you can instantly navigate to sections that will help you: • Understand PTSD better • Take inventory of your symptoms • Identify treatments that make sense for you based on the research evidence • Learn about alternative treatments of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) • Develop a customized treatment plan that is right for you • Re-evaluate your treatment plan and make changes if your initial plan doesn’t work If you are a mental health professional this book provides concise, jargon-free summaries of alternative treatments of PTSD. An appendix with links to valuable internet resources is included to help you find quality brands of natural supplements and important safety information. This book is part of a series on alternative and integrative treatments of mental health problems. Other books in the series cover: · Alcohol and drug abuse · Anxiety · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) · Bipolar disorder · Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) · Depression · Insomnia · Schizophrenia

This book is offered as a practical resource on safe, effective and affordable treatments of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The book is part of a series on alternative treatments of mental health problems. Other books in the series cover: -Alcohol and drug abuse-Anxiety-Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) -Bipolar disorder-Dementia and mild cognitive impairment-Depression-Insomnia -Schizophrenia If you are currently struggling with symptoms of PTSD and taking a medication that isn't helping, experiencing side effects, or you simply can't afford to continue taking a medication that is working this book provides valuable information about non-medication alternatives that will help you feel and function better such as herbals, vitamins and other natural supplements, meditation and mind-body practices, and energy therapies. This book is written to give you the maximum amount of information in the least amount of time. From the contents you can instantly navigate to sections that will help you: -Understand PTSD better-Take inventory of your symptoms-Identify treatments that make sense for you based on the evidence-Learn about a range of specific alternative treatments of PTSD-Develop a customized treatment plan that is right for you-Re-evaluate your treatment plan and make changes if your initial plan doesn't workIf you are a mental health professional this book provides concise, jargon-free summaries of scientifically validated non-medication treatments you can use when advising clients about safe, effective treatments of PTSD.An appendix with links to valuable internet resources is included to help you find quality brands of natural supplements and important safety information.

The culmination of more than 25 years of clinical work and research, this is the authoritative presentation of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Written by the treatment's developers, the book includes session-by-session guidelines for implementation, complete with extensive sample dialogues and 40 reproducible client handouts. It explains the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of CPT and discusses how to adapt the approach for specific populations, such as combat veterans, sexual assault survivors, and culturally diverse clients. The large-size format facilitates photocopying and day-to-day use. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. CPT is endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, and the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a best practice for the treatment of PTSD.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder describes a novel approach that has the potential to transform the psychological treatment of PTSD. Drawing on exciting new clinical research findings, this book provides a new, less threatening treatment option for the many patients and therapists who find exposure-based treatments grueling. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for PTSD was tested in a randomized controlled trial that compared three psychotherapies.