Treating Military Sexual Trauma

The incidence of sexual assault and harassment experienced by members of the US Armed forces has reached epidemic proportions. Its victims often suffer from devastating, life-long consequences to their careers, health, relationships, and psychological wellbeing. This authoritative resource is written for mental health clinicians about understanding and treating military sexual trauma (MST). With contributions from top experts in the field, this book presents information on evidence-based and emerging treatments to address the complex symptoms related to MST. This text provides a solid foundation for clinicians who work with veterans and active duty military personnel and discusses how to address the unique challenges of treating MST in their clients.

This authoritative update presents current findings on--and clinically and ethically sound responses to--the epidemic of sexual assault in the military. It examines in powerful detail how military culture enables a pervasive subculture of sexual violence, from consistently devaluing women to blaming victims and denying them justice. The author's dual attachment/trauma theory lens attends to a wide range of outcomes such as unit members closing ranks against survivors and the continuing impact of assault trauma on veterans' lives. And the book's second half critiques standard forms of treating military sexual trauma in favor of individualized therapy addressing the physical, psychological, and neurological aspects of trauma and recovery. This important volume covers: · Theory and history of sexual violence as a weapon of war. · Legal and health considerations in the aftermath of military sexual assault. · Critical distinctions between military and civilian legal response to sexual assault. · Variations in symptomology among survivors. · Specific barriers to services for male and LGBT survivors. · New and emerging treatment options for military sexual trauma/PTSD. This Second Edition of Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma follows its predecessor as an essential reference on its subject for mental health clinicians treating sexual trauma in the military as well as trauma researchers, sociologists, women's health practitioners, and university students whose focus is women's studies, public policy, public health, social work, psychology, sociology, or political science.

This authoritative update presents current findings on—and clinically and ethically sound responses to—the epidemic of sexual assault in the military. It examines in powerful detail how military culture enables a pervasive subculture of sexual violence, from consistently devaluing women to blaming victims and denying them justice. The author’s dual attachment/trauma theory lens attends to a wide range of outcomes such as unit members closing ranks against survivors and the continuing impact of assault trauma on veterans’ lives. And the book’s second half critiques standard forms of treating military sexual trauma in favor of individualized therapy addressing the physical, psychological, and neurological aspects of trauma and recovery. This important volume covers: · Theory and history of sexual violence as a weapon of war. · Legal and health considerations in the aftermath of military sexual assault. · Critical distinctions between military and civilian legal response to sexual assault. · Variations in symptomology among survivors. · Specific barriers to services for male and LGBT survivors. · New and emerging treatment options for military sexual trauma/PTSD. This Second Edition of Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma follows its predecessor as an essential reference on its subject for mental health clinicians treating sexual trauma in the military as well as trauma researchers, sociologists, women’s health practitioners, and university students whose focus is women’s studies, public policy, public health, social work, psychology, sociology, or political science.

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Military Sexual Trauma: Current Knowledge and Future Directions showcases the work of several prominent military sexual trauma (MST) researchers, scholars, and clinicians from across the United States. A review of existing research and original empirical findings converge to indicate that MST contributes to a range of physical health problems, complex posttraumatic responses, and other mental health consequences above and beyond the effects of other types of traumatic experiences. This collection also presents evidence suggesting that MST is often difficult to identify both within the individual military member and within the military population as a whole. Recommendations are offered for addressing this problem. In addition to the research review and empirical findings, an evolutionary framework for understanding sexual assault of women in the military is presented. Taken together, this collection of works may inform MST intervention and prevention efforts. This book was originally published as a special issue of Journal of Trauma & Dissociation.

Authored by “the” foremost expert on providing EMDR therapy to the military/veteran population! Based on the profound expertise of the author—an EMDR therapist, consultant, and trainer who brings 33 years of military experience to his therapeutic work—this is a “how-to” manual on the unique treatment needs of active duty and veteran populations and how to help them using EMDR therapy. Following an examination of the defining characteristics and philosophy of military culture as they bear on effective therapeutic treatment, the book comprehensively applies the EMDR model to the active military/veteran population with a variety of presenting issues. Considering the clinical challenges of treating a population with repeated exposure to life-threatening experiences, moral injury, sexual assault, and other potentially debilitating trauma, the book addresses skill development, specific to EMDR treatment in detail. This go-to manual covers all the steps and processes of EMDR treatment from introducing EMDR therapy to the client to developing a sense of safety in the treatment arena. Allowing therapists trained in EMDR therapy to appropriately assess and address the clinical needs of the veteran by treating clients with both PTSD and traumatic brain injury; along with moral injury, military sexual trauma (MST), or suicidal ideation by recognizing and addressing avoidance and building motivation for treatment and treatment pitfalls. Case examples address clinical “stuck” points and a variety of treatment options when addressing a broad range of symptoms. The EMDR AIP model is incorporated into each case illustrating the veteran’s treatment goal, presenting symptoms, targeted memories, and clinical decision points in treatment. The print version of the book is also available in ebook format. Key Features: Addresses step-by-step EMDR skill development specific to this population Incorporates the EMDR eight-phase approach Delivers abundant case examples enhanced with clinical treatment options Includes a paradigm for evaluating the military and veteran’s initial clinical presentation Discusses treatment for clients with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, moral injury, sexual trauma, and suicidal ideation Considers the treatment needs of the military family · Includes a variety of helpful patient handouts

This paper reviews data on the prevalence of sexual assault among servicemembers, predictors of disclosure, efforts to improve disclosure, victim needs and DoD efforts to provide necessary resources in the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault. The authors compared civilian and DoD guidelines for care and found them to be generally consistent. However, little is known about the fidelity with which DoD recommendations are implemented.