67th Annual Conference

Friday, February 26

Early Morning Colloquies

Colloquy 8

Serving Our Veterans: Creating and Running Innovative VA Groups

Presenters:          

Anders Goranson, M.S., Intern, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon

Laura E. Johnson, Psy.D., PTSD Team Clinician, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts

Meghan E. Rooney-Johnson, Psy.D., Staff Psychologist/Telemental Health Psychologist, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts

Wendy L. Vincent, M.A., M.S., Psychology Intern, Westborough State Hospital, Westborough, Massachusetts

This presentation consists of a discussion of creation, preparation, facilitation, and evaluation of three groups for veterans. The groups include: a Life Review group for older male veterans with PTSD, a Wellness Recovery Action Plan group, and a Transsexual Veterans group.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Discuss the theory behind life review group work.

2. Apply writing interventions in your work.

3. Describe WRAP and its philosophy.

4. Discuss crisis and post-crisis planning.

5. Identify options in managing staff resistance.

6. Identify options in maintaining group safety.

7. Identify aspects of transgender affirmative therapy.

Course References:

Maercker, A. (2002). Life-review technique in the treatment of PTSD in elderly patients: Rationale and three single case studies. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 8(3), 239-249.

Cook, J., Copeland, M.E., Hamilton, M., Jonikas, J., Razzano, L., Floyd, C., Hudson, W., MacFarlane, R., & Grey, D., (2009). Initial Outcomes of Mental Illness Self-Management using Wellness Recovery Action Planning. Psychiatric Services, [In press]. Retrieved: http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/conference/2008/PTSD3.pdf

Bieschke, K. J., Perez, R. M., & DeBord, K. A. (2007). Handbook of counseling and psychotherapy with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clients. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.