1. Find a Counselor Conducting Group Therapy
In many instances, veterans suffering from PTSD will only accept help from those who have shared similar traumatic experiences. Fortunately, counselors understand this sentiment and can assist these clients by using group therapy.
When properly constructed, a clinical group will resemble a family. Two counselors (one male and the other female) work together to lead each session. Subconsciously, participants view the therapists as authority figures assuming parental roles. Group members begin to react as though they were siblings by responding to each other and to the therapists as they did in their family of origin.
According to systemic psychology, people are deeply embedded in groups, networks and relationships. Consequently, an individual's social environment shapes his beliefs and actions. Many therapists believe that exploring someone's intimate social interactions is the best way to understand why that person thinks or behaves in a certain way. Group work facilitates this exploration.
2. Note the Benefits of Group Work in Treating PTSD
Group Therapy provides a way for those struggling with combat-related trauma to break free of social isolation and engage in genuine, caring dialogue with fellow sufferers. In time, a sense of camaraderie is developed that allows group members to share concerns and accept the reality of their condition.
Protected by confidentiality, friendly support and consistent encouragement, veterans learn that the symptoms they experience as a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are normal and treatable. Group Therapy also allows members to talk without fear of embarrassment or shame about coping difficulties, daily struggles and domestic frustrations.
3. Participate in a Sharing-Styled Support Group
A sharing-styled group is less formal than other psychological venues and focuses instead on relating and providing support. The individual's comfort is a high priority; therefore, few challenges or direct confrontations are ever made. Clients are not expected to complete homework or to master skills training. Support groups offer acceptance and a haven in which veterans can focus on current life issues instead of on disturbing symptoms they may not be ready to face.
Minimizing frustration and learning to cope are major themes that help to ease members' discomfort and grant them a sense of belonging. Support groups are ideal for persons with PTSD who are unwilling to engage in intensive therapies. Some groups are composed entirely of war veterans, thereby increasing a soldier's trust and making them more receptive to joining.
4. Utilize Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral groups focus on the traumatic event and the disturbing symptoms it produces. Group members are encouraged to share their autobiography and to appreciate the experiences of other members. This sharing allows members to offer insight into problems a person may not be able to see on their own.
Therapists help veterans to uncover repressed feelings related to the traumatic event that continue to cause them pain. These emotions, and all irrational thoughts concerning the trauma, are focal points of treatment. Group members gradually begin to work together, striving to help each other see the trauma realistically and to let go of destructive anger, fear or remorse. Systematic Desensitization and Relapse-Prevention Training increase the group's effectiveness, contributing to the recovery of its members.
