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Please note that ALL 7 Workshops MUST be attended in-person and on Widener's campus. NO online workshops/courses are offered at this time. The next cycle will be offered in SPRING 2013.
Program Overview
While more than 1.6 million American troops have deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), more servicemen and women are surviving than ever before because of better body armor and helmets, as well as improved battlefield medicine.
However, transitioning home from these conflicts can be a grueling fight for some of our men and women in uniform, including National Guard and Reserve members. It is not uncommon for these individuals to face numerous readjustment challenges, including behavioral health problems like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Family members, too, are affected as they work to reconnect with their warriors, some of whom have deployed two or three times or more.
We have learned from past wars that immediately identifying and tackling combat stress injuries is vital for overcoming them. So local communities across the country are charged with doing more today to reach out and shore up our newest generation of warfighters and their families.
Against this backdrop, the Center for Deployment Psychology has established the Military and Veteran Behavioral Health Post-Master’s Certificate Program to teach best clinical practices to mental health professionals who are addressing the behavioral health needs of military personnel, veterans and their families. This intensive program covers key topics identified by behavioral health experts in the field, such as military culture, combat trauma, suicidal risk, and blast-related TBI. Completing the full certificate program is strongly recommended for health-care professionals who wish to obtain the comprehensive skills and knowledge needed to care for our troops.
Presented by the Center for Deployment Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences,* and The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.
Prerequisite for the Certificate Program
- Civilian mental health professionals with at least a master’s degree who are actively treating, or plan to treat, the military / veteran population.
- The course material is not designed for, and may not be appropriate for, non-professionals and those who are not working with the military / veteran population.
- Active Duty mental health professional interested in enrolling in this program should contact the Center for Deployment Psychology by calling Linda Grill at (301) 295-1598 to inquire about other trainings developed specifically for them.
Program Format and Benefits
- 40 CE credits of approved workshops
- Completion in six to 12 months
- Includes seven core workshops and no electives
- Certificate in Military and Veteran Behavioral Health upon completion
Required Workshops:
- Military Culture, Terminology, and the Deployment Cycle
- Etiology and Assessment of PTSD and Comorbid Problems
- Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Disturbance Associated with Deployment
- Traumatic Brain Injury Sustained in Combat
- Assessment and Treatment of Deployment-Related Depression
- Identification, Prevention, and Treatment of Suicidal Behavior
- Evidence-Based Treatment of PTSD: Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Workshops 1 through 6 may be taken individually without enrolling in the Certificate Program. For non-Certificate participants, Workshop 1 is strongly recommended as a pre-requisite for Workshops 2 through 6. As an alternative to Workshop 1, non-Certificate participants may take a web-based Military Cultural Competence course through the Center for Deployment Psychology (www.deploymentpsych.org under On-Line Training Program). Certificate participants cannot substitute Workshop 1 with this web-based course. Workshop 7 is only open to Certificate participants.
Results
After completing the Military and Veteran Behavioral Health Certificate Program, participants will:
- Better understand military terminology and the military culture.
- Be more knowledgeable about how the deployment cycle affects service members and their families and ways to build resilience.
- Better understand how sleep problems can be assessed and treated, particularly within the context of wartime operations.
- Be more skillful in preventing, identifying, and treating suicidal behavior and depression in service members using cognitive behavioral techniques.
- Better understand how PTSD and related problems develop, particularly within the context of wartime operations.
- Be trained in the skills and protocol associated with Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
- Be more aware of symptoms of blast-related TBI, as well as guidelines and resources for assisting service members with mild TBI and their families.
For more information about the Military and Veteran Behavioral Health Certificate Program or individual workshops, contact Blaine Wilson at 610-499-1083 or clinicalpsychologypgc@mail.widener.edu.
MVBH 2013 Workshops
MVBH Workshop Registration
Workshop Descriptions
Program Faculty
MVBH Certificate Program Flyer (a printable version of the program details)
*“The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 is the awarding and administering office for award # HU0001-06-1-0003. This project is sponsored by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS); however, the information or content and conclusions do not necessarily represent the official position or policy of, nor should any official endorsement be inferred on the part of, USUHS, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.”
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