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The VA offers Multiple Therapy-Based Treatments for PTSD

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spends a lot of time and money researching post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments to provide veterans with disabilities with the most effective choice of treatments. An article on Fox 10 Pensacola highlighted a list of alternative therapies available to today's veterans in need.

The majority of treatments are therapy based and the most effective form seems to be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The VA offers 2 different forms of CBT, which are cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE). Additionally, the VA offers eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).

Cognitive therapy is where veterans with PTSD work with their therapists to alter how the veterans perceives, and thinks about, his or her trauma as well as the trauma's aftermath. If successful, CPT helps veterans distinguish negative thought patterns and how to replace them to reduce stress and PTSD symptoms.

PE, on the other hand, teaches veterans to lessen the fear they have from their own memories. While in therapy, veterans are taught to control feelings and thoughts associated with their traumatic event by talking about that event with the therapist.

Through EMDR therapy veterans are given small stimuli, such as a sound, fingers snapping, or a tapping foot. These stimuli are presented to the veterans while the veterans are talking about, or focusing on, their traumatic memories. Much still needs to be discovered about this therapy and how it works, but it has produced positive results.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.