ABSTRACT
The author begins a private practice initially treating the veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on the numerous Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans returning home with this disabling condition and the military treatment facilities being overwhelmed in providing this care. Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy (CBT) is an effective modality in treating combat veterans with PTSD. Creating a unified group mirrors a tightly knit combat unit where members are willing to take risks together. By infusing CBT into the group process, individuals cognitively reprocess events in a healthier manner, improve their willingness and courage to seek help, and develop new behaviors that improve their functionality and decrease their symptomatology. Those with PTSD often require a great deal of support in comparison to typical therapy patients. Client response was positive, although two of the ten did drop from group and individual therapy during the duration.
