Group CPT: Changes Cause Major Concerns

3/2/2013

Due to the doc being sick in the middle of February, I didn't get to attend group CPT for over a month. I was really looking forward to talking about all the good and bad that has happened over that time with the doc and the guys in group. To my complete dismay, some other doc walked into our group and announced that he was covering the group while our regular doc was away.

He didn't even know that our group was a CPT group. He didn't know that our group was current conflict only and had invited a veteran from a different generation to the group. The regulars from my group were absent.

The meeting was a total disaster. The doc wanted to talk to us about all the the techniques he used and promoted them heavily. He pushed Emotional Freedom Technique (from everything I've read about that and 'tapping' makes me want to wonder if he got his license out of a cracker jack box) and some sort of thought interruption therapy. When you are having an intrusive recollection, you verbally shout "STOP!". It's supposed to interrupt the recollections. Then you have the freedom to 'replace' the recollection with a positive memory.

It took every ounce of effort I had not to laugh in his face. Anyone who has had an intrusive recollection knows that they call it 'intrusive' for a reason. It overrides all other cognitive processes. I could see how his therapy could work with obsessive thoughts, but that's not what an intrusive recollection is. He just didn't get us at all and I wanted to scream.

All I know is that they better not plan on fucking up our group by putting this wackadoo, therapist in charge of the group. He didn't even attempt to stay to the treatment type that the group was there to learn. If this is the result of the hiring mandate put out by the VA administration, I think we'd be better off without. It astounds and appalls me that they are allowing pseudoscience into the VA. It's dangerous and has not met even the most basic burden of proof.

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Barbara Harris

3/3/2013 12:45:44 am

Something should be said to the VA higher-ups, don't you think? This could be potentially dangerous and definitely caused more harm than good...

Max Harris link

3/3/2013 10:05:16 am

I don't know anyone high up I can contact. The best I can do right now is sound the alarm and keep on sounding it untill someone listens.

Ginette Blansjaar link

3/3/2013 06:34:43 am

Within short time, there is going to be a campaign in the USA selling the product 'meditation' for war veterans. Pseudo science at its worst, but very 'well' sold. The trailer (you can watch below) promises you, in seven days you'll go through a magical cycle.... well... you get the picture. Yet, there is no proof at all, it will do anything but make the symptoms of PTSD worse instead of better. It only increases the brain volume (as many other things like physical exercise, sauna, SSRI, fasting, do). Now what happens when you increase the volume of a brain with nasty associations and an oversensitive FFF-response? Right... more nasty associations and oversensitivity. So, we need EMDR and CBT, proper established treatment for PTSD. Yet, this is probably too expensive? Please help stop this hoax and protest. I am not saying it can't have benefits AFTER having had proper treatment for PTSD. But a magical cure.... well we know better. Besides, it's sickening how they use the pain of the veterans to sell their product. Very unethical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GkTQemr26xg

3/3/2013 10:07:18 am

Wow. Just, wow. That''s sickening. While proper training in mindfulness and meditation can help some veterans better cope with their PTSD, learning to meditate effectively takes a lifetime of practice. These charlatans should be put in jail.

3/4/2013 12:49:34 am

The problem is, they are surely going to call it 'proper mindfulness training and meditation', but shouldnt this a) take place within the scope of a broader treatment, for example within CBT and b) there is research in Europe, stating it does not have (enough proven) benefits and can even be harmful, so in Europe it is not even an established element in psychotherapy (2012).
Then, for your information, here is Dr. Davidson on his own research, posted February 20th 2013 on Big Questions Online:

'Your comment about neuroplasticity is absolutely correct. There are many activities or drugs that can induce neuroplasticity. In and of itself, it is silent with respect to its benefit or harm.
The broader issue of relations between mind and brain is highly complex and deserves a separate treatment on its own. There are no simple answers here and I would encourage both the laypublic and scientists alike to resist knee-jerk responses to this question and to tolerate the current ambiguity of not knowing.'

Well, I would say 'No Dr. Davidson. We will not tolerate not knowing, and have you experiment with this product on vulnerable people like children and adults with mental disorders, as if you know. Besides, how dare you call it 'Free the mind' if you don't know how to 'free the mind'?

K. Dault link

3/3/2013 11:55:43 am

It's YOUR life...speak up! What you've described is not helpful, it's a slap in the face to people who are trying to make adjustments that I, as a civilian, can't even imagine...and I have a pretty good imagination.

Strength in numbers works both ways: there's a time to stand up and request a change from something deemed "helpful" when it isn't. Good luck and best wishes.

3/3/2013 01:21:29 pm

The big problem is that the doc that I trusted to talk about issues like this is the one that has been MIA from group for over a month. I am truly hoping he returns in two weeks so that I can address this issue with someone who will raise holy hell.

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