I Thought This Was All Behind Me:
How Images of War and Terrorism Can Trigger Delayed-Onset PTSD Symptoms and Relapse in Veterans
Tim Murphy, Ph.D.
Tuesday, April 28th
2:30 – 3:45 ET
Level: Beginner
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Continuing Education
Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop:
Live: Approved for 1 NBCC, ASWB, APA and IBCC Credit*
On Demand: Approved for 1 NBCC and IBCC Credit*
CE Statement
Summary
The incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among military veterans ranges from 7% to 29%. Direct participation in combat, pre-deployment resilience, operational stressors, and post-deployment support all affect the appearance and severity of symptoms. Some veterans display symptoms soon after trauma, while others may appear symptom-free for years or even decades. Compared with civilians, veterans are more likely to drop out of treatment before symptoms improve, and many avoid treatment altogether. Even those who function adequately for years may experience a later return of symptoms. Images of recent wars, including Ukraine, Israel/Gaza, and Iran, as well as terrorism, terror attacks, and other violence, can amplify distress and trigger symptoms in veterans who previously felt they had their symptoms under control or who had shown no symptoms for many years. Aging, illness, retirement, changes in social support, and trauma anniversaries may further increase vulnerability. This presentation will examine delayed-onset PTSD and relapse in veterans, with attention to the role of graphic media exposure in reactivating trauma-related symptoms. Psychotherapeutic interventions for psychologists and licensed mental health professionals will include reassurance that the emergence or re-emergence of symptoms is common and not a sign of failure, support for distress related to life changes, and the application of evidence-based treatments associated with trauma exposure, including prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and EMDR. Clinical attention will also be given to sleep disturbance, anxiety, fear, untreated or unresolved moral injury, and the role of religiosity, spirituality, and sense of purpose in recovery and treatment outcomes.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Identify factors associated with delayed-onset PTSD symptoms and relapse in military veterans.
- Describe how exposure to images of recent wars, terrorism, and violence may contribute to the re-emergence of trauma-related symptoms in veterans.
- Discuss treatment considerations for veterans experiencing delayed-onset PTSD symptoms or relapse, including trauma-focused interventions, moral injury, and the role of spirituality and meaning.
Continuing Education Statement
Live: Approved for 1 NBCC, ASWB, APA and IBCC Credit*
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. *For Professionals needing Live CE Credits, Webinars Must be watched live. Webinars will remain Live until 12 am ET.
Psychologists
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AACC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- The AACC is approved in multiple states to give Continuing Education to licensed mental health professionals. When requesting CEs, please indicate in which state you are licensed in on the Continuing Education Form. If this is not indicated, you may receive the wrong CE certificate for your state.
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), #1400, is approved as a provider for social work Continuing Education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. ASWB Approval Period: (09/06/2023 to 09/06/2026). Licensed social workers should contact their individual regulatory boards to review current Continuing Education requirements for licensure renewal. Any presentation that is less than 50 minutes in duration is not approved by the ASWB for Continuing Education credits.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
On-Demand: Approved for 1 NBCC and IBCC Credit*
Effective immediately, participants can now earn 2 NBCC and IBCC credits for CounselTalk webinars that are not attended live. To receive this credit, participants must complete a 10-question quiz and an evaluation following the On-demand (recorded) CounselTalk webinar.
The CounselTalk webinar will switch to “On-Demand” credit after 11:59 pm on the day of the webinar.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
IBCC: The training offered through AACC-sponsored conferences and training programs also meets the ongoing CE requirements for counselors, life coaches, and crisis responders who are credentialed through the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC) or one of its affiliate boards: the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counseling (BCPPC), the Board of Christian Life Coaching (BCLC), the Board of Mental Health Coaching (BMHC), and the Board of Christian Crisis and Trauma Response (BCCTR).
Learn more about our Continuing Education Policies
Presenters
Tim Murphy, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and national expert in trauma recovery, author of The Christ Cure, and founder of Fortis-Future, a PTSD treatment center for veterans and first responders. A former U.S. Congressman and Pennsylvania State Senator, he authored major mental health reform legislation, including the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. He also served as a Navy Reserve Commander, working with TBI/PTSD units and special warfare teams. Dr. Murphy frequently consults on mental health policy and speaks nationwide.