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Check out our newest products made by VA mental health care providers and researchers. These products address topics that impact the mental health needs of Veterans and their families. Access our full collection of products.
A Provider's Guide to Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The updated (second edition) of the Provider’s Guide to Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was completed in 2021. Revisions and expansions included the following:
Previous content was updated and aligned with current literature including updated supplemental readings.
NEW Modules were developed to address current and emerging clinical applications and include:
Module 5: Cultural Considerations in Therapy
Module 6: Using Technology for Distance-Based Therapy
Module 14: Exposure Therapy in Brief CBT
Module 17: Adaptations of bCBT for Special Clinical Populations (e.g. Military Populations, Older Adults, Medically Ill, and Cognitively Impaired populations)
Published 2008 | Updated 2021
An All-Encompassing Approach to Treating Anxiety and Related Disorders: A Safety Aid Reduction Treatment Manual (START)
This manual is designed to be used by clinicians who have experience delivering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The manual provides implementation guidelines for this transdiagnostic treatment, which is designed to target various anxiety and related disorders via the identification and elimination of safety aids.
This treatment program consists of 10 weekly, group-based sessions, each lasting one hour.
The manual is divided into chapters, each corresponding to a treatment session. Each chapter includes a materials list, session outline, treatment information and techniques, as well as homework.
It will be important to monitor Veterans’ progress throughout treatment and share the results with them to assess their progress over time. This can be accomplished by having Veterans complete disorder- specific self-report measures at regular intervals in addition to the provided "Safety Behavior Assessment Form."
Given the importance of therapeutic rapport to treatment success, it will be essential to foster an environment in which the Veteran feels safe and respected.
The Courage Group was developed as a 12-week outpatient therapy group for Veterans who had experienced sexual trauma by Drs. Dana Foley and Michelle Sherman in 1995. This included Veterans with a history of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault in adulthood, and military sexual trauma (MST). This educational group draws on cognitive and behavioral principles to promote healing, self-discovery, and self-efficacy. The revised manual includes:
Specific information about the experience of MST and its impact on functioning.
Addition of four new topic areas – “Surviving Military Sexual Trauma,” “Grief and Loss,” “Self-forgiveness,” and “Moving Forward.”
A modular design that allows clinicians to vary the length of treatment according to specific group needs or the clinical setting (e.g., specialty mental health, primary care).
Removal of imaginal exposure from the treatment protocol.
A new companion patient workbook that includes all in-session activities and recommended homework assignments. This workbook is intended to supplement treatment. It should NOT be used as a self-help guide.
Guide to Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome from Alcohol for Clinicians and Veterans
These guides describe the symptoms of and treatment for post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) from alcohol for clinicians and Veterans.
Each guide defines PAWS in language appropriate for clinician and Veteran audiences.
The clinician guide describes the use of Gabapentin as a treatment for PAWS, including an example titration schedule, benefits and misuse of the medication, and how it is used in combination treatment.
The clinician guide also discusses the prevalence of substance use disorders in minority populations and disparities in consequences for substance use.
The Veteran guide describes Gabapentin as a treatment for PAWS and the side effects of the medication.
Major Depressive Disorder: Selecting a Psychotherapy that's Right for You
Selecting a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) is a personal decision. There is no one treatment that is “right” for everyone. This guide helps Veterans learn about different treatments for MDD and then consider the pros and cons of each.
Defines MDD and psychotherapy options for treatment in the VA, including acceptance and commitment therapy for depression (ACT-D), cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression (CBT-D), and interpersonal psychotherapy for depression (IPT-D).
Helps Veterans talk to their providers about when psychotherapy alone, medication alone, or a combination of both is needed to treat MDD based on the severity of their symptoms.
Describes self-management strategies for mild levels of MDD that can be used by Veterans.
Highlights treatment options for Veterans with MDD who have other co-occurring mental health conditions like PTSD, pain, and insomnia.
This four-week program is a time-limited psychoeducational “standalone” group that can be offered either virtually or in person to provide information about moral injury. The curriculum, which includes a facilitator guide and program handbook, provides information for chaplains and mental health clinicians on leading a Moral Injury Psychoeducation Group. The group may be led by chaplains, clinicians, church clergy specializing in pastoral care or mental health ministry with Veterans, or trained para-professionals such as NAMI volunteers or Veteran peer support specialists who have participated in the course.
The program is designed to introduce core concepts related to moral injury and prepare Veterans for more intensive therapy for moral injury, if desired and available.
The program handbook is used to conduct the sessions.
Sessions are nonthreatening and focus on education as opposed to group process or self-revelation.
The facilitator guide includes helpful hints, clinical examples, potential pitfalls, and ways to appropriately involve Veterans during group sessions.
Published 2021
MyBriefCBT
The MyBriefCBT program was developed to improve access and delivery of evidence-based psychotherapies (EBP) in clinical settings that demand rapid or time-limited interventions. Brief CBT was designed to address depressive symptoms and can be delivered in 3-6 sessions. Brief CBT uses measurement-based care and variable treatment intensity models to and streamline the psychotherapy process while respecting the needs of patients. This patient-centered approach to care can also be seen in the way in which the program leverages a flexible skills-based approach that allows providers and patients to select and inform their process of care. Currently, the MyBriefCBT program is being implemented within several Veterans Health Administration Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) across the United States. The MyBriefCBT program includes:
A provider manual and patient workbook that is separated into six sections focused on different skills for mood and well-being.
Each skill area can be a focus of the work done during a session.
Every skill area does not have to be completed. Patients and clinicians can focus on areas that will be the most beneficial.
The final section of the workbook contains extra copies of the worksheets and monitoring forms that will be presented in each skill area.
Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory.
