Adaptive Disclosure: A Transdiagnostic Approach to addressing Moral Injury, Traumatic Loss, and PTSD Among Veterans

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Virtual

Instructor: Dr. Matthew Jakupcak, Ph.D

CE credits: 6.0 (pending)

Course Description:

Adaptive Disclosure is a specific evidence-based treatment that combines cognitive behavioral and emotion-focused therapy strategies to address combat related grief and moral injury, as well as PTSD. During the morning session, participants will review the constructs of Moral Injury (MI) and Traumatic Loss (TL) ,compare and contrast these to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), review the existing research literature, and explore several emerging, evidence-based treatment strategies to address these clinical conditions. During the afternoon session, attendees will discuss a transdiagnostic approach described in Adaptive Disclosure: A New Treatment for Military Trauma, Loss, and Moral Injury” developed by Litz et al., (2016), participate in an Adaptive Disclosure role play, explore challenges and successes addressing moral injury and traumatic loss with their clients, and discuss the impact on therapists that may arise when addressing moral injury in clients.

Participants are invited to read, “Adaptive Disclosure” (Litz et al., 2016), https://www.guilford.com/books/Adaptive-Disclosure/Litz-Lebowitz-Gray-Nash/9781462533831. However, this is optional and not required to participate in the workshop.

Learning objectives. 

At the end of this training participants will be able to:

• Explain the impact of traditional, hegemonic masculinities on men's experience and expressions of trauma response, often by enacting high-risk behaviors.
• Summarize how masculinities impact help-seeking behaviors, and in particular how male gender norms inform men's use of behavioral health services.
• Adapt and apply evidence-based strategies to address emotional regulation and high-risk behaviors using culturally responsive approaches.

References:

Litz, B. T., Lebowitz, L., Gray, M. J., & Nash, W. P. (2016). Adaptive disclosure: A new treatment for military trauma, loss, and moral injury. The Guilford Press.

Litz, B. T., Lang, A. J., Steenkamp, M. M., Strauss, J. L., Webicht, C., Nienow, T., Resick, P. A., & Gray, M. J. (2021). Adaptive disclosure, a combat-specific PTSD treatment, versus cognitive-processing therapy, in deployed Marines and Sailors: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. Psychiatry Research, 297, Article 113761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113761.

Litz, B. T., Yeterian, J., Berke, D., Lang, A. J., Gray, M. J., Nienow, T., Frankfurt, S., Harris, J. I., Maguen, S., & Rusowicz-Orazem, L. (2024). A controlled trial of adaptive disclosure–enhanced to improve functioning and treat posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 92(3), 150–164. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000873.