Many veterans who have survive trauma experience anger-related problems in living. This page is an open forum concerning ACT perspectives on the treatment of posttraumatic anger-related problems in living within the VA system. Some suggested topics include ACT conceptualizations of anger problems within the context of PTSD, specific protocols and interventions, and potential barriers to incorporating ACT-based anger treatment within the VA system.
Over the next few months I will be posting session outlines and other materials that Sharon Kelly (my co-leader) and I have been using in our HEAT (Honorably Experiencing Anger and Threat) group here in the PRRTP at the Baltimore VAMC. Please note that our protocol is still being developed and that we have not yet collected any outcome data. If anyone is interested in putting the protocol to the test or has any ideas about how it could be improved, please email me at andrew.santanello@va.gov.
Here is a Power Point about the HEAT group that I presented at ISTSS this past month.
Attached is the powerpoint presentation that Hank Robb and I did at Summer Institute III.
Information concerning potential challenges to starting and conducting ACT-based anger interventions within the VA system can be posted here. Suggested topics may include practical issues (e.g., group vs. individual treatment), staff resistance, etc.