Veteran Challenges
The challenges facing the veterans, spouses and their families after they return from war includes the lack of financial support, challenges with agreeing family roles, child behavioral problems, physical injury, and the cases of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) (Slone, & Friedman, 2008). It would also become difficult for the veterans while transition into their new career responsibilities and positions due to the problems associated with relocation (Makin-Byrd, Gifford, McCutcheon & Glynn, 2011). The couples could also experience significant marital disagreements due to cases of infidelity that might have occurred during the deployment process. It is also clear that the veteran administration does not provide adequate treatment of the service members and their immediate family members. Such challenges need to be addressed to improve the mental health and safety of the veterans returning from war.
The solutions in addressing the problems facing the veterans and their families include the use of behavioral couple’s therapy (BCT). The therapy is critical in offering relevant interventions to address the problems facing the couples. The therapeutic process will include the assessment, decision making and treatment process of BCT (Sayers, 2011). Such phases are relevant in addressing the challenges facing the couples involving the veterans. The effective treatment measures will be useful in promoting sufficient assessment of the medical problems.
Clinical treatment will be useful in addressing the problems of stigma amongst the veterans. The veterans facing depression and PTSD health problems must be treated well to improve health status of the spouses. “Newly returned veterans and their families are seeking psychological help for various problems including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)” (Makin-Byrd et al., 2011, p. 47). Family integration and rehabilitation is an important measure in addressing the veteran’s problems (Bowling & Sherman, 2008). It is because spouses reintegrating of the veterans after war is critical in allowing the service members to express their concerns and fears in terms of changed lives. The family integration should also include training on communication to promote the development of proper conflicts and resolving of the problems facing the spouses.
References
Bowling, U. B., & Sherman, M. D. (2008). Welcoming them home: Supporting service members and their families in navigating the tasks of reintegration. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39(4), 451.
Makin-Byrd, K., Gifford, E., McCutcheon, S., & Glynn, S. (2011). Family and couples treatment for newly returning veterans. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(1), 47.
Sayers, S. L. (2011). Family reintegration difficulties and couples therapy for military veterans and their spouses. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 18(1), 108-119.
Slone, L. B., & Friedman, M. J. (2008). After the war zone: A practical guide for returning troops and their families. New York: Da Capo Press.
