Very few community mental health clinicians are trained.
Despite extensive research backing their efficacy and clinical guidelines recommending evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for PTSD as primary treatments, therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD are often inaccessible to those in need, either due to timing or location constraints.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) have successfully rolled out robust and ongoing initiatives over the past two decades years to train VA and DoD therapists in these first line treatments. While there are thousands of mental health clinicians trained in EBTs for PTSD within these federal agencies, there are few clinicians in private practice or in community mental health agencies who are aware of and/or who are trained to deliver them competently and confidently.
A recent survey indicates less than 20% of community providers are trained in EBTs for PTSD like CPT or PE. Training in specific evidence-based treatments is not included in psychology, social work, or counseling graduate programs leaving the burden on community mental health agencies. Training is costly and community mental health agencies have limited budgets for their mental health workforce.
Given PTSD statistics in the US, it is clear that Americans need greater access to proven PTSD treatments and there is a need to disseminate EBTs for PTSD more widely. A critical component of delivering high-quality PTSD treatment is funding ongoing training efforts to develop and maintain expert PTSD treatment providers in the mental health workforce to ensure individuals with PTSD gain access to high quality care.
Part of the Solution.
The Gavin Farrell Foundation is dedicated to improving access to evidence-based treatment for PTSD. GFF partners with the STRONG STAR Training Initiative to train mental health clinicians in EBTs for PTSD, to successfully embed EBTs for PTSD within agencies and clinics and to ensure clients treated with EBTs for PTSD experience relief from the debilitating symptoms of PTSD and depression.
