Fresh public awareness effort spotlights success of proven PTSD therapies for veterans, service members, and military families

/PRNewswire/ - Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a worldwide nonprofit integrated network of mental health clinics serving post-9/11 veterans, service members and their families, today introduced its fresh public awareness initiative called Retrain Your Brain: PTSD Treatment Works. The effort seeks to lower stigma around posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while highlighting proven evidence-based treatments during June as PTSD Awareness Month.

PTSD represents a mental health challenge that develops in some individuals after they experience or witness a life-threatening incident such as combat, a natural disaster, a vehicle crash or sexual assault. Data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicates roughly seven percent of veterans will face PTSD during their lifetime.

PTSD often creates a feeling of being trapped in recurring patterns or memories that resist change, noted Dr. Anthony Hassan, president and CEO of Cohen Veterans Network. We counter this feeling of despair by focusing on proven evidence-based treatments and the positive results they produce. Proper care allows the brain to adopt new response patterns leading to genuine progress.

Studies confirm that evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD deliver strong results with up to two-thirds of military members and veterans showing meaningful symptom relief. Key options include four leading trauma-focused methods: Cognitive Processing Therapy which assists people in recognizing and disputing trauma-linked thoughts that hinder progress; Prolonged Exposure Therapy which aids recovery via gradual guided interaction with trauma memories and avoided settings; Written Exposure Therapy a brief structured method using written tasks; and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing which supports processing of traumatic memories through guided eye movements. These proven treatment choices are offered at all CVN Cohen Clinics.

Beyond PTSD the network addresses numerous mental health issues such as depression anxiety military transition difficulties anger grief and loss family concerns relationship challenges and child behavioral problems. Services are provided in person or through CVN Telehealth video sessions. The organization currently runs 23 Cohen Clinics across 22 states and the District of Columbia with five additional clinics set to open soon on U.S. military bases in Asia. Since starting in 2016 CVN has supported over 102000 clients and completed nearly 923000 clinical sessions.

The Retrain Your Brain: PTSD Treatment Works initiative will appear on CVN social media channels and digital platforms throughout June and afterward. Veterans service members and families may find details on PTSD review treatment choices and locate a clinic at the CVN website.

ABOUT COHEN VETERANS NETWORK

Cohen Veterans Network is a 501(c)(3) global nonprofit philanthropic group serving post-9/11 veterans active-duty service members and their families. CVN works to enhance mental health results by running a system of outpatient mental health clinics in areas of high need where skilled clinicians provide complete evidence-based care for mental health conditions. It began in 2016 through philanthropist Steven A. Cohen with a pledge of 275 million dollars to develop the network. More information is available at the CVN website.

SOURCE Cohen Veterans Network