Chapter Seven

PCT Unit
Out Patient Programs

We described earlier how a Veteran is evaluated, placed into a PCT Unit and then may be asked to attend an inpatient program. After the Veteran returns from the inpatient program he/she begins treatment as an out patient in the PCT Unit. The fact that a total of 112 PCT Units available to help treat Veterans with PTSD speaks to the existence and severity of this health problem.

Millions of people have been adversely affected by a Veteran who suffers from PTSD. Spouses and their children, mothers and fathers, friends and relatives have been touched, because of their love for an individual who went to war and returned emotionally damaged for life. PTSD can be manifested through the lives of those affected by the Veteran suffering from the disorder.

PCT Units deal with the treatment of PTSD on an out patient basis. This means a Veteran is seen at different times throughout a week by Clinical Psychologists and a Psychiatrist, as well as, interaction between other Veterans within the program. PCT Units have treatment elements or modules similar to the inpatient programs. For example a PCT Unit may have a treatment module on Mondays from 2:30 pm until 3:30 pm. The module might be called Anger & Emotional Control . This would be a group psychotherapy session where a group of Veterans and one or two Clinical Psychologists would help the Veterans talk about their feelings dealing with their anger and emotions.

The PCT Unit might meet again on Tuesday beginning at 2 pm until 3:30 pm. This module might be called "Trauma". This would be a group psychotherapy session where a group of Veterans and one or two Clinical Psychologist would help the Veterans talk about and deal with feelings about what happened to them during their tour in Vietnam. At 4 PM until 5:30 PM that day another group psychotherapy session might begin. Veterans and Psychologists meet to talk about what issues are taking place in the Veterans lives at present. At 6 PM that same day another group psychotherapy session might begin just for the wives of the Veterans who are active participants in the other psychotherapy modules. Psychologists meet to talk about what issues are taking place in the Spouses lives at present. Wednesdays may be set aside for individual therapy sessions between a Veteran and/spouse and one or two Clinical Psychologists. Thursdays may begin a 1:00PM with leisure module groups. This is designed to help create interaction between Veterans. There may be modules for leather craft work, model building, pottery, jewelry, jam sessions between musicians, card games, playing pool, etc. At 2:30 PM another trauma psychotherapy session. At 4:00PM a group psychotherapy session picking up where Tuesdays session left off. At 6:00PM Husbands and Wives meet for group psychotherapy. Some PCT Teams allow Veterans and their girl friends to attend the husbands and wives session.

These sessions are important! They help Veterans who suffer from PTSD to understand their true feelings and get in touch with them. The sessions help a Veteran deal with everyday issues. Being able to experience what goes on inside themselves by understanding what has been going on in the past is a key role in psychotherapy. Group psychotherapy allows one to sit in a group and listen to someone else tell his life story, which is a carbon copy of your own. In group sessions, you discover you are not alone in your feelings, your thoughts, your pain and your hopes. Hearing others talk about their feelings helps you get in touch and talk about your feelings.