Brittany Ferri

Participants will be able to identify the functional challenges veterans face during reintegration, apply appropriate evaluation tools, and implement evidence-based interventions to support veterans in reconnecting with their communities.

It’s common for anxious or nervous children to experience difficulty falling asleep as a result of their emotions. Some kids even have anxiety that is specific to sleep. Children with sleep anxiety may ask parents to check their room for monsters, request food or drink before bedtime, engage in preferred activities instead of sleeping, and find other reasons to delay the process.

Brief psychotic disorder is a mental health condition that causes someone to experience delusions and hallucinations after a traumatic event. This condition resolves within one month, and individuals return to their prior level of functioning, though psychotherapy (specifically education) and medication may be helpful in the interim. Anyone can experience brief psychotic disorder, even if they already have a psychotic disorder.

Delusional disorder is a mental health condition characterized by persistent false beliefs despite evidence to the contrary. Delusions are often non-bizarre or plausible in nature (for example, being deceived, followed, or loved by someone). Individuals with delusional disorder often have completely normal behaviors apart from their fixed way of thinking. Individuals with this condition typically resist treatment, but a combination of medication and psychotherapy can lead to good outcomes.

Conduct disorder (CD) is a behavioral health diagnosis characterized by ongoing aggression, errant behavior, lying or manipulation, and violations of others’ rights. Individuals with conduct disorder typically demonstrate difficulty in social, occupational, and academic settings. CD responds best to medication along with family-centered, community-based psychotherapy and parent management training.

Impulse control disorders involve difficulty regulating impulses, emotions, or behaviors, which may lead to aggression, rule-breaking, defiance, or acting on harmful urges. Exact symptoms vary depending on the condition, but they often involve externalizing behaviors on other individuals or objects. ICDs are not preventable, but someone can manage symptoms with Parent Management Training, Multisystemic Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with certain medications.

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse control disorder that causes intense, rapid-onset outbursts of aggression. Some aggression may come along with violence toward people, animals, or property, while others are characterized by threats. IED can lead to academic, employment, relationship, and legal concerns if left untreated. The most effective treatment for IED is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder that causes a persistent urge to steal.
Symptoms are cyclical, causing anxiety leading up to the theft, followed by satisfaction after the theft. The urge to steal returns shortly after, and the cycle repeats.
The most effective treatment approaches for kleptomania involve a combination of medication, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and 12-step programs. These are each aimed at controlling the urge to steal.

Oppositional defiant disorder is a behavioral condition characterized by overly hostile, rule-breaking, or aggressive behaviors that last for at least 6 months. Like many behavioral health conditions, oppositional defiant disorder is caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors. Oppositional defiant disorder is best managed through a combination of family-based psychotherapy, school-based therapy, and parent management training.

Key Takeaways
Oppositional defiant disorder is a behavioral condition characterized by overly hostile, rule-breaking, or aggressive behaviors that last for at least 6 months.
Like many behavioral health conditions, oppositional defiant disorder is caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors.
Oppositional defiant disorder is best managed through a combination of family-based psychotherapy, school-based therapy, and parent management training. Medication is usually most effe...

Schizophreniform disorder is a psychotic condition that lasts between one and six months. Individuals with this condition experience psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and behavior, motivation changes, difficulty with self-care, and abnormal movements. Antipsychotics are the recommended medication for this condition. However, mental health professionals must carefully weigh atypical versus typical drug options based on symptom severity.

With health service shortages in many parts of the United States, many practices have more control than ever on which populations they provide services to. While some providers may view this as a good thing for their career direction, it can leave certain populations without important care. For example, cash and concierge services are gaining popularity, which can exclude people with a low socioeconomic status or those who are otherwise underprivileged.

While patient care is the heart of a rehabilitation therapist’s work, medical documentation is its necessary counterpart. Effective therapy documentation is crucial for reimbursement, accountability, communication (both within and outside of your profession), and progress tracking. However, it can be overwhelming to strike a balance between writing concise notes and offering necessary detail, making this an area many therapists find difficult.

When you can’t sleep, time seems to stand still. Your attention may be drawn to some of the less obvious parts of your room, such as strange noises or reflections of light. You may explore seemingly simple sleep relief methods like counting ceiling tiles or pretending you’re on a deserted island free of distractions and worries.
About 12% of American adults report being diagnosed with insomnia, while thousands of others are struggling without the official label. Thankfully, there are a growin...

Music is a calming, enjoyable experience for many people, so it’s understandable for people with trouble settling down at night to pair this activity with sleep. However, people who seek out podcasts, white noise, guided meditations, or music in bed may find that earbuds are uncomfortable while phone speakers disturb their partner. This leaves an opening for a more effective, easy-to-use solution.
In 2020, a large-scale study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed th...