DCoE Blog

• 2 Mobile Apps Help Patient-Provider Collaboration

  Posted by Dr. Julie Kinn, T2 clinical psychologist on February 12, 2013

  It's difficult to estimate how many of my psychotherapy patients actually completed homework between sessions. For those who returned to my office with an automatic thought record or other tracking tool, I'm guessing at least half completed it while sitting in the waiting room.

  One of the reasons National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) developed the "T2 Mood Tracker" mobile app was to help patients have an easy and anonymous way to monitor, track and reference their moods and behaviors as well as other related health information over time. Instead of completing worksheets, users can slide buttons on their smartphone or tablet computer. And, to anyone looking over a user's shoulder, it just looks like he or she is playing a game, not actually completing therapy homework. Further, it's unusual to lose a phone or tablet, whereas those worksheets seem to magically disappear each week. 

  

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  Categories: Technology , Veterans , Resources , Treatment , Psychological Health   |   Comments (3)

• 3 Mobile Apps Help You Relax

  Posted by Corina Notyce, DCoE Public Affairs on December 6, 2012

  

  U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Rebekka Heite

  Is your temper short? Are you anxious? Find it hard to concentrate? What about your sleep habits — sleeping too much or too little? How about your mood — family and friends say you’re pleasant to be around? Your answers to these questions may reveal a level of stress that needs attention.  
  
  Everyone experiences stress at times. The demands of life can be overwhelming, and the unique challenges common to military life adds even more pressure. In addition to external factors that can lead to stress (job demands, relationship difficulties, increased family responsibilities, financial issues), it’s important to know that stress can be self-generated (negative self-talk, unrealistic expectations, always needing to be in control, seeking perfection). Whatever might be causing you stress there are steps you can take now to help reduce its harmful effects on your emotional and psychological health. Keeping that in mind, here are three mobile apps from National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) to help you manage and cope with stress effectively:

   

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  Categories: Technology , Stress , Veterans , Resources , Psychological Health   |   Comments (1)

• Fighting Stigma with Technology: Survey Seeks Service Member Feedback

  Posted by Dr. Karen O’Brien on October 31, 2012

  

  A soldier utilizes a telehealth mobile application on an iPad to learn more about stress management. (Photo by National Center for Telehealth & Technology)

  As a mental health provider at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and a former Department of Veterans Affairs provider, I can’t count the number of times service members and veterans have expressed concerns that admitting to a mental health problem might lead to demotion, loss of security clearance and even discharge from the service.

  I have also heard many service members and veterans express the view that only “weak” people talk about their problems. This, and similar myths prevent service members from seeking psychological health care:

  • Coming in for care will hurt my career
  • I will lose leadership roles and the trust of my unit
  • If posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were real, everyone exposed to trauma would get it
  • People who weren’t wounded shouldn’t have PTSD
  • Treatment doesn’t work

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  Categories: Technology , Research , PTSD , Veterans , Treatment , Psychological Health , Leadership   |   Comments (6)

• Mobile Devices Bring Sesame Street’s Message of Resilience to Military Families

  Posted by Lynn Chwatsky on October 4, 2012

  

  Photo courtesy of Sesame Workshop

  Lynn Chwatsky has been overseeing the Sesame Workshop’s initiatives with military families since 2006.

  When we think about the challenges of military life, we sometimes forget the transitions the youngest members of our military families go through. Our service members’ young children are faced with a number of uniquely difficult circumstances: repeated relocation, the deployment of a parent, homecomings, injuries, even the death of a parent – to name a few. For years, Sesame Workshop has been providing resources that help both military parents and their children stay resilient during those trying transitions. Now, those bilingual (English and Spanish) resources are available on our new, free military families mobile application.

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  Categories: Technology , Resilience , Community Support , Families , Resources , Military Children , Deployments   |   Comments (1)

• ‘PE Coach’ Mobile App Supports Prolonged Exposure Therapy

  Posted by Robyn Mincher , DCoE Strategic Communications on August 2, 2012

  	PE Coach mobile app

  Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is a treatment where patients approach trauma-related memories, feelings and situations to help emotionally process an intense or uncomfortable experience. It’s considered one of the most effective treatments for post-deployment psychological concerns. “PE Coach” is a new mobile application featuring a variety of tools to help users advance their prolonged exposure therapy. It was developed by National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), a Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury center, and the Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD.

  “While prolonged exposure therapy is the gold standard for treating posttraumatic stress disorder, patient’s engagement in homework is important. This valuable between-session homework involves revisiting their memory and confronting uncomfortable situations, such as going to the mall for 45 minutes when one may typically avoid crowds,” said Dr. Greg Reger, T2 lead clinical psychologist. “The tools offered by the ‘PE Coach’ app help users stay proactive with their homework and track progress.”

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  Categories: Technology , Veterans , DCoE , Resources , Treatment , Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)

• ‘LifeArmor’ Mobile App Puts Coping Tools at Your Fingertips

  Posted by Robyn Mincher , DCoE Strategic Communications on July 26, 2012

  	LifeArmor mobile app

  Sure, a wrench and hammer are handy to keep around, but how about a “Gratitude Letter” or a “Perspective Change” tool? For those returning from deployment with common post-deployment issues, these interactive tools available on a new mobile application from National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), a Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury center, can be essential resources for coping and building resilience.

  Modeled after afterdeployment.org and available on iPhone, iPad and Android systems, the app provides information on 17 different topics where post-deployment issues can impact. Each topic includes an assessment, information about concerns related to the topic, videos of those who coped with an issue, and tools to help cope with psychological concerns and traumatic brain injury.

  “The app features many of the issues that are common to service members and military families, including tips for families and friendships, life stress and anxiety, mild traumatic brain injury, anger, substance abuse and military sexual trauma,” said Dr. Julie Kinn, T2 psychologist and mobile applications lead.

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  Categories: Technology , Resilience , Stress , Families , Veterans , DCoE , Resources , Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)