Course Description

This presentation will help learners understand mental health challenges experienced by military members and veterans. Mental health professionals have sometimes focused on PTSD, while ignoring other possibilities, such as Moral Injury. Pastoral counselors have sometimes focused on Moral Injury, but ignored the impact of PTSD. This presentation will equip participants to understand the impact of various mental health conditions, how they are similar and how they differ, and how to use EMDR to provide holistic and effective treatment.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to explain the difference between PTSD, Moral Injury, Operator Syndrome.
2. Participants will be able to describe key aspects of Moral Injury and its impact on the individual.
3. Participants will be able to describe or demonstrate the application of EMDR to Moral Injury.

Presenter(s)

Mark Knox, Ph.D., D.Min., LMFT

Mark Knox, Ph.D., D.Min., LMFT – After 25 years as a military chaplain, including earning a Green Beret and 13 years with Special Operations, Dr. Mark Knox retired from the Army in 2016. He continues to serve military members and veterans through a private practice in Livingston, Montana, and intensives at Safe Haven Ranch. EMDR provides the foundation for the treatment he provides for PTSD and moral injury. Dr. Knox also often integrates equine-assisted psychotherapy and neurofeedback with EMDR and has had powerful results. His doctoral dissertation was on the integration of EMDR with emotionally focused couples therapy for traumatized military couples.