Cover -- Copyright -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- Acknowledgment -- Introduction -- PART I: THEORY -- 1. Understanding Behavior -- Brief History of Psychology -- Nature versus Nurture -- What is Personality? -- Theories of Personality -- Biological Theory of Personality -- Psychodynamic Theory of Personality -- Cognitive Behavioral Theory of Personality -- The Big Five -- 2. Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -- What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? -- Basic Principles of CBT -- Cognitive Triad -- Understanding Cognitions -- Cognitive Techniques -- Socratic Questioning -- Guided Discovery -- Behavioral Learning Theory -- Conditioning -- Generalization -- Extinction -- Exposure Therapy -- Reciprocal Inhibition -- 3. Understanding Emotions -- What are Emotions? -- Biological Factors -- Environmental Factors -- Cognitive Factors -- Schemas -- Abandonment -- Mistrust -- Emotional Deprivation -- Defectiveness -- Subjugation -- Exclusion -- Vulnerability -- Failure -- Perfectionism -- Entitlement -- Cognitive Distortions -- Automatic Thoughts -- 4. Understanding Stress -- Definition of Stress -- Sources of Stress -- Physiology of Stress -- Physical Changes Caused by Stress -- Stress and the Immune System -- Signs and Symptoms of Stress -- Factors That Increase Stress -- How to Manage Stress -- The Relaxation Response -- Steps for Managing Stress -- 5. Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -- Brief History of PTSD -- Criteria for PTSD -- Causes of PTSD -- Other Problems Associated with PTSD -- Physiology of PTSD -- PTSD and the Military -- Factors that Increase the Risk of a Soldier Developing PTSD -- Why Do Soldiers with PTSD Have Intrusive Thoughts and Feelings? -- Emotional Dysregulation in PTSD -- PTSD as an Identity Disorder -- Revisioning with Soldiers with PTSD -- Danger of Suicide among Soldiers with PTSD -- Warning Signs of Suicide.

6. Understanding Addiction and Substance Abuse after Deployment -- Addiction: The Three Cs: Craving, Compulsion, and Loss of Control -- Tobacco Use in the Military -- Health Risks of Tobacco Use -- The Alcohol Transition -- Drinking Patterns -- Levels of Alcohol Use -- Effects of Alcohol on Sleep -- Harmful Effects of Alcohol -- Alcohol and Medication -- Alcohol and Health -- Acute Effects of Alcohol on the Body -- Long-term Effects of Alcohol -- Ways Alcohol Can Cause Problems for Soldiers -- Questions to Ask Your Soldiers about their Alcohol Use -- Cutting Down on Drinking -- Quitting Drinking -- Drugs -- Illegal Drugs -- Marijuana -- Cocaine -- Heroin -- Methamphetamine -- MDMA -- LSD -- Spice -- Prescriptions drugs -- 7. Understanding Your Soldiers -- Battlemind Skills and Problems They Can Cause -- Combat Experiences and Problems They Can Cause -- Combat-Related Guilt -- Using AES with Members of Different Branches of the Military -- 8. Understanding Military Families and Post-Deployment Adjustment -- Military Couples -- Effects of Combat and Deployment on Military Families -- Opportunity for Infidelity -- Frequent Changes in Job and Location -- Seven Stages of Deployment -- Stage 1: Anticipation of Departure -- Stage 2: Detachment and Withdrawal -- Stage 3: Emotional Disorganization -- Stage 4: Recovery and Stabilization -- Stage 5: Anticipation of Return -- Stage 6: Reunion, Adjustment, and Renegotiation -- Stage 7: Reintegration and Stabilization -- Military Family Members after Deployment -- Family Members Returning from Deployment -- Adults Who Manage the Homefront -- Children after Deployment -- 9. Understanding Communication -- Effective Communication -- Ineffective Communication -- Rules of Conflict Resolution: How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable -- 10. Understanding AES Group Therapy -- Overview of AES Group Therapy.

Format for AES Group Therapy -- Interventions for AES Group Therapy -- Purposes of AES Group Therapy -- Goals of AES Group Therapy -- Benefits of AES Group Therapy -- Ground Rules for AES Group Therapy -- How to Help Soldiers Get the Most out of AES Group Therapy -- Common Concerns about Participation in Group Therapy -- Characteristics of an Effective Therapist -- The Importance of Positive Reinforcement in AES Group Therapy -- Essential Factors in Establishing and Maintaining Group Cohesion -- Clearing Exercises -- Detailed Clearing Exercise -- Abbreviated Clearing Exercise -- Termination -- Using AES Therapy with Open-Ended Groups -- PART II: PRACTICE TWELVE-SESSION PROGRAM FOR AES GROUP THERAPY -- Session I: Developing the Group -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Explain Basics of Group Therapy and Set Expectations for the Group -- Step 3: Introduce At Ease, Soldier! -- Step 4: Set Personal Goals -- Step 5: Assign Homework -- Step 6: Check-out -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session II: Tools for Managing Stress and Being Downrange -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Define Stress -- Step 3: Explain the Fight-or-Flight Response and the Physical Consequences of Stress -- Step 4: Introduce Stress Management Techniques -- Step 5: Discuss Changes in Stress Level throughout the Deployment Cycle -- Step 6: Discuss Field Notes -- Step 7: Assign Homework -- Step 8: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session III: Soldier's Snooze Blues and Being Downrange -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Describe Common Sleep Problems among Soldiers -- Step 3: Explain Ways to Manage Sleep -- Step 4: Introduce Relaxation Exercises to Improve Sleep -- Step 5: Discuss Field Notes -- Step 6: Assign Homework -- Step 7: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session IV: Rage Gauge and Being Downrange.

Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Define Anger -- Step 3: Identify "Hot Buttons" -- Step 4: Introduce the Anger Tank and Rage Gauge -- Step 5: Discuss Field Notes -- Step 6: Assign Homework -- Step 7: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session V: Alcohol Alert and Being Downrange -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Assess Alcohol and Drug Use among Members of the Group -- Step 3: Identify How Alcohol Can Cause Problems for Soldiers -- Step 4: Discuss Changes in Drinking Patterns among Group Members -- Step 5: Review Questions and Discuss Problems Related to Alcohol Use -- Step 6: Discuss Field Notes -- Step 7: Assign Homework -- Step 8: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session VI: Managing Relationships and Being Downrange -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Identify Stressors Unique to the Military Community -- Step 3: Present Principles of Effective and Ineffective Communication -- Step 4: Discuss Stressors Affecting Soldiers and Their Families -- Step 5: Discuss Communication Problems and Solutions -- Step 6: Discuss Field Notes -- Step 7: Assign Homework -- Step 8: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session VII: Battlemind Debriefing: Buddies (Cohesion)/Withdrawal Battlemind Debriefing: Accountability/Control -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Present the Battlemind Acronym -- Step 3: Identify Problems the Skill of Cohesion Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 4: Identify Problems the Skill of Accountability Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 5: Discuss Problems the Skill of Cohesion Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 6: Discuss Problems the Skill of Accountability Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 7: Assign Homework -- Step 8: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy.

Session VIII: Battlemind Debriefing: Targeted/Inappropriate Aggression Battlemind Debriefing: Tactical Awareness/Hypervigilance -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Identify Problems the Skill of Targeted Aggression Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 3: Identify Problems the Skill of Tactical Awareness Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 4: Discuss Problems the Skill of Targeted Aggression Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 5: Discuss Problems the Skill of Tactical Awareness Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 6: Assign Homework -- Step 7: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session IX: Battlemind Debriefing: LethallyArmed/Locked and Loaded Battlemind Debriefing: Emotional Control/Anger or Detachment -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Identify Problems the Skill of Being Lethally Armed Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 3: Identify Problems the Skill of Emotional Control Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 4: Discuss Problems the Skill of Being Locked and Loaded Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 5: Discuss Problems the Skill of Emotional Control Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 6: Assign Homework -- Step 7: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy -- Session X: Battlemind Debriefing: Mission OPSEC/Secretiveness Battlemind Debriefing: Individual Responsibility/Guilt -- Step 1: Check-in -- Step 2: Identify Problems the Skill of Mission OPSEC Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 3: Identify Problems the Skill of Individual Responsibility Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 4: Discuss Problems the Skill of Mission OPSEC Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 5: Discuss Problems the Skill of Individual Responsibility Can Cause for Soldiers -- Step 6: Assign Homework -- Step 7: Check-out, Clearing Exercise -- Suggestions for Individual Therapy.

Session XI: Battlemind Debriefing: Non-Defensive (Combat) Driving/Aggressive Driving Battlemind Debriefing: Discipline and Ordering/Conflict.