Psychotherapy with Individuals Week 10-

Thank you for your post regarding counseling older adults. The number of older adults in the United States is expected to nearly double from 40.3 to 72.1 million from 2010 to 2030(Wheeler, 2014). Although mental illness is not a normal part of aging, at least 20% of older adults have one or more mental health conditions (Wheeler, 2014). The client in your post appears to be dealing with trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This changing demographic will likely mean an increased need for mental health resources and services, especially as they relate to trauma exposure in this age group (Cook & Simiola, 2017). Many older adults may have experienced trauma but do not recognize the potential detrimental health effects or disclose these experiences to health care providers (Cook & Similoa, 2017). As future psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) it is important to offer an environment of trust so that these individuals are able to disclose their true thoughts and experiences. Being aware of what the client has gone through will allow the provider to best create a treatment plan that benefits the client.

References

Cook, J. M., & Simiola, V. (2017). Trauma and PTSD in older adults: Prevalence, course,concomitants and clinical considerations. ​Current Opinion in Psychology​, ​14​, 1–4.https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.08.003Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). ​Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-toguide for evidence-based practice​ (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

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