Authors: Johanna Thompson-Hollands; Alora A. Rando; Sarah A. Stoycos; Laura A. Meis; Katherine M. Iverson · Research
How Does Family Involvement Impact PTSD Treatment for Veterans?
Research explores clinicians' perspectives on including family members in PTSD treatment for veterans at VA facilities.
Source: Thompson-Hollands, J., Rando, A. A., Stoycos, S. A., Meis, L. A., & Iverson, K. M. (2022). Family Involvement in PTSD Treatment: Perspectives from a Nationwide Sample of Veterans Health Administration Clinicians. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 49, 1019-1030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-022-01214-1
What you need to know
- Family involvement in PTSD treatment can improve outcomes and retention for veterans
- Despite benefits, family participation remains low in VA mental health care
- Clinicians support family involvement but often lack training and resources to implement it effectively
The Power of Family Support
When someone is dealing with PTSD, their symptoms don’t just affect them - they impact their entire family system. Research shows that having strong social support can help reduce PTSD symptoms, while strained relationships can make recovery more challenging. For veterans specifically, family encouragement is often what motivates them to seek and stay in treatment in the first place.
Current State of Family Involvement
Despite evidence supporting its benefits, family participation in VA mental health treatment remains surprisingly low - less than 1% of mental health appointments include family members. This disconnect sparked researchers to interview 31 VA clinicians across the country to better understand the barriers and opportunities around family involvement in PTSD care.
What Clinicians Say
The clinicians broadly supported including families in treatment, recognizing how PTSD affects and is affected by family relationships. Most reported offering at least occasional family sessions, particularly when veterans were starting trauma-focused therapies like Prolonged Exposure or Cognitive Processing Therapy. However, their comfort level with family work varied significantly based on their prior training and supervised experience.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
Several factors limit family involvement in VA PTSD treatment:
- Many clinicians lack formal training in family therapy approaches
- Heavy caseloads and competing priorities leave limited time
- Leadership messaging emphasizes individual over family-based treatment
- Administrative barriers around scheduling and coordination
However, the rise of video telehealth during COVID-19 has made it easier for families to participate remotely, removing some logistical barriers.
What This Means for You
If you’re a veteran with PTSD or a family member:
- Know that family involvement is an option and you can request it
- Even brief family participation (1-3 sessions) can be beneficial
- Video sessions may make it easier to include family members
- Family support is especially helpful when starting trauma-focused therapy
- Different levels of involvement are available based on your needs and circumstances
Conclusions
- Family involvement can enhance PTSD treatment outcomes but remains underutilized
- More clinician training and resources could help increase family participation
- Video telehealth creates new opportunities for family engagement