Wayne Smith (He/Him)

Some veterans have trouble depression, anxiety, relive traumatic events, substance use or have thoughts of death or suicide. Providing coping skills, psycho education, and trauma focus treatment modalities to help decrease these negative symptoms.

Anxiety is a part of everyone but it affects everyone differently. Anxiety refers to anticipation of a future concern and is more associated with muscle tension and avoidance behavior. Thought cognitive behavior therapy and using inventions such as behavioral activation can help decrease your anxious symptoms.

Depressive disorder just has Major Depression, Bipolar Depression, grief, postpartum and adjustment disorder are the most common mental disorders. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time. Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. Changeling out negative thoughts, developing coping skills, and possible medications prescribed by your healthcare provider can all help decrease your symptoms.

Motivational Interviewing is an “empathic, person-centered counseling approach that prepares people for change by helping them resolve ambivalence, enhance intrinsic motivation, and build confidence to change. It is an affective tool to use when addressing the cycle of change in a person's life and when people are feeling stuck or even struggling with addictions.

CBT is affective treatment for depression and anxiety. Certain interventions I use are; Cognitive restructuring or reframing- This involves taking a hard look at negative thought patterns. Exposure therapy- can be used to confront fears and phobias. Activity scheduling and behavior activation- If there’s an activity you tend to put off or avoid due to fear or anxiety, getting it on your calendar can help. Once the burden of decision is gone, you may be more likely to follow through.