Date of Award
10-2015
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Department
Seminary
First Advisor
Amy Ford
Second Advisor
Daniel Lioy
Third Advisor
Jeff Saville
Abstract
Veterans with combat-related PTSD often report a loss of hope due to their traumatic experiences. Chaplains and mental health practitioners seek to improve functioning among veterans suffering from mental health disorders, but need common language and methods to work together toward clinically meaningful gains. Among all the theories of hope reviewed, Hope Theory most closely supports criteria established to provide a framework from which interventions can be developed to increase hope among veterans with combat-related PTSD. Further, Hope Theory principles align with biblical theology, providing opportunity for collaborative efforts between Christian chaplains and clinicians to develop and use interventions based on the theory. Currently, there is a paucity of hope enhancement interventions for PTSD. Current evidence-based therapies for PTSD support the development of a brief, single- session treatment to improve hope, which could be used to augment existing cognitive and behavioral treatments. This paper proposes testing the efficacy of a novel hope enhancement strategy called the Warrior Journey Intervention. An experiment is designed and described that offers proof of concept that the Warrior Journey Intervention can increase levels of hope.
Recommended Citation
Fleming, Wesley H., "The Warrior Journey: A Hope Enhancement Intervention for Veterans with Combat-Related PTSD" (2015). Doctor of Ministry. 119.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/119