Trauma Among Older People: Issues and Treatment

Trauma Among Older Peoplefocuses on the unique considerations of trauma within the older population. When treating the aged, the mental health professional must be acutely aware that the patient has a past, and that this past affects the natures of the trauma and the treatment. In this book, Leon A. Hyer and Steven J. Sohnle present an integrated model of treatment that considers current theories in light of the special considerations of the aged. The authors explore both aging and trauma related facts and the relationship between them. They present a treatment model that addresses the issues of perturbation, education, normalization, coping, and social support. Recognizing the essentially painful nature of traumatic events, the authors stress the importance of maintaining a balance between stable self-capacity and exposure to traumatic memory.

Leon Albert Hyer, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychiatry and Director of Geropsychological Services at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Steven James Sohnle, Psy.D., holds a postdoctoral fellowship in geropsychology at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/University Behavioral Health Care in Edison, New Jersey