FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009) – St. Joseph Behavioral Health, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, the VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System and Region 3, NASW have joined forces to provide a free public training opportunity, “Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Ethics-Related Issues.”

This three-hour training session will take place from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, in Kachmann Auditorium at Lutheran Hospital, 7950 W. Jefferson Blvd., in Fort Wayne. The training focuses on the signs, symptoms, treatment and intervention methods for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Presenters include Javan Horwitz, PsyD, HSPP, VA neuropsychologist, and William Utesch, PhD, LMFT, LMHC, associate professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Dr. Horwitz will present the neurological aspects of PTSD from 1-2:30 p.m. and field questions until 3 p.m. Dr. Utesch will discuss how to identify ethical issues relevant to the treatment of PTSD from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. and follow up with a question and answer session.

This educational opportunity is being offered to help area healthcare and mental-health professionals gain a better understanding of PTSD. The training will address how veterans, other groups and individuals may be impacted by PTSD.

“We encourage the community to become more in tune with anxiety disorders that people cope with regularly,” said Bryan Flueckiger, MD, medical director, St. Joseph Behavioral Health. “It’s especially important for caregivers to recognize symptoms and behaviors and know when to refer patients to a professional for diagnosis and treatment. They also need to know about valuable resources available to patients and their families.”

Continuing education credits are pending for social workers, therapists and nurses. To register for this free training, visit lutheranhealthnetwork.com/education.