Problem-Solving Therapy (PST)
PST is a therapy for Veterans who are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts. PST can help you recover from the effects of experiencing difficult situations and learn skills for coping with challenging life circumstances and chronic daily stressors.
PST is a goal-oriented treatment that can teach you to identify, understand, and evaluate problems. Then you may learn to find creative solutions to those problems and pursue the best course of action to overcome them. The number of sessions varies depending on your needs. Through this treatment, you may:
Strengthen your ability to address negative feelings associated with suicide and depression.
Increase your confidence in confronting situations in a deliberate way.
Heighten your feelings of optimism and motivation.
Increase your ability to think things through when you feel overwhelmed.
Learn to address difficult challenges such as finding a job or working through a serious health issue.
If you choose PST, you may be asked to:
Complete written assignments in and outside of sessions, sometimes as homework.
Learn new problem-solving skills to overcome obstacles and address challenges.
Identify a problem and practice your new skills to find a solution.
Learn new skills to address negative emotions, brain overload, and low motivation.
Meet regularly with your therapist to discuss and establish goals for treatment.
Speak openly with your mental health provider about your symptoms and priorities so you can work together to determine whether this therapy is best for you.