The new edition of this 2015 book provides a deeper dive into the issue of military sexual violence and the treatment methods that could help veterans address and heal from trauma.

Military sexual trauma (MST) refers to any “experiences of sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that a veteran experienced during his or her military service,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Data collected from the VA indicates that approximately one in four female veterans and 1 in 100 male veterans have experienced MST. Survivors of MST often exhibit symptoms characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and require psychological therapy in order to overcome the lasting effects of trauma.

One of the leading researchers on MST and the effective treatment of trauma is Kristen Zaleski, clinical associate professor in the Department of Adult Mental Health and Wellness and affiliated faculty of the Military and Veterans Programs at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Zaleski’s 2015 book Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma shed new light on the complex causes, effects and clinical treatments for MST. She spoke with us about the recently released second edition of the book, the progress being made in MST research and her unique approach to treating trauma.

USC: What inspired you to write Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma?

Kristen Zaleski: In 2008, I began working with military survivors of sexual violence. As a clinician, I needed to gain a better understanding of military culture and how to better treat trauma in veterans.At the time there was very little written about the topic of MST for social workers—so I decided to write the book myself.I wrote a book that I hoped could help other clinicians understand veterans, sexual trauma and treatment better.

USC: Why did you decide to release a second edition of Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma, and what sets it apart from the first edition?

KZ: There is a growing body of research providing new insights into the risk factors, prevalence, symptoms and clinical approaches to MST—so as soon as I submitted the first manuscript, I knew there was more to be said about the subject.

The first edition primarily covers violence committed against female service members. Exploring MST for men and the LGBT community is a new focus in the second edition. Because more men enlist than women, the rates of sexual violence for each gender differ—however, in sheer numbers, men report as many instances of sexual violence as women do in the military. In the same vein, we now have more information on violence committed against members of the LGBT community in the military.

Other additions include a discussion of how medication can be used to treat the neurobiological effects of trauma, as well as a new conclusion that marries all of the concepts covered in the book into a cohesive summary of my clinical approach to treating trauma.

USC: Can you tell us a bit more about your approach to treating MST and any other major takeaways emphasized in the new edition of Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma?

KZ: In the conclusion, I urge readers to consider new approaches to treatment. It is a kind of call to action for mental health workers as well as the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)—I believe that practitioners both in and outside of the military can change the way they consider and treat MST victims.

In military settings, the treatment of trauma has largely been approached through the lens of cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy challenges negative thought patterns in order to help people form new beliefs and behaviors that promote healing. The standard cognitive treatments currently practiced by the DoD can benefit trauma patients, but don’t thoroughly address the emotional and body reactions experienced by those veterans.

For instance, a veteran might complete a cognitive program in which his or her psychotherapist concludes that they no longer have an official PTSD diagnosis—yet they still feel compelled to lock the door and stuff towels under the door when taking a shower. Such behaviors are symptomatic of the unhealed emotional effects of trauma.

My book aims to build the neurological, historical and sociological frameworks to empower any reader to see MST victims differently, recognizing the need for intervention methods tailored to each patient’s unique needs. In general, I believe that somatic, or “bottom-up” therapy, tends to be mistakenly disregarded in the treatment of trauma. Somatic therapy recognizes the ways in which trauma exists in the body and relates to the lived experience. This is my approach to treating MST in veterans: I believe that trauma has serious bodily and psychological effects that should be addressed in synchronicity.

In recent years, we’ve made great strides in MST research—from understanding perpetration and risk factors to developing more comprehensive treatment plans—but deeper clinical understanding is still needed. This is the overarching takeaway from the book.

USC: What steps are you taking to improve our understanding of MST and increase the efficacy of treatment for servicemembers and veterans moving forward?

KZ: I will continue to speak at events on military trauma, including an upcoming conference in October where I will be giving a lecture whose aim is to challenge the Feres Doctrine. If this doctrine is appealed, military sexual trauma survivors will have the right to sue the military for damages.

 

The crux of my research moving forward will be focused on online sexual harassment and assault, including non-consensual image sharing, or, what is commonly referred to as “revenge porn.” This research may be tied to the military as well, as there have been many reports of non-consensual image sharing within online military forums.