Red Oak Recovery Hosts Expert Speaker on PTSD Treatment Post-Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Red Oak Recovery, an addiction and mental health treatment facility near Asheville, is set to host a world-renowned speaker to address the challenges local clinicians face in treating individuals struggling with PTSD and other mental health conditions following events natural disasters like Hurricane Helene.

“Of the many devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, the impact on the mental health of our community may be the longest lasting,” says Mick Masterson, Chief Executive Officer of Red Oak Recovery. “Our goal is to provide training and resources to best prepare the mental health providers of our community in the recognition and treatment of the post disaster distress that many of us in Western North Carolina are facing.”

Many clinicians in the western North Carolina region have been providing free or sliding scale therapy sessions to help those processing the loss of life, property, and more in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. According to the National Library of Medicine, nearly 20% of Americans struggle with severe PTSD from natural disasters like Hurricane Helene in their lifetime.

Dr. Jessica Hamblen, a Dartmouth professor, believes there are specific treatment modalities best suited for clinicians dealing with traumatic events such as natural disasters. In collaboration with Red Oak Recovery and other mental health providers, Dr. Hamblen will offer free training to clinicians on best practices for processing these traumatic events. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Post-Disaster Distress is a time-limited, transdiagnostic approach to treating problematic symptoms following exposure to a disaster that can threaten functioning, well-being, and overall quality of life.

“The program has been used successfully to help thousands of survivors overcome and recover from the devastating effects of a broad range of disasters, such as the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013 and other hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and mass shootings,” said Dr. Hamblen. “The majority of the program focuses on teaching cognitive restructuring as a strategy for dealing with negative feelings that often occur following a disaster.”

Clinicians from across the region are invited to this two-day event hosted at Mountain Area Health Education Center by a network of mental health providers. The event is free for licensed or master’s level therapists interested in learning about the modalities used to treat trauma resulting from natural disasters. However, registration is required.

Red Oak Recovery’s Family of Programs specializes in trauma-informed care for men, women, and adolescent boys facing addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the programs include Red Oak Recovery, The Willows, and Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, offering personalized treatment in a healing environment. Red Oak Recovery is a subsidiary of Bradford Health Services, a nationwide leader in addiction treatment headquartered in Birmingham, AL.