U.S. Military to Begin Training Soldiers in Mental Conditioning

In response to increasing incidents of post-traumatic stress syndrome, suicide, and depression in the military, it is planned that all 1.1 million U.S. troops will be trained in emotional resiliency and stress management.

The new training will be taught in weekly 90-minute classes led by sergeants who will be trained in mental techniques that focus on faulty cognitions. These faulty cognitions are thought to lead to emotional difficulties such as anxiety and frustration under stress.

The techniques are being incorporated with the consultation of Dr. Martin Seligman, a leading psychologist in the area of mental conditioning and stress management. The techniques are based on the work of Dr. Albert Ellis and Dr. Aaron Beck, who worked in clinical settings help people to understand and change their self-talk to improve their emotional functioning.



For the entire New York Times article from August 18, 2009 click on: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/health/18psych.html?th&emc=th