About.com Seeks PTSD Care Professional, Writer

Are you a PTSD care doctor, psychologist, or nurse with a solid writing style and some familiarity with HTML? If you are a "passionate expert that other people turn to for advice," About.com is looking for you to fill their Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 'Guide' position:

As a Guide you'll build and maintain a GuideSite, a topical section of About.com which contains:

• Original content (articles, reviews, FAQs, tutorials) written by you
• A blog featuring your unique voice and personality
• A directory of the best content in your topic, whether it be your own work or links to other sites
• A discussion forum where you serve as community leader

All About.com Guides are freelancers who work online and set their own schedules, giving them the flexibility to log on from anywhere in the world whenever they have the time. With no timesheets to fill out and no timecards to punch, working for About.com gives you the flexibility to write when you want, even if you have a full-time day job.

Of course, if you get the position, I'll be expecting a link to us over here at PTSD Combat every now-and-again! :o)

Click on 'Article Link' below tags for more specifics...

From About.com's Be a Guide page:

QUALIFICATIONS:

The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Guide will be someone with professional experience working with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ideal backgrounds for the position would include:

- a psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor who works directly with post-traumatic stress disorder patients

- a nurse or health educator with extensive experience educating and treating patients with post-traumatic stress disorder

The Guide will be able to discuss all aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder and will possess a solid, up-to-date grasp of post-traumatic stress disorder and related behavioral disorders.

The Guide will:

- be an excellent writer and communicator

- discuss complex medical topics using simple layman’s terms and avoid unnecessary jargon

- display an excellent “bedside manner” to help users through what may be a difficult time in their lives

- establish a friendly, authoritative voice

- consistently produce concise, accurate, legible copy

- possess a basic understanding of Internet use and Website navigation

- establish confidence in the scientific credibility, accuracy and comprehensiveness of About.com content

- keep current with the latest news, issues and events related to post-traumatic stress disorder

PRIMARY AUDIENCE:

The primary audience for About.com’s post-traumatic stress disorder content is people who believe they, or a friend or family member, may have a post-traumatic stress disorder. The site should answer their questions about post-traumatic stress disorder, help them make treatment decisions with a counselor or health care provider, and take action to help overcome the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

TOPICS TO COVER:

The About.com Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Guide should cover the following topics in detail. The following list is not intended to be complete, and represents a suggested minimum of the topics to be presented in the About.com Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder site:

Basics

- What PTSD is and how it develops

- Distinguishing between post-traumatic stress disorder and related behavioral disorders like OCD, depression, bipolar and eating disorders

- Possible causes of PTSD

- The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in the general population, and rates of post-traumatic stress disorder among certain populations (men/women, elderly, children, minorities, etc.)

- Signs and symptoms of PTSD

- Variations and severity of PTSD

- Related psychological and behavioral ailments, including OCD, depression, bipolar and eating disorders

- Relationship between PTSD and physical ailments

- New research into genetic components and other factors involved in post-traumatic stress disorder

Prevention and Risk Factors

- Discussion of who gets PTSD, when and why: genetic factors, children/teenagers and PTSD, PTSD in the elderly, women, men, and other populations

- Risk factors for PTSD: family history, mental illness, personality characteristics of people at risk

- Cultural, social and legal issues involved in PTSD

Treatment Options

- Calling a doctor or counselor: what to expect, what questions to ask, what information to have available for the health care provider

- How to approach someone you believe may have a post-traumatic stress disorder

- Treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder, including individual counseling, family counseling, group counseling, behavioral therapy

- Medical treatments, including SSRIs, other antidepressants and medications

- New and alternative treatments and therapies

- Finding a therapist

- New treatments and medical findings of importance to people with PTSD

Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

- Living with post-traumatic stress disorder: friends and family, psychological and emotional issues surrounding PTSD

- Preventing relapses, long-term counseling

- Resources for more post-traumatic stress disorder information: organizations and support groups, books and magazines, other websites, etc.

Details on compensation, applying online, and FAQs. Good luck!