CIA and NSA analysts who spend all day watching ISIS beheadings, brutal attacks and hard core child pornography are treated by specialist psychologists

Analysts employed at US intelligence agencies like the CIA, NSA, and National Counterterrorism Center who watch graphic videos all day receive treatment from specialist psychologists to help them deal with the emotional trauma they experience.

The analysts watch clips of beheadings, violent attacks and hard core pornography which sometimes features children in an effort to gain clues about where terrorists are and what they have planned. 

Intelligence agencies employ special psychiatrists and therapists to help the analysts cope with the 'extraordinary toll' the work can have.

The analysts watch graphic content and look at violent photos to gain clues about the actions of terroristsAgencies like the CIA, NSA, and National Counterterrorism Center hire therapists to deal with analysts' trauma 

A CIA physician said: 'They're being exposed to material that we're not exposed to broadly in America'

 

In many cases, the therapists have watched the same material as their patients, five current and former intelligence officers told the Daily Beast.

A senior physician with the CIA's Office of Medical Services said: 'They're being exposed to material that, day in and day out, we're not exposed to broadly in America.

'That has its own sort of impact and own sort of, for lack of a better term, shock value.'

The content analysts watch is often violent, but it's 'mostly' pornography. 

Sometimes the graphic clips and photos contain encrypted messages and they must be checked to see if they hold useful information.

The mental health professionals brief the analysts before they watch anything and remind them there are counseling resources which are available to them. 

Analysts often suffer sensations of sickness, bouts of grief, periods of depression and experience anger

Brendan Conlon, an ex-chief of the NSA's Tailored Access Operations group, said:  'You have to watch the video and do a forensic analysis to see if there's any lead to pass to along.

'The whole point is to make sure it doesn't happen again.' 

Analysts often suffer sensations of sickness, bouts of grief, and periods of depression.

It is also common for analysts to feel angry or want to hold responsible parties accountable.

NSA spokesperson Vanee Vines said in a statement: 'The Agency deeply values the health and wellness of our employees and provides a range of comprehensive services to address their needs. 

'The NSA has long offered psychological consultation and intervention services to support our employees' important work against today's increasingly complex global threats.'

Before they are hired, the NSA conducts extensive psychological testing on potential employees. 

At the very least, applicants take a written psychological examination and interview with an NSA psychologist before they are hired. 

By Evan Bleier For Dailymail.com