Today's guest blogger is Heather Ehle. The founder and director of Project Sanctuary. We are excited about our partnership with Heather and our research program together with Regis University.
Project Sanctuary partnering with The Sierra Club to make a difference.
Rightfully so, the news has been full of pictures of excited families, reuniting after returning home from Iraq, tearful embraces among the Welcome Home signs. These images leave the majority of American thinking; “Ahhh, there is a happy ending”. When in fact the war may just beginning.
Repeated deployments and conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injuries complicate the happily-ever-after, and often leave their mark on ALL the family members. Suicides, divorces and Veteran unemployment are all record highs.
The traditional approach to treating PTSD relies on the use of medications provided solely to the individual. What if there was an alternative method and incorporating treatment for the entire family?? Providing the family with an adaptation strategy to help break the cycle of PSTD rather than masking its symptoms. And what if, what if, we could get these families moving in the right direction…outdoors!!
Project Sanctuary offers six-day therapeutic retreats in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, hosted with YMCA’s Snow Mountain Ranch. By utilizing year round outdoor recreation, our families are allowed to break their cycle of stress, bond with other families all the while enjoying hiking, fishing, skiing, tubing and horseback riding.
The goal is for the military family to obtain the skills necessary to integrate back into society in a healthy environment. Using year round recreational opportunities to assist with bonding, communicational skills and enhancing overall moods is a key element. They are empowered to work through difficult issues as a family unit and continue to receive support from Project Sanctuary for two additional years.
This March, The Sierra Club, Project Sanctuary and Regis University are teaming up host ten military families for our 22nd retreat. This collaboration brings together the best of all organizations with the goal of conducting a formalized study proving that outdoor recreation is a viable, timely and useful tool in healing the effects of PTSD in our military families.
So, “Welcome Home”. Now grab a back pack, your family and hit a trail. There is healing to be done!
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Project Sanctuary is a Colorado 501C3 hosting therapeutic retreats for all military families. Retreats are lead by Licensed Professional Counselors, Recreation Therapists and Veterans. Healthy Marriage, Financial Peace classes along with outdoor recreation are utilized in this one of a kind program. To date, Project Sanctuary has hosted 20 retreats and of our 143 families we can report zero suicides.
For more information please visit: www.projectsanctuary.us
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Posted by: Asics Tiger Online | January 16, 2012 at 06:16 PM