By: Kelly Cummings, Lone Survivor Foundation
Communications Manager, & Gabby Bonilla, Warrior Care RCP STRATCOM Specialist
The Warrior Care Recovery
Coordination Program (RCP) focuses on the rehabilitation and recovery of
Service Members who are ill, injured, or wounded. Although not all injuries are
visible, Warrior Care knows that Mental Health is a key component in a Warrior's
road to recovery. One of the many resources listed on the National Resource Directory
(NRD) is the Lone Survivor Foundation, and we’re taking a moment to spotlight
their 10th anniversary and growth for the next 10 years. By working
together, RCP and Lone Survivor Foundation can expand the message of how
valuable mental health awareness is and provide Recovering Service Members and
Military Families with the resources they need to become the best that they can
be.
Lone
Survivor Foundation (LSF) knows life after combat. Founded by retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell
in 2010, their mission is to lead veterans and their families on a path to
healing from combat trauma. They have provided over 30,000 hours of no-cost
therapeutic services in the past ten years, and they are planning on more
growth in the future. Lone Survivor Foundation's primary service is a no-cost
Post-traumatic Growth Program for combat veterans and their families. The Program
focuses on providing relief from symptoms of PTSD, mild Traumatic Brain Injury,
and Chronic Pain. However, a formal diagnosis or disability rating is not
required.
LSF's Post-traumatic
Growth Programs are held at relaxing, military-friendly facilities in Crystal
Beach, Texas and Fayetteville, North Carolina.
LSF serves families nationwide and will take care of the cost of
transportation to the facilities. During the Program, LSF's licensed clinicians
and staff use therapeutic tools not typically offered by government programs to
focus on restoring the mind, body, and spirit of participants. They also guide participants in creating a
personalized long-term treatment plan. The Post-traumatic Growth Program
includes up to three five-day sessions.
The first session is for veterans and service members only. If they have a significant other, they may be
invited back for a Couples' Session. If
the couple has children living at home, they may be invited back a third time
for a Family Session.
In
response to COVID-19, LSF added a PTSD Symptom Management Virtual Program. It
is a no-cost program that takes place via video conferencing over three days.
Groups of approximately nine veterans each practice tools for stress relief and
improved self-regulation. Each participant also has the opportunity to check in
with a mental health clinician each day.
The feedback on the Virtual Program has been so positive that LSF is
considering making them a permanent offering. For those that can't commit to a
three-day virtual Program, LSF has also begun to offer 30-minute Counselor or
Mindfulness Check-Ins with LSF Clinicians or Yoga Instructors.
Transitioning into civilian life is a daunting task, but luckily there are many resources and programs here to support you. The Lone Survivor Foundation just celebrated their 10-year anniversary, and as one of the many vetted sources on the NRD, they plan to continue to grow their programs to service recovering Service Members, Military Families, and Military Caregivers.
To learn more about Lone Survivor Foundation, please visit lsfprograms.org