Lone Survivor Foundation Therapeutic Retreats - Lone Survivor Foundation

Here is information on a Healing Retreat through Lone Survivor Foundation - focus is toward combat stress, mTBI and chronic pain issues, with an emphasis on service members and veterans from Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We conduct individual service member retreats, couples retreats and family retreats, with the goal of taking the individual and family out of their normal environment, open the mind and emotions and provide tools for moving forward successfully. LSF also conducts separate retreats for survivors of Military Sexual Trauma.

When and Where Lone Survivor Foundation Retreats are held on a monthly basis throughout the year and at a variety of locations across the country. The first step to attending a retreat is to complete our application. When an application is received, the applicant will be contacted for an interview. After the application process is completed and the applicant is approved to attend, an appropriate date and location for the next available retreat will be set. Our retreats are typically held from Thursday to Monday. LSF covers travel and expenses during the retreat.

Psychoeducational group work provides an increased understanding and insight into invisible injuries. Group processes help examine best practice treatments and options available to service members and their families. Strengthening knowledge and understanding of the injuries helps in developing more effective coping strategies.
Individual sessions are focused and tailored to the needs identified by each participant. This provides an excellent opportunity to develop a plan for addressing areas of need and providing tools and resources. Brief stress reduction exercises and techniques are utilized to assist in alleviating symptoms of trauma and pain.
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) utilizes unmounted activities with horses to provide metaphorical learning experiences. This is not a horsemanship or riding program. Participating in EAL activities allows the individual to practice dealing with frustration, anger, stress, fear and relationship problems in real time, creating metaphors to situations found in “regular” life. Horses mirror the participant’s emotions and responses, which provides instantaneous feedback. This allows participants and the Equine Team to “see” where the problems are and find solutions that work. Participants quickly recognize unhealthy patterns, acknowledge their personal strengths and enact new behaviors.