About the Nonprofit
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Deep Sea Valkyries is dedicated to the mission of preventing Veteran and First Responder suicide and enhancing their lives by reducing the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the treatment of other combat related/service injuries, while assisting each hero in their transition from service member to civilian and introducing them to healthy outdoor activities.
Retreats facilitate a week-long intensive counseling program for up to 20 Veterans and First Responders. Each day, participants engage in large group, small group, and individual counseling sessions focused on combat trauma. Over the course of the week, these heroes will engage in more than 30 hours of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) trauma counseling while speaking with military chaplains about the “Moral Injury”, recociling the violence experienced during their time in service. Counseling sessions are led by a licensed counselor who specializes in trauma therapy utilizing tried and tested cognitive behavioral therapy under the curriculum umbrella designed specifically for DSV retreats.
DSV pairs these sessions with SCUBA diving as an alternate form of therapy. The effects of SCUBA diving cannot be understated. For those with wartime traumatic injuries such as amputations or neurological injuries, diving allows them to engage in activities on an equal playing field. These men and women can interact at the highest levels without feeling inhibited by their injuries. Diving also has known physiological improvements to an individual’s health reducing blood pressure, regulating breathing, increasing flexibility and stamina.
The curriculum is consistently updated with best practices in accordance with treatment recommendations from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Trauma and Quality of Life Assessments based on the APA’s DSM-5 measure reductions of how trauma impacts the Veteran and improvements to quality of life compared to pre and post-retreat experiences. To date, on average, Veterans see a reduction score of nearly 30 points and an increase in their quality of life index scores by 15 points. This far exceeds typical impatient program scores.
Upon their return home, participants are enrolled in a year long counseling program hosted over a virtual video platform. These meetings take place once a week and assist the Veteran in continued reintegration and care while at home. Progressing through 4 different work books, this continued care is a combination of peer-to-peer support and professional counseling by licensed counselors.
