PT570 – How Family Healing Shapes Veteran Recovery, with Jesse Gould & Allison Wilson
Dec 3, 2024
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Jesse Gould, Founder of the Heroic Hearts Project, and Allison Wilson, its Director of Development, share insightful perspectives on veteran healing through psychedelics. They discuss the essential role of family in this journey, illustrating how healing impacts future generations. The duo highlights the recent merger with The Hope Project, aimed at supporting veterans' families, and announces a gala event to foster community connections. They also delve into the evolution of psychedelic therapy in veteran recovery and the launch of their new workbook tailored for this purpose.
The Heroic Hearts Project emphasizes the significant role of family involvement in veterans' healing and reintegration processes, promoting generational healing.
Through its fundraising gala and community initiatives, Heroic Hearts Project aims to raise awareness and support for psychedelic therapy as a viable mental health treatment for veterans.
Deep dives
Introduction to Heroic Hearts Project
The Heroic Hearts Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families through psychedelic therapy. Founded by veterans, it offers a multi-month program that includes preparation, peer support, group support, grants for high-quality retreats, and aftercare integration. The organization aims to connect veterans with healing modalities that go beyond traditional medication, enabling them to address mental health issues stemming from their military service. Heroic Hearts Project also engages in research initiatives to demonstrate the effectiveness of these treatments compared to conventional VA options.
Support for Families of Veterans
Recognizing the importance of family involvement in the healing process, Heroic Hearts Project has integrated programs for spouses and family members of veterans. The Hope Project emerged as a supportive initiative for spouses, facilitating communication and providing resources for those navigating the challenges of a loved one's transition after service. With an increasing community of over 400 spouses, the program now offers retreats and mindfulness practices tailored for family members. This approach aims to foster a healthier family dynamic by addressing the emotional needs of both veterans and their families.
Upcoming Fundraising Gala in Los Angeles
A fundraising gala is set to take place in Los Angeles on December 5th, aimed at recognizing supporters, donors, and veterans involved with Heroic Hearts Project. The event promises a relaxed atmosphere with a focus on community building, featuring live and silent auctions, dancing, and the performance of notable artists. This gala represents a significant step for the organization as it seeks to celebrate the collective efforts of those dedicated to supporting veterans' mental health while raising crucial funds for upcoming initiatives. Organizers express excitement about bringing together the veteran community and its supporters for a meaningful and enjoyable evening.
The Future of Psychedelic Therapy for Veterans
Heroic Hearts Project advocates for the integration of psychedelic therapy into mainstream mental health treatment, especially for veterans suffering from PTSD and other trauma-related issues. With growing political support for psychedelic research and therapy, the organization aims to leverage its veteran focus to enact broader policy changes that benefit all individuals dealing with trauma. By emphasizing the need for reciprocal healing within family systems, the organization hopes to break cycles of trauma and create a mentality of generational healing. This strategic approach highlights the potential for systemic change in society's understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
In this episode, Joe interviews two members of the Heroic Hearts Project: Founder and President, Jesse Gould; and Director of Development and Head of Family Relations, Allison Wilson.
Gould gives a background of Heroic Hearts Project and discusses their current projects and future goals, and Wilson talks about her nonprofit, The Hope Project, and its recent merger with HHP to bring more of a focus to the other side of veteran healing: the families of veterans. While Heroic Hearts and other veteran-aligned organizations have been an answer to many vets unable to find help otherwise (and frustrated with the inconsistencies of the VA), they talk a lot about that missing piece – how crucial it is to have family involved in a veteran’s reintegration, and how that healing can impact future generations.
"The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics: A Preparation and Integration Workbook" was recently released, with all proceeds going to HHP, and they are hosting their first Gala event, "Operation: Freedom To Heal," this week, December 5, in Los Angeles. The goal of the event is to fundraise, gather community, and recognize the supporters who have gotten Heroic Hearts to where it is today, and will feature live and silent auctions and a performance by Melissa Etheridge. Email Allison@heroicheartsproject.org if you’d like to attend.