Anette Alvarez, Brandon Lum, Jocelin Flores and Samuel Shiell

HERO Overview
Health, Empower, Restore, and Overcome
• Population
• Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)

• Programming
• Outpatient
• Benefits of Outpatient Programing
• Flexible, comfortable, affordable, and
accessible.

• Assessment and Treatment

• Referral prior to admission
• Duration/length vary to program and
desired outcomes.
• Idyll Arbor Leisure Battery Assessment Tool
• Assesses client’s leisure attitudes,
interest, motivation, and
satisfaction.
• Best fit program
 Programs
Meditation and Relaxation
Program
Improve emotional well being

Retreat Program
Improve social and communication
skills

Aquatic Program
Programs and Overall Goals To educate veterans on how to cope
with symptoms of PTSD
1. To improve emotional well being
2. To improve social and communication skills
3. To educate veterans on how to cope with symptoms of PTSD
 Aquatics Program
Overview
• Population Size
• 16 participants per session
• Program Description
• A twice a week program taking place over two
months, the purpose of the aquatic program is to
help veterans relieve stress and tension often
related to PTSD through aquatic activities and
exercise.
• Adaptation/Modifications
• Adaptive equipment is available to accommodate
clients with physical disabilities, and
modifications can be made to make exercises and
activities increasing/decreasingly challenging.
 Aquatics Specific Design
Provide a program that involves swimming and other water
activities to relieve PTSD symptoms like tension and
To demonstrate the ability to relieve PTSD tension through
headaches.
aquatic aerobics exercise
To demonstrate basic stretches to help ease tension
As the exercise progresses, the patient’s flexibility
and physical ability will be measured.
Achieved (yes/no)?
Evaluations and participant satisfaction
 • Intended Population
• Can accommodate 5 to 10 veterans
of various physical abilities.
• Program Description
• Taking place over one weekend,
this program consists of a
preassessment, the retreat
Retreat weekend, and a post assessment.
The goal of the program is to
provide a therapeutic setting for
Program veterans to learn outdoor
techniques and social skills
amongst people of similar
backgrounds and experiences.
• Adaptation/Modifications
• Simple modifications of group
activities and modified equipment
if needed and with prior notice
 Retreat Specific Design
To provide an outdoor camping experience for veterans with
PTSD that will promote relaxation and social wellness.
To demonstrate the importance of leisure
To demonstrate the ability to verbalize how leisure
affected them
Upon request, the client will verbally state 3 ways leisure
has affected them throughout this program.
Achieved (yes/no)?
Evaluations and participant satisfaction
 • Intended Population
• Designed for clients with PTSD but also adaptable to assist other
Meditation and populations.

Relaxation Program • Program Description

• Meeting twice a week the course of two months in both indoor and
Overview outdoor settings, veterans will learn relaxation techniques that can
improve their spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Adaptation/Modifications
• Simple modifications, if necessary
Meditation & Relaxation Specific Design
To provide services to Veterans with PTSD that will help improve their
emotional well being.
To determine meditation techniques to improve emotional well
being
To determine which meditation techniques best improve
each clients emotional well being
Upon request, client will demonstrate different methods learned and determine
which technique works best to improve their emotional state of mind

Achieved (yes/no)?
Evaluations and participant satisfaction
Class Activity
• Quick stretching/breathing warm up
• Grounding activity
• Debrief
 Debrief
•How could this exercise help veterans with PTSD?
•What are some desired outcomes that activities like these
can facilitate?
•Could this program be used with other treatment groups?
 References
Nelson, Nicole, "Use of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Veterans
with Combat-related PTSD" (2017). Social Work Master’s
Clinical Research Papers. 770.
https://ir.stthomas.edu/ssw_mstrp/770

Denkmenn, Libby, “In Outdoor Recreation Program, Veterans

Finding Healing and Friendships” (2018). The American
Homefront Project.
https://americanhomefront.wunc.org/post/outdoor-
recreation-program-veterans-find-healing-and- friendship