Warrior to Soul Mate
The Indianapolis VAMC is going one step further and helping Veterans repair their intimate relationships.
At the Indianapolis VAMC, we enjoy helping Veteran’s families. We’ve recently created The Family Support Center (FSC), located on the second floor within Chaplain Services.
The FSC was created last October to provide an easier way for Veteran couples and families to get our services. Our mission is to “Help Renew, Restore and Reconnect our Veterans with their families by providing couple/family therapy services with an ease of access to holistic care and family systems trained professionals”. Recognizing specific needs, our licensed marriage and family therapists and chaplains have created Warrior to Soul Mate (WtSM) program workshops.
The Warrior to Soul Mate program is supported by the Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS) curriculum that has been very effective here for a few years now. We started the WtSM program in 2011 and we’ve already worked with hundreds of Veterans couples to help improve their communication abilities and help sustain loving, lasting, intimate relationships. The PAIRS curriculum we use is psycho-educational, recreational, and therapeutic in nature. Our chaplains, educators and clinicians conduct the communication workshops and retreats. The facilitators come from a variety of health care practice areas and have been certified as PAIRS trained instructors.
PAIRS training for couples is designed to provide tools to couples that will allow them to experience a sense of renewal in their relationship(s), develop communication skills and create a greater sense of intimacy. The following are quotes from actual Veterans who have attended Warrior to Soul Mate workshops.
“I think this program is awesome and gives you amazing, valuable tools to aid in any relationship.”
“This workshop has saved our marriage.”
“After completing this workshop, I feel like this is the first time we have talked to one another in 35 years.”
The FSC and WtSM programs are directed by Lorrie Neuberg, LMFT. Lorrie has worked in social services for over ten years, working with families, couples, individuals in areas of substance abuse, domestic violence, relapse prevention, PTSD, family systems and brief intervention therapy.
Services available through the Family Support Center (FSC):
Counseling services are available Monday through Friday with evening appointments one night per week.
- Veterans can self-refer for services by contacting (317)988-4587 or stopping by the offices within chaplain services.
- Primary Care Providers and Mental Health providers can refer Veterans by completing consults under chaplain services in CPRS.
- The FSC currently hosts WtSM workshops monthly. The workshops are held both within the medical center and at various community locations.
Contact the Family Support Center for more information, (317) 988-4587.
