A Minnesota based non-profit organization called the Veteran Resilience Project (VRP) offers free mental health therapy opportunities to veterans, service members, and their spouses in the state of Minnesota. A grant in August 2023 has allowed this organization to expand its network of services into northern Minnesota. Jenna Graen is the Northern MN VRP Outreach Coordinator and in a recent email said, “VRP has been around since 2015, but we recently received some grant funding to expand into northern Minnesota which is so exciting… Northern MN has a huge need for resources for veterans, especially in some of the rural parts.”
VRP provides free access to a specific type of treatment for trauma and/or PTSD known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Graen said EMDR is “an extensively researched, effective, and noninvasive type of therapy that helps clients recover from symptoms of trauma and PTSD.” EMDR is a therapy supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the World Health Organization, and the American Psychiatric Association.
“Basically, how it works is we connect veterans, military members, and/or spouses to a VRP network therapist and VRP will pay for 12 EMDR therapy sessions,” said Graen. “This may be a good resource for veterans that could benefit from EMDR therapy and/or ones that don’t qualify for counseling through the VA or Vet Center. The unique thing about our organization is that we are able to see veterans regardless of their VA eligibility or discharge status. It can be a challenge sometimes for veterans to get the help they need because of this barrier. We pride ourselves on how easily someone can start therapy through VRP.” Graen notes that VRP has a network of over 50 therapists throughout the state of Minnesota including six in Duluth. “We currently have therapists in Two Harbors and are working our way up the North Shore,” said Graen. “Also 50% of our EMDR therapists can do telehealth, also allowing veterans to get this therapy from home.”
Any veteran, military member, or spouse who is interested in contacting VRP about this opportunity for free EMDR therapy sessions should visit the “Contact” portion of the VRP website: https://www.veteranresilienceproject.org/contact “Then our Care Coordinator will reach out to the client and answer any questions they have and assist them with the intake process,” said Graen. The website is an excellent resource for more information about this new and growing non-profit organization. The website also offers a way to support them through volunteering and/or donations. VRP is a 501c3 nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible. Graen said, “We encourage people to also follow us on our social media to stay informed and learn more about VRP. They can also email us at info@veteranresilience.org or call us at (763) 358-2275.”
Want to learn more? Go visit the “Sweat for Vets” event on Friday, November 15th in Duluth from 11:30AM to 8:30PM. “It will be a sauna village experience at the Endion Station Inn in Duluth where people can come connect and relax while helping raise funding for our mission,” Graen said. “We are offering a time for free access for Veteran organizations to provide them with a space to unwind and relax, acknowledging their tireless efforts in supporting the military community.”