ABSTRACT
More than 5.3 million Americans endured the trials of combat. Many of them have returned missing limbs, were otherwise painfully wounded, and/or suffer from the hidden wounds of war—traumatic brain injury, combat stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is estimated that 20% of all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD. The most recent statistical studies show the suicide rate among all veterans at 20 a day. This chapter discusses posttraumatic growth as an initial perspective in the process of treating and healing trauma and PTSD. It is exemplified in an integrated approach that includes equine-assisted mental health in a retreat setting for combat veterans and their families. The equine-assisted segment of the approach allows participants to process, practice, and prepare for life post-trauma.
