Outcomes of a Five-Day Warrior Renew Retreat to Reduce Symptoms Related to Military Sexual Trauma for Women Veterans

This program evaluation examines outcomes of a five-day workshop based on the Warrior Renew program to address symptoms related to military sexual trauma delivered as a therapeutic retreat. The content of the workshop addressed salient aspects of military sexual trauma including anxiety and triggers; anger and resentments due to injustice, betrayal, and lack of closure; self-blame; and interpersonal factors such as relationship patterns and healthy relationship skills. Twenty female veterans participated in the workshop, of which 18 opted to complete pre- and post-workshop assessments including the Brief Symptom Inventory, Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory, and open-ended questions on a post-workshop evaluation. Participant scores reflected significant decreases on symptoms and posttraumatic negative thinking, with large to very large effect sizes. Open-ended comments revealed themes of appreciating workshop content, finding comradery with other women veterans, and enjoying the retreat context. Participants felt the retreat format accelerated their learning as they could fully focus on their healing experience. Results suggest this workshop delivered as part of a retreat was a viable therapeutic option for these veterans, and formal research may be warranted.