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July 29, 2010 - Rivers of Recovery is a nonprofit organization hosting weekly fishing expeditions for combat veterans as a part of a new therapy technique focused on helping veterans overcome their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The group offers free, three-day excursions down the Green River and never fails to turn a boat full of strangers into a group of friends who find relief, if only for a little while.
Dan Cook believes in the healing properties of fishing and that nature can cure; which is why he founded Rivers of Recovery and continues to serve as their Executive Director. To Cook, fishing in a beautiful outdoor spot serves as a sanctuary where combat veterans can relax and focus on things other than painful memories.
The majority of the veterans on the excursions are not fisherman; they must be taught by their guides. Teaching the veterans is cathartic for both the veterans and the guides. The guides take special pride in teaching veterans and the veterans almost always benefit from being in a non-regimented environment. The time the veterans spend on the trips is unstructured and that is something many of them are not familiar with.
The result of being thrown into this type of environment is usually a much more relaxed veteran at the end of the trip. Abandoning structure while meeting new people and participating in a relaxing environment changes some veterans' lives. Accommodations are made for everyone so those veterans with amputated legs, for example, function seamlessly alongside everyone else.
The beauty of the excursion is the focus needed to fish. Veterans spend so much time focusing on catching fish, they don't have the time to spend thinking about their personal issues. Cook is a strong believer in the therapy these fishing excursions provide veterans. In an attempt to build statistical data, Cook diligently documents if veterans report significant improvement in:
Fishing is therapy that does not feel like therapy. The benefits are obvious to everyone involved in the weekly excursions and helping veterans is the number one goal of everyone involved.
Soldiers can return home with a number of conditions, injuries, and aggravated preexisting conditions. If you believe you have a service-connected physical or psychological injury you may be entitled to Veterans’ Disability Compensation.
At LaVan and Neidenberg, we are determined to secure veterans their rightful disability compensation and disability rating. We wrote this book for you! In it you will find valuable tips on how to navigate the claims process and avoid common pitfalls. Request your FREE copy today!
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