“Since January 2023 VETS has been active and encouraging support in my journey to be the best version of myself. The level of support that VETS provides continues to be the standard for myself and many other veterans on their path to a healthy life. The level of financial support needed is not easy, and VETS continued support is a pinnacle for other organizations to place veterans’ needs first. VETS focuses on the veteran healing journey from coaching, mentoring, counseling, integration workshops, and any other meaningful modality they can provide. I would not be here today if it was not for VETS and the donations of others helping to fight Veteran suicide and promote healthy and meaningful options to allow veterans to have a healing journey like no other.”
Mikey McKim, VETS Grant Recipient (Feb 2023) and VETS Ambassador
“When I was medically retired in 2015 from the Army’s Special Forces, my prognosis did not look hopeful. The general consensus among the mental health professionals was that I would require constant supervision and interventions to deal with my PTSD. I had already spent 18 months as an in patient in different mental health facilities after two suicide attempts. In my service as a Green Beret, I had deployed 11 times with almost six years of serving in combat and hostile fire areas. The orders to medically retire me for my PTSD came at a time when I was too afraid, shameful, and depressed to function. I spent the next seven years going through all of the therapies, medications, and experimental treatments available to me—nothing seemed to work.
Luckily, a friend who had gone through VETS reached out to me to gauge my interest and need. I happily jumped at the idea, and received my VETS therapy in April of 2022. I felt immediate results - results that have lasted almost two years and counting! Since returning from my therapy with VETS, I’ve been incredibly safe, sane and stable. I’ve been able to get back into my profession of coaching and counseling. I work with five nonprofit organizations centered around helping veterans. I have become the person I’ve always wanted to be: a loving father, devoted husband, and great friend. None of my successes, nor the successes of the veterans I work with as a counselor, could have ever become a reality were it not for the work of Amber, Marcus and the entire VETS team.”
Joe Hudak, VETS Grant Recipient (2022) and VETS Ambassador
“I’m a recipient of a VETS grant that changed my life…I served 25 years in the Army, 18 of which were in Special Operations. I suffered from symptoms related to TBI, including anxiety, depression and fits of rage. I received treatments for these symptoms with psychedelic treatment being one of the most profound treatments. I completed my treatment just over a year ago. I have not had a drink of alcohol in over a year, I no longer have depression and anxiety…and I have a sense of purpose again. I cannot explain in words the positive change VETS has had on me and more importantly my family.”
Anonymous, VETS Grant Recipient (2023) and VETS Ambassador
“After 23 years of service in Special Forces operations, I retired from active duty and began a new chapter of life. Married and a father of 5 beautiful children, I was optimistic about coming home and spending more time with my family. Upon retirement, I landed a purposeful corporate job that allowed me to work from home and leverage many of my leadership and management skills, honed while serving in the military. I no longer had the pressures of everyday military life and the freedom to live my life the way I wanted to. By all outward measures I successfully transitioned from the military.
However, inwardly I could not let go of my special forces training and my heightened sense of awareness. Everyone, everything, and every situation represented a threat to my life. My mind was stuck in a constant loop of threat analysis. I could not find an off switch. With no clear and present danger, I consciously and subconsciously started to attack myself and my beautiful family. This inward attack manifested in terrible self-destructive and relationship-destructive ways. I was living in total hell with no love in my heart and fear driving my every thought and action.
My “Operator Syndrome” symptoms worsened over a three-year period. Daily, I battled with depression, suicidal thoughts, lack of motivation, vertigo and many other TBI related ailments. For years, I tried the traditional western medicine route. My VA doctor put me on strong anti-depressants, but they only further numbed me to the world. I also conducted 10 weeks of MeRT transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy which helped reduce my symptoms. However, within just a few months I felt worse than prior to starting this therapy.
Then in 2021, I found VETS and jumped on the opportunity to experience psychedelic assisted therapy. VETS completely sponsored my psychedelic assisted therapy at an amazing overseas retreat center. My life changed completely after just one psychedelic experience. Immediately and without self judgment, I was able to positively reflect on my current situation. For the first time, I could clearly see my life and the decisions that brought me to this moment in time. For the first time in my life, my heart opened, and a rush of emotions flooded my mind and body. For the first time I felt positively connected to my body, to my mind and to other people in my life.
I immediately got to work, letting go of the things, thoughts, and relationships that no longer served me. My life and the lives of my family have forever positively changed. I never dreamed life could be this good. I am now excelling in all aspects of my life. I am no longer stuck in the past. I live a heart-led life, fully present and fully aware of the love and abundance that flows from my inner state of being. I am truly optimistic about my future and the future of my family. Thank you, VETS, for this life-changing opportunity. I am eternally grateful for the love and abundance given to me and my family.”
Anonymous, VETS Grant Recipient (2021) and VETS Ambassador
“It is such a joy to rediscover a life filled with opportunities supported by a healing community, not held back by the afflictions of combat service.
I will be forever grateful to VETS for the gift of life unhindered by the traumas of life and military service. My healing grant was my last hope to embrace life after a suicide attempt that left me with little hope or confidence in traditional talk therapies and medications. I received a beautiful gift that created space to heal and offered me resources to support the healing process. VETS is a lifelong healing community that provides invaluable support to my family and me.
The gift of healing led me to a brotherhood that embraces each other with understanding and compassion. This gift was also given to my wife, who shared my path of service and found healing through the generosity of VETS. Together, we have a new path, along with our children, that will leave behind fear, anxiety, and depression. With our VETS healing community, we will move forward and embrace life on a new path filled with love, healing, and happiness.”
Herb Daniels, VETS Grant Recipient (2022) and VETS Ambassador
“Being a VETS grant recipient has shown me what unconditional love for myself and others truly looks like. My…experience laid the foundation for establishing new habits to live a life in better alignment with my spiritual beliefs. The Ibogaine experience was the most profound spiritual experience I have ever had - it solidified my beliefs and purpose in life after my military career. The wraparound support provided by VETS has helped me build the skills to live a life that revolves around a practice of compassion, kindness and peace instead of darkness, suicidal thoughts, and destruction. My wife, Tracey, has equally benefited from the support of VETS programs and now our marriage is a partnership I hadn’t ever imagined was possible. Every person in my life has benefited from VETS because of how I show up in life and relationships. I am blessed with a new lease on life and I don’t take that lightly. Thank you for your continued support of this amazing mission.”
Brandon Bryan, VETS Grant Recipient (2022) and VETS Ambassador
“The amount of healing in our lives since my husband became a VETS grant recipient and traveled to Mexico for psychedelic therapy is nothing short of miraculous. We have both been blessed to embark on this journey of becoming the best version of ourselves thanks to the support of the VETS community. Life did not magically become easy after the experience, but his ibogaine reset and the community & integration support from VETS has given us the skills to navigate the ups and downs of life with healthier habits and peaceful hearts. Daily meditation, prayer, breathwork, walking, communication skills and healthy eating have replaced the pharmaceuticals Brandon was on for mood and sleep regulation. These habits have proven to be way more effective than the 7 different medications he was on. He has been able to restore some of the relationships that had become broken during his years of suffering with the mental anguish and maladaptive behaviors from a lifetime of trauma. It’s been such a blessing for me to witness.
I can count on my partner to be present and show up for our relationship in a healthy way. I am forever grateful for the support VETS provides to help me not only support him but to work on my own healing & growth. It feels like a blackout curtain that was keeping us in darkness & isolation has been removed from our lives and we are walking together in the warmth of beautiful sunlight, surrounded by our friends in the VETS community.”
Tracey Bryan, Veteran Spouse, VETS Grant Recipient (2024) and VETS Ambassador
“VETS helped me find self-love. I’m not sure I knew what that was before psychedelic-assisted therapy.” Anonymous, VETS Grant Recipient (2022) and VETS Ambassador
“I retired from the Army after 23 years as a Special Forces soldier. The years of service and combat experiences took a huge toll on my mental health. I suffered from sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, uncontrollable anger, guilt, and shame. Suicidal ideation led to two separate inpatient stays at the VA hospital. I was on several different prescription medications, as well as abusing alcohol and cannabis to help cope with the symptoms. I felt hopeless and would describe my soul as being threadbare.
That all changed when I was introduced to the VETS organization. The immediate results following my ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment included better sleep without nightmares (which had occurred nightly over the last 20 years), the fog of depression had gone, I felt at peace and energetic, I had no desire to numb myself with any substances, and my faith in God had been restored. It is now several months following treatment, and I am still noticing beneficial changes almost daily. VETS not only helped facilitate treatment…but they have also equipped me with several tools to help nurture my growth. Weekly men’s integration talk groups, couples counseling groups, spouses groups, communication workshops, meditation lessons, and many more offerings have helped me to attain a level of contentment and joy I have never known. The anger, guilt and shame that I have carried for so long has faded away. My relationship with my wife (also a VETS grant recipient) and my family has improved exponentially, and I am excited for what the future holds for me.
Just a few months ago, I would walk around angry at the world waiting for something or someone to set me off… Now when I walk around, all I want to do is spread love and light. Thanks to the VETS organization, my soul is no longer threadbare and I am eternally grateful.”
Brandon Hope, VETS Grant Recipient (2023) and VETS Ambassador
“It’s hard to put into words the impact that VETS and the treatment program have had on my life. The impact goes beyond the treatment itself, as VETS provides so much support before, during, and after treatment. Receiving a grant through VETS has resulted in incredible positive change in my life that will last forever. My experience through VETS has been arguably the most impactful and life-changing experience of my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for everything they have done for me.”
Anonymous, VETS Grant Recipient (2022) and VETS Ambassador
“My experience with VETS in 2021 started me off on an incredible healing journey, just by allowing my husband to get some relief from all the trauma that comes with PTSD, TBI and operator’s syndrome. Living with someone damaged by decades of war holds its own trauma for those who have to watch it happening in real time, and the only reason we were still married is because neither one of us quit on the same day. Having him start on his own healing created massive change in our family and marriage, and handed him the tools to create the life that he wants for himself. Additionally, I am truly grateful that I was able to participate as a spouse. It created an environment where I could confront my past, make changes for my future, and learn how to live in the present. My own personal healing has positively affected everyone in my life, and let me open myself up to opportunities, which have been coming into my reach nonstop ever since. It’s not magic, it’s you, and this therapy lets you meet the you you’ve always wanted to be.”
Anonymous, Veteran Spouse, VETS Grant Recipient (2021) and VETS Ambassador
“VETS has provided the necessary tools and resources my family and I can use to continue to grow spiritually, emotionally and physically. VETS has opened up doors to alternative healing that truly have a profound impact on the symptoms of PTSD and TBI.”
Todd Berrios, VETS Grant Recipient (2023) and VETS Ambassador
“We’re immensely grateful to the VETS organization for their incredible support in sending us for psychedelic healing…We owe a debt of gratitude to their dedication to veterans’ well-being and their commitment to holistic healing methods.”
Anonymous, Veteran Spouse, VETS Grant Recipient (2022) and VETS Ambassador
“After returning home from deployment as a KC-130J pilot in the Marine Corps in 2017, I began suffering from debilitating nerve pain without a known cause. By 2019, the pain had overtaken my body as well as my mind. I spent tens of thousands of dollars for treatments insurance wouldn’t cover, and countless hours of researching any therapy that could give me a glimmer of hope to heal and enjoy life with my wife and 2 toddlers. When I thought I had exhausted all options and thinking I had nothing left in the tank, a fellow veteran mentioned psychedelic-assisted therapy through VETS. It was through the combination of commitment…and [psychedelic-assisted] therapy that I have been able to heal and finally ‘return home.’ I am fully invested in all aspects (to include financially) in ensuring other veterans and non-veterans have access to and the opportunity to heal from within”
Ari Polivy, VETS Grant Recipient and VETS Ambassador