Veterans Find Understanding and Friendship through Social Skills Group

Many veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) find that trying to transition back into their community while dealing with the effects of their injuries leaves them feeling disconnected and misunderstood. They may find it difficult to talk to family members about their deployment experiences, or they may be struggling with speech problems, emotional issues or anxiety as a result of their injuries. However, Operation TBI Freedom (OTF) clients who are dealing with these issues are finding help in reconnecting to family and friends and overcoming social challenges through the Group Interactive Structured Treatment (GIST) Social Competence program.

The GIST Social Competence program is conducted in a 13-week group therapy format that addresses the underlying cognitive, communicative and emotional challenges that veterans deal with after a TBI. These social skills groups teach participants successful communication and conflict resolution skills, as well as how to reduce social anxiety through a variety of techniques. “Social interactions and relationships are such an important part of returning to a successful life after TBI,” GIST Therapist Lenore Hawley explained. “The GIST social skills groups that we do with Operation TBI Freedom clients are a powerful vehicle for developing those skills because group members help each other develop trust and social confidence.”

One of the benefits of these groups that is often expressed by participants is the realization that they are not the only one struggling with these issues.  “Members of the GIST groups often say they feel relieved to find out that they are not alone and that there are others in the group who are facing the very same social challenges after a brain injury,” GIST Therapist Jody Newman shared. “This common bond and the group’s interactive format foster friendships in the group that often continue even after the group has ended.”

Graduates of the GIST program like Jose Olivero echoed those statements. “I feel like I’m not alone anymore,” Jose expressed. “Just hearing that the things I struggle with are the same things my new friends struggle with, and how we encourage each other has been the best thing about the Social Skills group for me.” At the end of his 13-week session in January, Jose had grown very close to the other members of his social skills group and wanted to keep meeting. With encouragement from OTF Care Coordinator John Lenz, he took the initiative and leadership to organize get-togethers for his group, and they are still meeting weekly. “When I left the Army I lost my squad, but now I feel like I have a squad back,” Jose shared.

Patrick Kertson is also part of the group of GIST graduates who still meet regularly. “What I most loved about the social skills group was that we shared what was going on in our lives, and we could see that we weren’t alone,” he explained. “It taught us to open up around people we didn’t know that well, and we learned that we can meet and make new friends. I am definitely more confident in my social skills after taking this course.”

Eric Sassenfield, another OTF client and member of the group, also appreciated the new friends and renewed confidence that he found through the GIST group. “The social skills group provided me with a great wealth of knowledge. I learned social skills that will benefit me for the rest of my life, and now I have new friends I can relate to because we have all gone through similar experiences,” he expressed. “I made a great group of friends who provide support for each other to improve our quality of life.”

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Read about other veterans like Brad Keith and Nathan Ray who also participated in the GIST social skills group.