A vacant building in the heart of Holiday will soon be a therapy center that will be the first of its kind to treat veterans for PTSD related to combat and sexual trauma.
The therapy is Accelerated Resolution Therapy and it’s meant to help Veterans overcome trauma from war. The center will be in Holiday, where Pasco’s largest veteran population lives.
In addition to the therapy, yoga and physical fitness classes will be offered there.
These alternative therapy services are typically not offered through the VA and this is the first time they will be available to Tampa Bay area veterans and veterans nationwide under one roof.
The building was donated by the American Legion to the group Pasco County Stand Down.
Co-Director Brian Anderson is an Army veteran who suffered from PTSD, and alternative therapy has helped him overcome PTSD. It’s why he wants to help others.
“It was difficult to operate when you're constantly having war evade you in the here and now. So I went through accelerated resolution therapy and it took away those images. So now they are just memories instead of something that is evading me,” said Anderson.
The center is set to open its doors on Memorial Day.
For more information on how to help fund this new center contact Brian Anderson Bjanderson2@health.usf.edu or 910-364-5960.