Quotes and Testimonials

A female veteran who is a survivor of Military Sexual Trauma utilized the hotline after each appointment at her local VA medical center when trying to obtain her medical records to file a disability claim. She reached out to the hotline in search of a female VSO and mental health support. Due to her long history of struggles with the VA, she wanted outside help. The veteran reported that each appointment brought high-stress levels as she felt she was reliving the trauma she endured during her service. The veteran reported that she had tried other local organizations, but each had been unable to assist her. SWAN directly connected the veteran with a female VSO in her city, who had experience working with survivors of military sexual trauma. The female veteran is actively refiling her claim with this VSO after being denied ten years ago. She thanked SWAN for supporting her after each appointment and connecting her with a female VSO who understood her situation as a survivor of MST.

SWAN connected a women veteran with housing and financial support after she was forced to move across the state to Virginia due to intimate partner violence. She was a single mother, going through nursing school, and feared that the bills associated with the move would put her and her daughter at risk of becoming homeless. SWAN was able to connect her with an organization in Virginia that assisted her with rent, childcare, and mental health assistance. This support was crucial as she was starting over, in a new state unaware of the support options available to her. The assistance was able to get her back up on her feet.

SWAN helped a California woman veteran facing who had been facing a housing crisis over the span of 3 years. She reported that she was a survivor of MST, and the trauma she endured during service had contributed to employment issues over the last couple years. SWAN provided her with employment resources that provided training, and the skills needed to overcome the problems she was facing. The women veteran was further connected with a case management program in California that could assist her with moving forward to file a claim for MST, address her housing crisis, and provide mental health support.

A woman veteran in New Mexico experiencing homelessness called the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Hotline as she was having trouble finding support for her and her children that felt safe. She expressed safety concerns and felt that a shelter was not a safe option for her and her children to stay. SWAN was able to connect her with a family-focused organization that specifically housed women and children for 6 months, and provided meals, and case management services to get them back into a stable living environment.

“I am writing as I am lost and confused yet utterly shocked and amazed. I just by chance stumbled across your site that I never heard of, much less knew existed. But so thankful just to see that there are people out there who have gone through or are going through some of the issues I have. I am so thankful for the resources you provided, 30 years later but better than never.”

“Healing is not for wimps but falling apart is even harder. SWAN's support is helping me heal in a safe way. It came to me at just the right time. I’m so grateful. Thank you for your kind words and support.”

“Thank you again for your tremendous assistance & guidance. You are the only one I reached out to who stayed engaged & actually provided quality information. I will keep you informed of my/our journey(s) & progress. Hopefully it will inspire others.”

“I am so grateful for the extended sessions. I have meant to provide some feedback, but I’ve just been overwhelmed with things on my schedule. The class has been so wonderful. It’s been surprising how effective and powerful just the simple practice of Karin constantly giving us permission to decide for ourselves how to move, grounding in that reminder that this is my body, I can and should decide for myself, has been so powerful. When the session is done, I don’t quite know how to describe the feeling…just an inner calm with myself I’ve barely ever known. It’s kind of mind-blowing to me how this could be so effective. I’ve heard that yoga is effective and over the years I tried it off and on but either I couldn’t afford in person sessions, or I didn't have time to get to a studio or I didn't have the wherewithal to go in person. This has been a safe and profound way for me to access an avenue for wellness. I was even skeptical of how effective such a simple thing could be. It’s real. I’m so grateful. Karin gives such a feeling of grounding, self-awareness, and soothing steady calm. She’s really good.” Thank you!"

- Warrior Wellness Participant