Giving Back To Those That Serve Us

Hello, my name is Chase Longnaker and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Kentucky. I currently work for a private practice Life in Motion Kentucky Counseling. https://lifeinmotionkentucky.com/

I love my job, and I love my team. We have a heart and passion for giving back to military, and first responder individuals and their families. These brave men and women consistently, and willingly sacrifice their safety and time with their families and loved ones to protect those in their communities.

Unfortunately, many of these men and women, while trained to excel at their jobs, lack the training and direction to excel in their lives outside the job. Many of them endure repeated exposures to complex traumas that heavily impact their mental and physical well-being.

Having worked with this population for nearly three years I have learned a few things.

1) These men and women love deeply. It is in their blood to protect and serve.

2) They are incredibly resilient. They carry the mental and physical demands of their jobs that many of us couldn't imagine experiencing once, let alone agreeing to continue to show back up to a job where they will likely experience similar hardships again.

3) The circles of people who they trust are small. It's hard for them to open up about the stress of their jobs. Many of them feel misunderstood. Many of them care deeply about the personal relationships in their lives and are terrified that sharing openly about their experiences will result in hurting those they love or result in being rejected by them.

4) For those who seek out professional help, it is common for them to report that well-meaning therapists have left them feeling regret, question and doubt for choosing to reach out. They feel alone and disconnected. They want desperately to be given guidance and resources that will bring them relief and restore balance in their lives yet they feel like relief is always falling short of their grasp.

Because of these common factors, I have made it a personal goal to become a safe place for these men and women to seek the help and healing they desperately desire. I have aimed to do this in several ways thus far including becoming a Certified First Responder Counselor through Academy Hour https://www.academyhour.com/, and completing a basic level 40-hour EMDR therapy training in 2021. www.emdria.org

Since completing these two trainings, I have incorporated them into my daily practice as a therapist. I have seen some impactful and powerful changes in my clients' lives. Not because I say so, but because they have told me themselves that they have felt more stable, free to relax, and capable of connecting with their loved ones than they have in years! It is this kind of story that leads me to consistently strive to be an even better trauma-informed therapist.

This leads to my reason for this fundraiser. I am hoping to sign up for an ART basic-level training course in early September. https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/

This is a fast pace, quick-result trauma-informed therapy approach that would be a perfect tool to add to my therapy resources. It would be an additional evidence-based approach that I could apply in my daily therapeutic practice to help bring these brave men and women opportunities for life-changing healing and recovery that they may not receive otherwise.

The training is not cheap ($1500). https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/reg/icat.php?course=Basic

But it is a cost I am hoping I can cover through the help of like-minded individuals who want to give back to those who give to us so freely. Thank you for taking the time to read through this and I hope you will consider donating to the cause. If you are unable, please consider sharing this link with anyone you believe may be interested in donating.

God bless,

Sincerely, Chase Longnaker