Military couple receives funding to offer PTSD workshop to military and first responder families

Wounded Warriors Canada has made its single largest program donation in its history in the form of $375,000 to the program Couples Overcoming PSTD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Everyday (COPE).

“This is a big day for Wounded Warriors Canada. Being injured with PTSD can make even the smallest aspects of life difficult – especially when faced alone. We are very proud that the COPE Program includes the spouse or partner working together as a team to conquer all aspects of life and, in turn, improving their chances for a happier and more successful future as a family,” stated Scott Maxwell, Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) in a statement.

COPE identifies the spouse or partner of a serving member with PTSD as an essential factor of the process of understanding and addressing the effects of PTSD. The program is broken down in to two phases. Phase One consists of a five-day retreat that brings together five couples to work on their relationships, as a group, through the help of two expert trauma therapists. Phase Two offers an ongoing family coaching process beginning after the end of the Phase One retreat. This coaching is offered for a period of six months involving three sessions per month via telephone.

“Owing to the outstanding support of our donors, Wounded Warriors Canada continues to be a leader in mental health program delivery and development across a broad spectrum of care. We are proud and moved to be making our single largest annual program investment to support this one of a kind, life changing and family saving program – inspired and nurtured by Chris and Kathryn’s own experience as a couple,” said Phil Ralph, National Program Director for Wounded Warriors Canada.

The program was co-founded by LCol (retired) Chris Linford, his wife Kathryn Linford and Dr. Tim Black. Linford served for 33 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 1994 after his deployment to Rwanda. Linford and his wife worked as a couple, following his return from Afghanistan in 2011, in helping Linford recover and transition.

“The COPE program is impacting couples in a new and very positive way. Those attending COPE learn to understand the injury better and how to manage it as a team and family versus in isolation. With this historic donation from our national founding partner at Wounded Warriors Canada, we are able to continue to broaden the delivery plan that will see many more Veterans and First Responders – joined by their spouses and partners – participate in the program,” said Chris and Kathryn Linford, Founders of COPE.