I’m Sara Sanford, and I’ve had the privilege of working with veterans for years—alongside dedicated clinicians in inpatient and outpatient substance abuse settings, and through specialized workshops. I understand that military service, while courageous and honorable, often comes with its own form of emotional and psychological weight—and that reaching out for support after serving can feel daunting.
If you’re a veteran—or you love and support one—here’s what I want you to know: you don’t have to go it alone. There’s no timer on healing, and no expectation for you to feel “fixed.” You deserve care that acknowledges your service, respects your experience, and meets you where you’re at. Let’s walk through why support matters, what therapy can offer, and how to find the kind of healing you deserve.
Why Veteran Mental Health Support Matters
Veterans often face unique challenges that can include:
- PTSD and trauma from combat or high-stress deployments
- Moral injury, guilt, or shame
- Transition stress entering civilian life
- Substance use or burnout as a means of coping
- Difficulty relating after returning home
- Physical disabilities or chronic pain
Traditional counseling approaches don’t always address this unique mix. That’s why veteran-specific mental health support takes a trauma-informed, somatic approach, and is rooted in respect for military culture.
At Sara Sanford Therapy, I offer care that blends evidence-based techniques with empathy and real-world appreciation of your service. Whether you’re coping with PTSD, depression, substance use, or the struggle of reconnection—you deserve support that “gets it.”
How Trauma-Informed Therapy Supports Veterans
Many therapy approaches I offer can be tailored for veterans:
- Trauma & PTSD Therapy: Gentle work that respects nervous system safety
- Complex Trauma/PTSD Therapy: For deeper or long-term trauma
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Tools for managing difficult emotions and building meaningful action
- Mindfulness Therapy: Techniques to ground and recenter—valuable for nervous-system dysregulation
- CBT Therapy: Helps reframe unhelpful thinking—common after service—into balanced beliefs
We work collaboratively to decide which tools feel right—never pushing, always honoring your pace.
Supporting Substance Use & Recovery
Substances sometimes become a way to cope with trauma or stress after service. At times, connection with others in recovery or veteran peer support can bring community and accountability. You’re not defined by past choices.
My veteran support includes:
- Non-shaming space for honest exploration of substance use
- Trauma-informed integration to heal underlying pain
- Harm reduction or abstinence care—whichever direction you choose
- Collaboration with medical providers for safe medication care
Navigating the Transition to Civilian Life
Leaving the military often means grieving a sense of structure, purpose, and identity. You might be dealing with:
- Feeling invisible after highly structured environments
- Loss of camaraderie or “band of brothers/sisters”
- Workplace culture shock or family adjustment
- Unprocessed trauma or hypervigilance in civilian settings
Therapy can help by:
- Reconnecting you to your values and purpose outside service
- Rebuilding relationships
- Developing coping skills for existential strain, isolation, or impostor feelings
- Creating new paths for connection and community
Therapy Formats That Fit Veterans
You deserve choice and flexibility. Here’s how we can work together:
- Individual Therapy: Tailored 1:1 support—virtual or in-person
- Online Therapy: Ideal if office visits feel hard or you’re not local
- Care Coordination: I collaborate with psychiatrists, doctors, or VA teams for integrated healing
- Therapy Intensives: Multi-hour sessions for deep exploration and reset
Whether you’re ready for weekly sessions or need an intensive reset, we’ll build a plan that fits your life and needs.
What Therapy Sessions Might Look Like
Therapy begins with safety and trust:
- We’ll set realistic goals based on your current concerns and resilience.
- I’ll offer tools like grounding techniques and somatic awareness to regulate your responses.
- We’ll explore trauma compassionately. You choose the pace and what you share.
- We may work with values, purpose, identity, or reintegration goals.
- Collaborate with other providers to ensure care is cohesive and consistent.
Expect moments of reassurance, collaboration, emotional regulation, and strategic planning. You define the rhythm.
When Veterans Should Consider Therapy
There’s no perfect time. Many veterans benefit from mental health support when they experience:
- Recurring flashbacks or hypervigilance
- Sleep problems or nightmares
- Blunted emotions or disconnection from loved ones
- Substance use, burnout, or rage
- Struggles with purpose or meaning
- Difficulty trusting—yourself or others
But you don’t have to be in crisis. Therapy is also for growth, connection, and crafting hope-filled comebacks.
It Takes Courage, and You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Coming in for support after military service takes real courage. I’ve witnessed veterans blossom into grounded, confident individuals who carry both strength and vulnerability with meaning. Healing is possible—and it’s an act of continued service to yourself and loved ones.
If Veteran support resonates, you may find helpful resources in:
Ready to Connect?
Take a breath. You’ve already taken the first step by being here. Reach out via the contact page to start a free, no-pressure consultation—I’ll answer your questions and listen to what you need.
We’ll work together to build your healing journey—on your terms, at your pace—centered in compassion, trust, and real-world understanding of veteran life.
You Served. Now Let’s Serve You.
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what you went through—it means carrying your strength forward with renewed connection, purpose, and peace.Warmly,
Sara