From trauma to transformation: аn integrated model of sports and mutual-aid group psychotherapy for veteran rehabilitation

Abstract

The ongoing war in Ukraine has created a generation of veterans facing profound psychological injuries, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and identity disruption. Current rehabilitation systems often provide fragmented care, addressing psychological, physical, and social needs in isolation. This siloed approach fails to address the complex, intertwined nature of combat-related trauma, leading to high rates of treatment dropout, chronic symptomatology, and poor social reintegration. There is a critical and urgent need for innovative, holistic, and sustainable models that can effectively address the multifaceted wounds of war and facilitate long-term recovery and successful reintegration into civilian life.