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Symposia

Couples / Close Relationships

Innovations in Relationship Care for Veterans and their Loved Ones

1 - (SYM 51) Building Relationships with Vitality and Engagement (BRAVE): A Mixed-methods Evaluation of a Pilot Trial of a One-day Workshop for Veterans and Their Romantic Partners

Sunday, November 23, 2025
10:05 AM - 10:22 AM CST
Location: Foster 2, Level 2
Keywords: Couples / Close Relationships, Veterans, Treatment
Recommended Readings: Liebman, R. E., Whitfield, K. M., Sijercic, I., Ennis, N., & Monson, C. M. (2020). Harnessing the healing power of relationships in trauma recovery: A systematic review of cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry, 7, 203-220.,   Landes, S. D., Wilmoth, J. M., London, A. S., & Landes, A. T. (2023). Risk factors explaining military deaths from suicide, 2008–2017: A latent class analysis. Armed Forces & Society, 49(1), 115–137. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0095327X211046976,   Monson, C. M., Wagner, A. C., Mithoefer, A. T., Liebman, R. E., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., ... & Mithoefer, M. C. (2020). MDMA-facilitated cognitive-behavioural conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: an uncontrolled trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1840123.,   ,  
Abstract Body


Background: Romantic separation/divorce is associated with deterioration of individual mental and physical health. Relationship distress is associated with increased mortality risk, depression risk, and alcohol abuse/dependence. Veterans are over 60% more likely to separate/divorce than non-Veterans. Access to couple-based treatment is limited by barriers including time, cost, transportation, and stigma.


Methods: We developed a one-day, group based, virtual or in-person, 5–6-hour workshop based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. Veterans and their romantic partners were invited to participate in a workshop focused on improving their relationship. Workshops included 2-6 dyads and were led by 2 trained facilitators. Veterans and partners completed validated measures before and 3-months following the workshop. Qualitative interviews were completed at 3-months follow-up.



Results: 62 Veteran-partner dyads participated in workshops between 5/2022 and 6/2024. Veterans were on average 49.2 (SD=13.3) years old, 66% male, 56% Black, 37% White, and 10% Hispanic. Most were not working (56%). Most Veterans reported they were married (79%) and straight/heterosexual (93%). About half (49%) served in post-9/11 conflicts. Partners were on average 48.7 (SD=13.4) years old, 71% female, 50% Black, 45% White, and 18% Hispanic. Half (50%) were working full time. Most partners (95%) reported they were straight/heterosexual, and 18% were also Veterans.

Workshop completion (98%) and retention for Veterans (90%) and partners (79%) was high. Pre to 3-months post workshop, Veterans reported decreases in PTSD symptoms (ES=-0.23, p=0.01), improvements in mental health functioning (ES=0.22, p=0.03), and trends of improvements in post-deployment reintegration (ES=0.22, p=0.08). Relationship satisfaction did not change (ES=0.06, p=0.35). Partners reported improvements in functioning (ES=0.27, p=0.01) but not relationship satisfaction (ES=0.00, p=0.93). Qualitatively, Veterans and their partners viewed workshops as a catalyst to a healthier relationship and would recommend it to all Veteran couples to help strengthen and maintain their relationships.



Discussion: Workshops were feasible to conduct and highly acceptable to Veterans and their romantic partners. Initial efficacy is promising and should be confirmed in a fully powered randomized control trial assessing outcomes and mechanisms of effects.