Season 39 Episode 1079
S7Ep11 Helping Veterans with Alison Perry and Robert Shaw
Make Mental Health Matter Show In this episode of Make Mental Health Matter Kelli chats with Alison Perry and Robert Shaw. Alison is a military family member, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Founder of Central Oregon Veterans Ranch (COVR). Inspired by her brother’s military service and deployment for the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Alison began a six-year career with the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2005. Working in both urban and rural settings, she developed a passion for healing combat trauma across the lifespan. It was during this time that the vision for an alternative to the medical model of treating veterans was born; the concept of a “PTSD ranch” that would engage veterans in nature, community, and the support of peers for healing. COVR was established in 2014 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and thrives today as a community hub offering free peer support and agri-therapy programs to veterans of various ages and eras. Alison served as the Executive Director of COVR from 2015 to 2022 and is launching into the next phase of her career; consulting, teaching, and inspiring others with her journey and the model of care she developed in Central Oregon. Alison is co-producer of the 2022 documentary Cover Me, The Path to Purpose, a gripping film about the transformative impact of COVR. She is the winner of a 2009 Red Cross Community Hero Award, 2016 Deschutes County Health Advisory Board Health Hero Award, and 2017 Bend Chamber of Commerce Community Hero Award. Additionally she served as an instructor at Oregon’s Department of Public Safety Standards & Training from 2018-2021, facilitating Mental Health scenarios and teaching Veterans Awareness to Law Enforcement recruits. Alison currently lives in the Denver area with her husband, a Navy and Army combat veteran, where they enjoy running and hiking in the foothills of the Front Range, reading, and serving others. Robert is an Army Veteran, a survivor of another horrible type of military trauma, including severe physical injuries and numerous suicide attempts. You’ll hear his story. Learn more about Alison here: www.alisonperrysower.com www.covranch.org / alison-perry-sower-ms-lpc-18192320 https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Cov...