About the Treatment

KWM: Keep What Matters Workshop Series

A Fully Funded Nervous System Restoration Program for SOF Spouses Funded by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Initiative

Understanding Compassion Fatigue. This Program Is for Special Operations Forces Spouses/Caregivers Who Carry the Load, Quietly

Compassion fatigue is the erosion of empathy that results from prolonged exposure to another’s suffering without adequate time, support, or space for self-renewal. In SOF families, it is amplified by repeated deployments and emotional separation; hypervigilance that carries from the operator into the home; operational secrecy that fosters isolation; and limited emotional reciprocity during high-tempo cycles.

Symptoms may include chronic exhaustion, irritability, insomnia, physical illness, emotional numbness, and despair. Left unaddressed, it impacts the spouse’s well-being and the resilience of the entire family unit. Strength and perseverance slowly take a toll on body and mind.

If you’ve supported multiple combat deployments and feel constantly tired, wired, emotionally flat, and basically thinking, “Holy Sh%#, that is me!”, this program is for you.

About KWM: Keep What Matters

Named to honor Kathy Weeks Mitchell, a SOF Spouse and Ombudsman who supported the community for years, KWM is not talk therapy, group venting, or surface-level self-care. It is a trauma-informed, science-based program designed to directly address the autonomic nervous system—the system that has been in survival mode for years.

This program integrates advanced light and sound therapies, vibroacoustic therapy, guided
breathwork, and facilitated group experiences to help SOF spouses restore regulation, reclaim clarity, and reconnect with themselves and others. This is where science meets soul.

Why Group—And Why This One Works

SOF spouses often cannot speak openly about their experiences due to operational security,
discretion, and the complexity of the role. Isolation becomes normalized.

KWM is designed to create belonging without oversharing. This is not a space to vent or relive trauma. It is a space to grow, regulate, and strengthen alongside others who already “get it’.

Participants in similar workshops have reported profound calm, emotional release, improved sleep, and a sense of clarity they didn’t realize was missing.

A Simple Process

Each workshop follows the same format, lasts ~ 3 hours, and includes:

  1. Introduction, education and group discussion
  2. Therapeutic and wellness experiences, including:
    • Guided Breathwork for somatic integration
    • Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT): Low-frequency sound and vibration to calm stress physiology
    • Near-Infrared Light Therapy (NIR): Supports energy, mood, recovery and brain health
    • Pulsed Light Therapy (PLT): Quiets over-processing, engages the brain to side-step old patterns
  3. Integration and group discuss post experience

Eligibility Requirements, Applicants Must:

  • Be the spouse or long-term partner of a Special Operations Forces service member or veteran
  • Be at least 35 years old
  • Have supported a minimum of three combat deployments
  • Reside in Virginia and be able to attend workshops in person
  • Commit to full participation○ Attendance at all four sessions (approximately 3 hours each), on-time○ Completion of pre and post program assessments○ Respect for confidentiality and group integrity○ 30 and 90-day follow-up surveys

How it Works:

  • Qualifying SOF Spouses apply by filling out the application.
  • Tier 1 will review applications and give applicants a call to conduct a brief interview.
  • Tier 1 will invite 51 qualified SOF Spouses into the KWM Workshop Program.
  • Tier 1 will set up initial intake and assessments at a mutually agreed upon time.
  • Spouses will start and complete the KWM Workshop based on availability and agreed upon workshop.
  1. There will be roughly 7 workshops start dates to choose from
  2. Workshops will run once per week for 4 consecutive weeks
  3. Workshops start in February and end in July. Workshops take place in FLYT, Tier 1’s Light and Sound Center
  4. Spouses will participate in post workshop evaluations, feedback and exit interviews, as applicable.

Apply Today. Space is limited to ensure depth, safety, and impact. Workshops start in February 2026. Sign up today to Keep What Matters!

Email: sarah@tier1tc.com // Call: 757-452-3934// Click here for application.

Why This Workshop Matters

SOF spouses face a unique set of stressors that few outside the community truly understand:

  • Navigating silence when even basic details cannot be shared
  • Holding families together through repeated deployments and trauma
  • Managing constant uncertainty, emotional extremes, and isolation
  • Providing care for a spouse with PTS or traumatic brain injury
  • Feeling the need to stay in control, with little space to let go
  • Consistently placing their own well-being last

Many spouses are conditioned to “put their heads down and power through.” While this approach may sustain families in the short term, it is not a solution — and often leads to cumulative physical, emotional, and psychological harm.

Unaddressed compassion fatigue is associated with:

  • Mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical exhaustion
  • Social withdrawal and isolation
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Hypertension and stress-related illness
  • Substance misuse
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Autoimmune conditions and gut health issues

Addressing compassion fatigue early can help alleviate and prevent these challenges, reduce relationship stress, and mitigate one of the known risk factors for suicidal ideation among SOF spouses.

Our Commitment

The KWM Workshop Series is grounded in compassion, science, and lived understanding of the SOF community. By caring for those who care for our warriors, we strengthen families, protect lives, and honor the sacrifices made far beyond the battlefield.

If you or someone you know is suffering from compassion fatigue, whether they are a military spouse or civilian caregiver, call today and speak with one of our friendly, caring staff members about whether or not our programs might be right for you 757-452-3934.