VFEW on Trauma and Leadership
VFEW began because of a belief that there is a meaningful connection between trauma and leadership, between the things that have happened to us and the directions that our lives take, and a belief that we need the leadership of all to grow as a nation. This approach, based on process oriented psychology and Deep Democracy, is not psychotherapy. It is a direction change process that comes from following yourself.
Healing from trauma, we believe, comes from finding a meaningful way to use our experiences to change the world that is at least as strong as the traumas we have experienced. People are powerful, but identifying with and learning to use power isn't easy to do, especially in the midst of extreme experiences.
VFEW conducts trainings, open forums, groups, and individual coaching sessions to support people to develop their own approach to finding meaning from their experiences, to develop their own leadership ability from this, and to use it to change the world in a powerful way. For more on this approach please see the Deep Democracy page and other resources.
VFEW Mission
The VFEW supports the soldiers of the US military and the political process that determines its use and seeks to foster improved communications and understanding between military personal, veterans, military leaders, and fellow citizens.
Combat veterans and noncombat military personnel have a unique perspective on the nature of ethical warfare. Their experience and unique views are often muted during their service because of command pressure and operational necessity.
The Veterans for Ethical Warfare is dedicated to promoting greater understanding of ethics in warfare through dialogue and by hosting forums and trainings that will enable military veterans and others to interact and learn from each other. Democracy is a participative practice.
VFEW's facilitation practice and trainings are based on the worldwork methodology of deep democracy, an awareness based approach facilitating complex group and interpersonal dynamics developed by Dr. Arnold Mindell and colleagues.
The health and maintenance of a democratic society needs your voice. Most people feel hopeless and powerless to effect change. We don’t identify as being powerful and yet our nation is based on citizen power. Few people know how to use power wisely and we rarely find opportunities to train and practice together.
Returning veterans often have an extra burden when returning home while dealing with trauma and a major life transition. Many of the symptoms we generally describe as trauma have a neurological basis but these experiences also are meaningful and useful when understood in a new way. Leadership training programs frequently focus on body experiences as a key part of understanding ourselves and others and the dynamics that exist between us. VFEW exists to bring this level of training to veterans and others who are interested in developing their own leadership, power, and facilitation skills and in furthering our democratic dialogue.