Our Mission
Posttraumatic Growth Groups are free and self-sustaining peer-led community groups created to support military veterans and first responders as they move beyond trauma toward greater purpose, connection, and growth. Grounded in shared lived experience, these groups provide a safe, non-clinical space where members can come together to build resilience, find meaning, and pursue post-traumatic growth alongside others who understand the realities of service.
Whether someone is exploring identity after service, working through moral injury, or simply looking for support from peers who truly understand, Posttraumatic Growth Groups are designed to foster connection, mutual support, and a renewed sense of purpose. The goal is not just to help people get by, but to create a space where veterans and first responders can learn to grow and thrive together as a team.
These groups are non-clinical, peer-led communities and are not intended to replace therapy, counseling, or any other form of clinical care. Instead, they serve as a supportive community-based space that can complement professional services when needed, while encouraging growth, accountability, and continued connection.
In the Lehigh Valley Area of Eastern PA, these groups operate under the name Tribe of the Restored Warriors (TORW). Flyers and meeting information are listed below as well as information on launching groups in other areas.
Any group of Veterans and First Responders can start and run a group, for free, to support one another, information is available below.
It is important to note that these groups operate as an independent community initiative. While BTI Consulting Services and supporting organizations may provide free support, website space, and consultation to help advance the mission, the groups themselves are independent, community-based, volunteer-driven, and centered on serving veterans and first responders. PTG Groups should only be led by individuals who have read and are familiar with the PTG Group Manual provided on this page. These materials are provided as guidance only and no liability is assumed for operation of any local group.
Recommended PTG Reading
Restoring the Warrior: A Guide to Veteran and First Responder Wellness
By Dr. Benjamin Iobst and Veteran/First Responder collaborators.
The Posttraumatic Growth Meeting Manual is derived from the book Restoring the Warrior: A Guide to Veteran and First Responder Wellness.
Restoring the Warrior presents a roadmap for helping veterans and first responders navigate the effects of trauma and service-related stress through wellness, peer support, and community connection. Rather than treating people as broken, the book emphasizes restoration, resilience, and practical strategies for rebuilding purpose, strengthening relationships, and supporting long-term mental and emotional health. It is positioned as a guide for both personal growth and peer-led support within the veteran and first responder worlds.
Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma
By Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg
Struggle Well is a practical, hope-centered book about Posttraumatic Growth that argues struggle and trauma do not have to define a person by damage alone; instead, they can become a pathway to strength, meaning, and transformation. Drawing on Boulder Crest’s approach, the book encourages readers to make peace with the past, live more fully in the present, and intentionally build a better future through actionable strategies and a growth-focused mindset, especially for those facing anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, or other forms of deep struggle.
Transformed By Trauma: Stories of Posttraumatic Growth
Transformed By Trauma: Stories of Posttraumatic Growth
By Dr. Richard Tedeschi, Dr. Bret Moore, Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg
Transformed by Trauma explains that trauma does not always leave people only damaged; it can also become the catalyst for profound positive change. Drawing on the science of Posttraumatic Growth, the book shows how people can develop greater personal strength, deeper relationships, a clearer sense of purpose, increased appreciation for life, and spiritual or existential growth after adversity. Rather than minimizing pain, it emphasizes that struggle is real and often painful, but that with the right perspective, support, and deliberate reflection, people can rebuild in ways that make them stronger, wiser, and more grounded than before.
Tribe of the Restored Warriors Podcast
The Tribe of the Restored Warriors Podcast, hosted by Justin Wright (USMC Combat Veteran) and Dr. Benjamin Iobst (US Army Combat Veteran and Retired Law Enforcement Officer), is a short-form (5–10-minute episodes), mission-driven podcast focused on veteran and first responder wellness, healing, and posttraumatic growth. It delivers brief, practical “quick tune-ups” centered on topics like trauma, identity after service, resilience, purpose, peer support, and how to move from merely surviving toward growth and restoration. The overall tone is grounded, relatable, and action-oriented, aimed at helping listeners stay connected to wellness, meaning, and the larger Tribe of the Restored Warriors community.
Recommended Resources
Boulder Crest Foundation
Boulder Crest Foundation is a nonprofit focused on helping service members, veterans, first responders, and their families thrive in the aftermath of trauma through the science of Posttraumatic Growth. Its offerings include Warrior PATHH, a no-cost 90-day peer-delivered program for combat veterans and first responders; Struggle Well training for first responder agencies and military units; and online professional education through PTG Qualification and PTG Certification programs for support personnel and licensed clinicians.
Struggle Well Training
Struggle Well is Boulder Crest Foundation’s prevention-based program built on the science of Posttraumatic Growth, designed to help first responders, military members, and leaders understand that struggle is a normal part of life and can be used as a catalyst for strength, purpose, and growth. Rather than focusing only on stress management or crisis response, the program teaches practical skills and mindset shifts that help individuals and organizations build healthier cultures, stronger relationships, and greater resilience in the face of adversity.
Warrior Pathh
Warrior PATHH is Boulder Crest Foundation’s flagship, peer-delivered Posttraumatic Growth program designed to help veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders transform struggle into lifelong strength. PATHH stands for Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes, and the program runs over 90 days, beginning with a 5-day in-person initiation followed by ongoing training, accountability, and connection. Boulder Crest describes it as non-pharmacological, peer based, and focused on helping participants move beyond simply managing trauma toward building a more meaningful, connected, and purpose-driven life.