The mySELF group: Recreation- and art-based group therapy as adjunct treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder

LAY SUMMARY Military personnel and Veterans receiving psychotherapy for mental health diagnoses such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often have only modest symptom improvement. The authors wondered whether participating in a therapeutic recreation creative arts group along with would aid recovery. A 12-week program called the my Social life, Expression, Leisure Food (mySELF) was created that offered recreation, art, music therapy. total of 36 clients, most PTSD, who had been an average three years completed submitted pre- post-group questionnaires. examined leisure attitudes, quality symptoms before, immediately after, four months after group. Results showed significant improvements environmental life depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD symptoms. These preliminary results suggest therapy are beneficial military personnel, Veterans, Royal Canadian Mounted Police psychotherapy.