Decatur, Texas January 6, 2021 – Valor Ranch announced today that it is partnering with Stay the Course to offer counseling services for residents (SHEROES) and their family members starting in early 2021. Initially, services will be funded through August 2021 by a grant from the Texas Veteran Family Alliance. 

Founded in 2016 by Tempa Sherrill, MS, LPC, Stay the Course (STC) is a program that serves veterans, first responders and their families who have sacrificed for our country. STC provides guidance, wellness and healing from invisible wounds through evidence-based therapies for individuals, couples and families at little or no cost.

STC operates as part of One Tribe Foundation (www.22kill.com), an organization dedicated to raising awareness and combating suicide by empowering veterans, first responder and their families through traditional and non-traditional therapies. One Tribe Foundation began as a social movement to raise awareness as a response to the 2012 Veterans Administration (VA) report that found an average of 22 veterans die by suicide every day and now operates as an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with Sherrill as its chief operating officer.

According to Sherrill, STC will be offering onsite trauma-informed and evidence-based therapies to SHEROES at Valor Ranch. Services include individual and family therapy as well as therapy groups, peer support and psychoeducation on suicide prevention, healthy boundaries and relationships, resilience building and much more. Sherrill says counselors are culturally competent as veterans or family members of veterans, which will create an immediate connection with the SHEROES.

Sherrill knows all too well the challenges veterans, first responders and their families face as her own family experienced issues with her husband’s post-traumatic stress after serving in Afghanistan in 2008-2009. The experience led Sherill to pursue her master’s degree in counseling and psychology with the dream of helping veterans and their families. She welcomes opportunities to serve SHEROES at Valor Ranch and their families.

“Since the launch of Stay The Course in 2016, I have served numerous women veterans as a therapist. Some have revealed their experiences in asking for help, which often brought consequences that caused more harm,” Sherrill said. “They have been let down so many times that trust became damaged, and then, they found themselves carrying the burden alone. Servicewomen often live in the shadows because the world has taught them that they cannot count on anyone.

“When Keri Wilcox (founder and president of Valor Ranch) approached me with her idea for Valor Ranch, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of something unique that specializes in creating holistic services for women veterans, a safe space and an entire community of support. Stay The Course is proud to partner with Valor Ranch in this very important initiative to heal our SHEROES,” Sherill said.  

Wilcox, who also has experienced the impact of military post-traumatic stress on her family, says she is honored to offer these services to ranch residents and their families. “I look forward to seeing how these services will help our SHEROES and their families as they start their journey toward healing.” 

Valor Ranch: Serving, Honoring, Empowering, and Restoring Our Esteemed Servicewomen

 

Founded in 2018 and located in Decatur, Texas, Valor Ranch provides a safe, nurturing environment where a SHERO (female veteran) can stay for up to 12 months to refocus and outline the next chapter of her story. The ranch takes a holistic approach to empowering each resident, who is housed in her own cottage. Vets share in activities such as cooking, gardening and tending to the animals to support the ranch population as a whole. Additionally, the SHERO participates in group, one-on-one and equine therapy, budgeting, cooking classes, as well as volunteering in the community to enhance her life skills and increase her self-worth. 

For more information about supporting Valor Ranch, a 501(c)(3) organization, visit valorranchtx.org.

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