CrossFire National Veterans Assistance

Much of our methods and practices will be a modified version of what Phil Hanson and Robert Blake developed at the University of Texas in 1964. This was later adapted by the VA and called the Human Interaction Training Laboratory. This strategy uses treatment groups of patients who are given responsibility for their own treatment using psychosocial and interpersonal instrument data to focus their group treatment activities. VA staff serves primarily as consultants to the treatment groups, giving patients a major responsibility for their treatment and its success rather than being passive recipients of treatment provided by staff. This approach was acknowledged by the National Training Lab and Institute of Applied Behavioral Science for its innovations in use of the training methodology as a patient treatment approach.

Understanding that the words “psychology,” ” psycho,” and “psyche” all derive their definitions from the root word meaning “soul,” CrossFire’s staff will function much the same way that VA staff does in guiding, supporting and facilitating the groups in therapy using training methodology. This training methodology will contain previously neglected or overlooked faith-based components similar to AA and 12 step-programs, which also are accepted by the VA. At the same time, the staff will be using Socratic methods to instruct clients in ways of accepting most of the responsibility for their own recovery. The motto and key phrase which exemplifies this training methodology as a therapeutic approach is:

“Any major change in behavior first requires a major change in perception.”©

Knowing that all VA Medical Centers have full-time paid chaplains to deal with the very real spiritual (psyche/soul) issues of its patients, we make no apology for our fully integrated faith-based approach which has historically been proven effective all the way back to the Pilgrims’ care of disabled soldiers in the Plymouth Colony. CrossFire will bring the provision of  human services to soldiers back to its origins using effective methods that have been changing behavior and consequently changing lives through the ages, only now it will do it on a national scale.

What makes us different: There is no mystery to providing human services; almost anyone with community networking capabilities can do it. However, it is important to show how we differ from other treatment modalities in dealing with life-controlling issues such as substance abuse and trauma.

Dr. Charles Solomon is the founder of Grace Fellowship International and has an extensive counseling ministry in the United States and throughout the world. He has opened Christian counseling centers in Africa, Australia, India, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, South America and countless other places. His books, literature and related material have been translated into at least 15 languages. Dr. Solomon has graciously consented to be on our Board of Advisors. His principles, his materials and his techniques will form the core and backbone of the approach that CrossFire will take towards helping veterans overcome their major life-controlling issues to achieve success and happiness.

Training & Certification: We plan to have special training and certification programs for all of our counselors, case workers and staff members to deal with the unique needs of our veterans. We will use interns from local colleges, universities and give priority to interns of VA Training Centers whenever possible.

Potential Affiliations: Several major faith-based and community-based organizations have already expressed very strong and enthusiast interest in collaborating in the CrossFire project. Among them are:

1. The Miami Rescue Mission
2. Various Departments of the Veterans Administration
3. Vietnam Veterans of Florida Coalition
4. Church leaders from several local area churches
5. Veterans organizations