Free, Confidential Psychological Counseling for
Iraq/Afghanistan Military Service Members,
Veterans and their Loved Ones.
The Soldiers Project, established
in 2004, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization dedicated to providing
free, confidential, psychological
services to active duty military
service members and Veterans,
who have served during the
Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts, as well
as to their loved ones.
The Soldiers Project
Leading the Way
Judith Broder, M.D. is Founder of The
Soldiers Project. She completed her medical
training at University of Chicago School of
Medicine and is a retired psychiatrist. Dr.
Broder served as training and supervising
analyst and as Chair of the Faculty
Committee at the Los Angeles Institute and
Society for Psychoanalytic Studies. She has
taught and supervised extensively,
including psychiatric residents at UCLA, and
has served as Chairperson of the Education
Committee and Dean of the Psychoanalytic
Center of California.
In 2011, Dr. Broder was presented the
Presidential Citizens Medal for exemplary
service to her fellow citizens.
Wounds of War
Recipient of the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award - 2011
• Service members, wives, husbands, children, parents and other loved ones are all
affected by the separations that are part of serving in the military.
• Many who have served suffer psychological injuries that are no less serious than visible
scars of war. Returning home from combat presents difficult challenges for the
individual as well as their families and support systems.
Homecoming
Bringing Them ―All the Way‖ Home
• Homecoming may challenge the closest relationships
with the tasks of learning about each other all over
again. Therapy offers loved ones a safe place in which
to talk and share their hopes and fears, the excitement
and disappointments and even disturbing changes.
• As mental health practitioners who understand the far-
reaching consequences of these war-related
experiences, we can provide the support that is needed
to smooth the transition to family and civilian life.
• All therapists are licensed mental health professionals
who receive specialized training in military culture,
PTSD, TBI, MST and other psychological effects of war.
Healing the Hidden Wounds of War
With the help of our supporters we are able to ease the transition from active duty to
civilian life by providing:
• Unlimited, free, easily-accessible and confidential treatment to those that need it
• Training for our Volunteer Therapists to address the unique challenges that our
Veterans face when they return home
• Recruitment and coordination of Volunteer Therapists and other Volunteers
• Infrastructure to enable the staff to administer the program in six states
• Education to the public concerning the psychological consequences of war and the
cost to the community
• Over 30% of our clients are women
• 75% are service members, 25% are family members
• 89% are from the Army, Marines and Navy
• 21% are Active Duty
• 51% are referred by the VA/DoD
Those We Serve
Source: Southern California statistics (2013)
"He took the bullet that had my name on it. I fought and served with honor. I'm proud I
did my duty but I've been paying for over five years for that duty – with daunting
nightmares, overwhelming anxiety, daunting suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress. I
was giving up hope and discovered The Soldiers Project and my therapist saved my life.”
-RB, TSP Client from Washington State
"My physical injuries were beginning to heal and things were looking pretty good. I was
unaware that there was another battle going on and that was through the mental,
psychological, and emotional damage that was going on inside of me. The person who
went out there was not the same person who came back. It took a toll on my wife and my
marriage. Thankfully The Soldiers Project was there to help us.”
-SDC, US Marine Corps, Southern California
“As one of the many volunteer therapists for The Soldiers Project, I am honored to hear
the stories our veterans share with me. Through each of their experiences, my life is
expanded as my eyes are opened to what they have seen and faced. I am humbled by
their continued courage and privileged to have the chance to help them heal the deepest
wounds the battlefield leaves behind.”
- Debbie Presser, Donor and Volunteer Therapist
Testimonials
Of the 2.5 million veterans who
went to war in Iraq and
Afghanistan, 1 million are
currently enrolled in college.
By providing education to the faculty as well as a presence
on campus, The Soldiers Project is promoting a positive
academic transition for the veteran student.
Veteran
Students
• Local campus outreach:
• California State University
Northridge
• Los Angeles City College
• Los Angeles Valley
College
• New York Film Academy
• UCLA
• UCSB
• West LA College
Services
Who are our supporters?
• Corporations
• Foundations
• Philanthropists
• Hundreds of individuals who believe in supporting our
troops “all the way home”
Nationally, our therapists have donated more than 5,000
hours in pro-bono volunteer services.
Corporate & Foundational Support
In the NewsSteve Lopez of The LA Times calls
special attention to mental health
issues and to The Soldiers Project
An encounter in Hollywood shows how drugs,
homelessness and depression keep former
members of the military from moving forward
with their lives.
The Soldiers Project, a national network of
volunteer therapists, confidentially treats
veterans and their loved ones for free, for as
long as it takes, with no red tape, says founder
Judith Broder.
July 2, 2013
Psychiatry Today Features
Dr. Judith Broder, Founder of
The Soldiers Project
Eight years ago, Los Angeles–area
psychiatrist Judith Broder, M.D., had stopped
taking new patients into her private practice
in anticipation of retirement. At around that
time, two seminal events—a leisurely stroll
along the beach and a play at a theater in
Hollywood—convinced her that some of her
life’s most important work still lay ahead.
By the next morning, Broder had worked out
a plan for what was to become The Soldiers
Project, a nonprofit organization through
which service members returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan, as well as their families and
loved ones, would receive free, confidential
mental health services from a network of
licensed mental health professionals.
January 9, 2014
Annual ConferenceThis event brings together therapists, active duty service members, the general public
and other providers of services to the veteran community.
2013 Conference
Free, Confidential Psychological Counseling for Iraq/Afghanistan
Military Service Members, Veterans and their Loved Ones.