Service Members, Veterans, Law Enforcement, First Responders and Their Families

The Need – The stress of working on the front lines takes a toll – physically, emotionally and spiritually. Highly trained military, law enforcement, and first responders are no exception. Hypervigilance, insomnia, substance abuse, anger, relationship conflict, depression and hopelessness are all warning signs for PTS and operational burnout. A team stays strong when every team member is healthy and resilient. Effective care for struggling front line workers is our nation’s critical duty and obligation.

Our Approach – The Bernstein Institute for Trauma Recovery (BITR) utilizes a unique approach to healing emotional and physical trauma, PTS, and TBI called Bernstein Healing Protocols (BHP). Our highly effective, proprietary treatment modalities address the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. After over fifty years of experience in the field, we are convinced that resolving trauma requires restoring emotional, physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being.

BHP therapy at BITR involves a multifaceted approach based on principles of psychology, the trauma response, family systems theory, group work and dynamics, and myofascial release physical therapy. We are persuaded that the body is the reservoir of the unconscious and that the cognitive approach alone is insufficient to resolve the effects of trauma locked in the body. While we accept that medication can provide trauma sufferers with needed temporary relief, we firmly believe that, for most, reliance on drugs for the long-term is counterproductive. Drugs provide symptom containment only, not healing, and are often accompanied with significant, life-compromising side effects.

Our Services – BITR offers a wide variety of services. We provide coaching and mentoring for individuals, couples, families, and groups. We address depression, anxiety, PTS, incest and sexual abuse, addiction and substance abuse, relationship conflict, parenting, and chronic pain. We offer training for military personnel in transition and reintegration issues, vicarious or secondary trauma, and resilience. In coaching, mentoring and training, we follow a team provider model and draw on a wide range of qualified professionals for adjunct medical treatment and other services.

Coaching, mentoring and training formats include customized week-long intensives enhanced and sustained by frequent, periodic follow-up sessions in person or by teleconference. Resource materials detailing concepts and skills form the basis for ongoing learning and practice assignments.

Our Leader – Peter M. Bernstein, PhD, CPC has over fifty years of experience in the field of trauma recovery. He founded BITR in 1994 and continues to serve as Executive Director. Dr. Bernstein draws not only on his professional experience in working with front line workers, service members and their families, he is also an Army veteran of the Vietnam war era.

Our Bottom Line – For front line workers and their families, we address the needs of mind, body, and spirit to offer healing and hope.