DEEP SEA VALKYRIES

Deep Sea Valkyries (DSV) is a Veteran/First Responder outreach 501(c)(3) that facilitates retreats and counseling programs to assist in PTSD recovery and development of life skills for Veterans transitioning from Military service. DSV was founded by MSG (Ret.) Joshua Grzywa and his wife Neysa in 2015 after losing seven members of his unit to suicide in a six-week period. Grzywa was a first responder at the Pentagon on 9/11 and was medically retired due to combat related injuries after 15 years of service so he knows full well the weight of the invisible wounds of war. They felt that they had the skills and knowledge to take the retreat scenario that so many organizations offer for Veterans and to enhance it by actually giving them a new skill set along with providing highly focused counseling as well. Our retreats, or 'Voyages' as we call them, provide a holistic approach to healing, reducing the triggers of PTSD, equipping participants with the tools to combat those triggers, and leading to a reduction in Veteran suicides and suicide attempts. Our retreats take Veterans from across the US down to Nassau, Bahamas for a week long live-aboard during which time, more than 30 hours of group and individual counseling sessions will take place with our Counselor who specializes in PTSD treatments. In addition, a team of Veterans that specialize in marine eco-adventures will guide participants in scuba diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, sailing, kayaking, and land based excursions on remote islands while learning about marine conservation and the impact humans can have on marine eco-systems. Our aim is to provide not only the counseling to reduce PTSD, but also to reinvigorate our participants to engage in healthy outdoor activities. In 2023 our program expanded to include a retreat directly focused on first responder trauma.