Families in Recovery

Dr Dan Barnard speaks to the families of injured Armed Forces personnel about their loved ones’ recoveries, highlighting what it's like to support, witness and be a part of the process. 

Our recent Road to Recovery exhibition examined the challenging journeys taken by soldiers who have suffered a life-changing physical or mental injury. In this event, we hear from families whose role in the recovery process is often overlooked.

Families and loved ones have always been there caring for the wounded, but rarely hold a presence in our museums, our history books or, even now, in the media. This event is about changing that narrative and ensuring that families not only hold a place in our consciousness, but have an opportunity to leave the legacy their support warrants.

Dr Dan Barnard will lead an open conversation exploring the reality of recovery with members of The Ripple Pond community. Their raw and honest stories will reveal some of the frustrations, tears, laughter and pitfalls they’ve encountered, as well as the lessons they’ve learnt along the way.

About The Ripple Pond

The Ripple Pond is the only registered charity exclusively supporting the adult family members of physically and psychologically injured British Armed Forces personnel and veterans. It provides peer-led support both across the UK and abroad. Services are delivered in both group and individual settings.

About Dan Barnard 

Dr Dan Barnard is the Clinical Lead for Op Courage in the Midlands area. Op Courage is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.

Dan qualified as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology from Oxford University in 2003. Since then, he has concentrated on developing clinical expertise with adults with mental health difficulties, specialising in the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological care for staff who have experienced traumatic incidents.

He has dedicated much of his working life to trailblaze wider improvements and influence in NHS mental healthcare of military veterans.