Veteran Peer Support Groups: Myths, Facts, and How They Help
For many veterans, the idea of joining a peer support group can come with questions.
Is it like therapy?
Do you have to talk?
Is it only for certain kinds of veterans?
The short answer: No.
Peer support groups do something simple but powerful: They help veterans connect with people who understand their experiences.
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) offers Peer Support and connection events across the country to help veterans build community.
“[Peer Support Groups] are a way for veterans to get together and connect, talk about what’s going on, share resources, and just build connection,” said Trey Ellis, Alumni training manager at WWP®.
Myths and Facts About Veteran Peer Support Groups
Myth 1: Peer support groups are basically group therapy.
Fact: WWP’s Peer Support Groups are non-clinical spaces built around connection, not treatment.
Trey said one of the biggest misconceptions is that people think peer support may feel like formal therapy, but that is not the goal.
“Nobody’s having you lie down on a couch and ask you about your feelings,” he said. “If you want to talk, you can talk. It’s just there for you to make connections.”
Myth 2: You have to share your story or speak up in every meeting.
Fact: Veterans can participate at their own pace and on their own terms.
“They don’t have to speak,” said Dan Schnock, WWP Senior Community and Engagement Liaison. “Sometimes they’re just showing up.”
That flexibility is part of what makes peer support approachable. A veteran can listen, observe, and decide when — or whether — to join the conversation, while still benefiting from the group’s camaraderie and consistency.
Myth 3: Peer support groups are only for one type of veteran.
WWP Peer Support Groups offer a wide range of options, including women-only groups and virtual groups.
Fact: There’s room for everyone. WWP offers a range of Peer Support Group options, including:
- Co-ed groups.
- Women-only groups.
- Family support member-only groups.
- Nationwide virtual groups.
The goal is to meet different needs without making groups so narrow that they feel exclusive instead of welcoming.
Myth 4: Anyone can step in and lead a peer support group.
Fact: Effective peer support takes preparation, training, and the right mindset.
WWP screens, background checks, and trains its peer support leaders before they take on the role.
Dan said the best peer support leaders have “a humble, non-ego driven passion to serve their brothers and sisters.”
Myth 5: Peer support groups are only about talking and don’t lead anywhere else.
Fact: WWP Peer Support Groups are often a starting point, opening the door to additional support, resources, and programs.
Trey said people frequently use the space to talk about what has helped them and to point others toward resources that may fit their needs.
“We do get a lot of referrals from that,” he said. Conversations in the group can help veterans see things differently, opening the door to new perspectives on life, growth, and what comes next.
What Makes Peer Support Groups Work
WWP's Warrior Survey shows that social connection is important to a veteran's overall well-being.
While every group is different, Trey said the common thread is creating “a space for people to come in and just feel like they can talk and be heard.”
According to the WWP Warrior Survey*, the majority of WWP warriors feel lonely. The survey shows:
- 79% say they feel isolated.
- 75% reported feeling left out.
- 72% say they lack companionship.
These numbers highlight a challenge, but they also show why social connection matters.
For many veterans, peer support groups can be the first step toward feeling less alone.
At its core, WWP Peer Support gives veterans a place to show up as they are, listen if they want to, speak if they’re ready, and build relationships with others who understand military life and the transition beyond it.
“They help veterans reconnect with community, feel understood, and remember they do not have to navigate life this alone,” Dan said.
*Warrior Survey, Wave 3 (conducted June 15 - Aug. 24, 2023)
Find out how WWP helps keep warriors connected.
Contact: Paris Moulden, Public Relations, pmoulden@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.570.7910
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the nation's leading veterans service organization, focused on the total well-being of veterans, service members, and their families. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.
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