Our Services
Our Care Team Is Here For You
Support Center
The Invisible Wounds Project Support Center located in Forest Lake, MN is a safe, healthy, and welcoming space designed specifically for veterans, police, fire, EMS, frontline medical staff, corrections professionals, 911 dispatchers, and their families. From the moment you walk through the doors, it becomes clear that this is not a typical support space. It is a place for connection, care, and community where those navigating the impacts of trauma, chronic stress, and life transitions can find support, resources, and a community of people who truly get it.
At the Support Center, individuals are met with compassion, respect, and confidentiality. Whether someone is stopping in simply to spend time in a supportive environment, participating in one of our many groups or activities, or seeking deeper, more structured support, we recognize that everyone’s needs are different. Our Care Team is available to meet individuals where they are and help connect them with appropriate resources and next steps.
A significant focus of the Support Center is placed on the arts and hands-on healing. The space includes an art studio, laser room, and a robust woodshop where those we serve can participate in individual or small group classes. These offerings allow participants to learn new skills, refine existing ones, and engage in meaningful, restorative work. In addition, we host a variety of groups, workshops, and activities that foster peer connection, self discovery, resilience, coping skills, and overall well being.
The Support Center also features a workout room and a kitchen, where we share meals together and explore the culinary arts, further strengthening connection and community.
Equally important, the Support Center serves as a hub for collaboration. We work closely with trusted community partners to remove barriers to care and ensure those we serve receive timely, coordinated support for themselves and their families.
Above all, the Invisible Wounds Project Support Center exists to remind veterans and first responders that they are not alone, that their experiences matter, and that help is available in a space built by people who understand the weight of service.
Trauma-Informed Mental Health Support
The Invisible Wounds Project has always been grounded in providing those we serve with access to qualified therapy and support from providers who are trauma informed and specifically trained to work with service members and frontline professionals.
Our Support Center offers access to embedded therapists five days a week. Those we serve may stop in for support or connect with a therapist virtually, with services provided on a first come, first served basis.
The embedded therapist program was created to ensure individuals can connect with qualified support quickly without waiting days, weeks or months for care. Our therapists and care team help those we serve pause, breathe and reset during moments of stress, crisis or transition.
This is not intended to replace ongoing, weekly therapy. Instead, it serves as a point of immediate access allowing individuals to stabilize what is happening in the moment while also developing a personalized care plan for continued support.
Peer Support & Community Connection
The Invisible Wounds Project provides peer support and community connection rooted in shared experience, trust, and understanding. Those we serve are welcomed into a culture where they are met by people who understand the unique realities of military service, public safety, frontline medical work, and the impact these roles can have on individuals and families.
IWP’s peer support model is trauma-informed and relationship-based, offering both group and one-on-one opportunities for connection. Peer support specialists and trained volunteers with lived experience walk alongside participants, providing encouragement, practical support, and a listening ear without judgment. These relationships help reduce isolation, normalize help-seeking, and foster resilience and hope.
Connection at IWP extends well beyond the walls of the Support Center. In addition to on-site peer support groups, IWP offers a variety of community-based groups and activities designed to create meaningful connections in real-world settings. These opportunities allow individuals to engage at their own pace, in ways that feel natural and comfortable.
Outdoors programming is a key component of this approach. Activities such as hikes, outdoor recreation, and nature-based experiences provide opportunities for connection, stress reduction, and healing in environments that many find grounding and restorative. These experiences create space for conversation, shared challenges, and camaraderie without the pressure of formal support settings.
IWP also hosts social gatherings, wellness activities, educational groups, and family-friendly events that strengthen relationships and build community. Whether through shared meals, skills-based workshops, volunteer opportunities, or peer-led activities, individuals are encouraged to connect in ways that support both personal growth and mutual support.
Through peer support and community connection, both inside and outside the Support Center, the Invisible Wounds Project helps individuals move from isolation to belonging. These connections create a supportive network that promotes long-term well-being, reinforces hope, and reminds those we serve that they are not alone.
Creative & Therapeutic Programs
The Invisible Wounds Project’s Creative & Therapeutic Programs provide hands-on, experiential opportunities for healing through creativity, purpose, and connection. These programs recognize that healing does not always happen through words alone. By engaging the mind and body in meaningful activity, participants are able to regulate stress, process emotion, and rebuild a sense of identity, confidence, and community.
Woodworking Program
The Woodworking Program offers a structured, hands-on therapeutic environment where participants work with their hands to create tangible projects. Guided by skilled instructors and supported by a trauma-informed approach, individuals learn practical skills while engaging in purposeful, focused activity. The process of measuring, building, and completing a project promotes mindfulness, problem-solving, patience, and pride in accomplishment. For many, woodworking restores a sense of purpose, routine, and agency that may have been lost through trauma, injury, or life transitions.
Art Program
The Art Program provides a safe, supportive space for creative expression through mediums such as painting, drawing, and ceramics. These outlets allow participants to explore and express thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to articulate verbally. Art-making supports emotional regulation, self-reflection, and healing while reducing stress and anxiety. No prior artistic experience is required; the focus is on the process rather than the outcome, encouraging authenticity, curiosity, and self-compassion.
Culinary Arts Program
The Culinary Arts Program offers participants the chance to engage in cooking and food preparation as a therapeutic practice. From learning new recipes to mastering basic culinary techniques, participants gain practical skills while fostering creativity, focus, and mindfulness. Cooking together encourages teamwork, social connection, and a sense of accomplishment, while also providing an opportunity to explore nutrition and self-care. Sharing meals within the program strengthens community bonds and reinforces the joy and satisfaction of creating something nourishing for oneself and others.
Together, these programs foster skill-building, emotional expression, and meaningful connection with others who share similar lived experiences. By creating, building, and cooking side by side, participants cultivate confidence, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose beyond trauma.
Wellness & Recreational Activities
Our Wellness & Recreational Activities offer a wide range of opportunities for physical wellness, stress relief, and personal growth. Participants can engage in fitness programs, outdoor adventures, and nature-based experiences that promote both mental and physical well-being. Activities include hiking through scenic trails, kayaking on tranquil waters, fishing and hunting excursions, and other outdoor pursuits designed to connect participants with nature and each other.
These experiences are carefully designed to help individuals rebuild confidence, reduce stress, and find balance, while also fostering camaraderie, resilience, and a sense of accomplishment. By combining movement, mindfulness, and adventure, our programs create meaningful opportunities for healing, personal growth, and long-lasting wellness.