How accessible is group therapy for men with military sexual trauma? A qualitative study of pretreatment perceptions

This study examines perceptions of access to military sexual trauma-focused group therapy among veteran men with histories of military sexual trauma at a mental health clinic within the Veteran Affairs Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, a large and heterogeneous health care facility. Drawing on veteran data (n = 134) collected from January 2019 to April 2025, we used thematic qualitative analysis to examine veterans' perceptions of an MST-focused group therapy to which they had been referred. This study found that veteran men expressed varying perceptions of MST-focused group therapy that functioned as either barriers or facilitators to engagement. Perceived barriers included: concerns about the group format (privacy, trust, safety, efficacy), interpersonal challenges (peer judgment, fear of vulnerability, social interaction), and intrapersonal concerns (avoidance, shame, fear of retraumatization). Facilitators included: trust in referring veteran affairs providers, motivation for trauma recovery and personal growth, and interest in social connection, including reducing isolation and learning from peers. These findings offer clinical, programmatic, and systems-level implications for enhancing referral conversations and improving access to MST-focused group therapy for veteran men. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).