Trauma can also affect intimate relationships, shaping trust, closeness, and how partners respond to one another. For veterans, first responders, and their partners, the effects of operational trauma can emerge in everyday conversations, emotional distance, and repeated misunderstandings. Trauma-informed couples work can help partners recognize these responses, understand one another’s experiences, and consider how to rebuild emotional safety and connection; when coercion or abuse is present, safety and the suitability of conjoint counselling must be assessed first. Dr. Dadson brings this understanding to his couples counselling work. He was part of the clinical development team for COPE (Couples Overcoming PTSD Every Day), an experiential, group-based trauma recovery program developed for Wounded Warriors Canada (Wounded Warriors Canada COPE program) to support veterans, first responders, and their partners affected by operational trauma. The 2015 CIMVHR Forum Abstracts independently documents his development-team participation; he also reports implementing the first COPE group. Dr. Michael Dadson’s extensive career work with the University of British Columbia, The Veterans Transition Network , and the International Society of Trauma and Dissociation, lead Dr. Dadson to be widely recognized as a trauma expert for counselling first responders, military and veterans.