Customer Highlight: CJ3 Foundation

Meet The CJ3 Foundation from Albia, Iowa!

The CJ3 Foundation, founded by veteran Eric D. Thomas, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity dedicated to “Serving Our Nation’s Wounded Heroes.” CJ3 provides vital support, services, and advocacy for wounded and disabled U.S. Military Service Members, Veterans, Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, and Emergency/First Responders. Their mission is to help America’s heroes find the means and opportunities to holistically improve their quality of life and reconnect with the communities they so selflessly served.

Through their four primary initiatives—Advocacy, Mental Health & Wellness, Service Dogs, and Field Ops—CJ3 creates pathways for healing, restoration, and purpose. Whether it is providing trained service dogs, organizing outdoor activities that promote camaraderie and resilience, or guiding policy changes to support the needs of wounded heroes, every aspect of their work is driven by compassion and service.

At the heart of CJ3’s Mental Health & Wellness Initiative is a commitment to integrative care, and neurofeedback plays a pivotal role. CJ3 incorporates Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback to help veterans and first responders recover from challenges related to their experiences in the field while supporting overall wellbeing. The Foundation also uses Alpha-Theta therapy, which supports relaxation and helps participants process intense experiences and memories. This program is operated under the guidance of Dr. Rebecca A. Thomas, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and partner to the Foundation.

The Foundation has been using BEE Medic neurofeedback equipment since 2005. The team’s journey began in Norfolk, Virginia, when Lanny Fly, a pioneer in the field of neurofeedback, invited the Othmers to provide training, laying the foundation for their long-standing practice. Today, CJ3 operates two offices with Cygnet systems and maintains a full-time practice in rural Iowa, offering a variety of adjunctive therapies, with neurofeedback remaining the backbone of their success.

CJ3 also offers an all-expenses-paid five-day intensive retreat for up to four participants at a time. Guests stay in a restored historic Iowa home that once belonged to the 23rd Governor of Iowa. These immersive experiences combine neurofeedback with a range of holistic modalities, including chiropractic support, detoxification, and trauma-informed therapy, providing participants with tools to carry forward into their daily lives. Family-style meals foster connection, and participants progress through rounds of treatments to support their needs, including psychological evaluations focused on emotional wellbeing.

The impact of this work is profound. One veteran shared that after years of difficulty in crowded environments, he was able to travel home from his CJ3 intensive calm and confident. Another veteran’s wife expressed tearful gratitude, saying, “What have you done to my husband?" She went on to say that after many years of wanting to isolate, they were sitting outside at a restaurant and he was socializing with other folks.

For many participants, neurofeedback becomes a turning point when other approaches have fallen short. Many arrive stating, “I have a rucksack full of medication, but I still feel awful,” but leave with hope, connection, and lasting change. Beyond individual outcomes, the CJ3 Foundation helps restore what many veterans miss most—the brotherhood and sense of belonging that comes from shared experience and mutual support. Some participants are paired with service dogs that provide long-term assistance, extending the benefits of the Foundation’s programs well beyond the retreat.

Through the integration of neurofeedback and other holistic therapies, the CJ3 Foundation continues to honor its mission of helping America’s wounded heroes reclaim their strength, reconnect with their purpose, and rediscover joy in everyday life.

About CJ3 Foundation

The CJ3 Foundation’s commitment to healing our nation’s heroes is both personal and powerful providing life-changing programs that embody CJ3’s values: Combined, Joint, and Operations—a reflection of unity, teamwork, and coordinated care for those who have given so much.

Learn More: cj3foundation.org