Why Warrior’s Heart?
Because it is committed to those who have dedicated themselves to serving others, veterans and first responders. The men and women who often place their lives on the line to ensure that the everyday citizens of our nation can go about his or her day more peacefully.
My last assignment with the Warrior Transition Battalion was instrumental in the shift in not just my career direction but a reconnection to my life passion. You see it was at the end of my 1st enlistment in the Marines that I found my desire to help change and improve the lives of the young men I was training that prompted me to reenlist. I thrive working with and building a strong team of dedicated and committed individuals who have a passion for accomplishing the task at hand.
At the end of my Marine Corp career I got into financial consultation to help veterans primarily and others improve their lives and that of their families through implementing sound financial principles and planning. I supervised corporate security operations to protect others and developed a strong and close team of dedicated men and women to serve with me. As an intern and youth pastor, I enjoyed seeing young people discover their God given talents and abilities while assisting them to pursue their passions and shape their own futures. In the Army, my vision expanded and I began to see how all my experiences, struggles, failures, skills, talents, and successes where essential to my becoming the person I was and still striving to become.
At Warrior Transition, my role was totally in helping my fellow service men and women in discovering their individual desire, direction, and focus for the future. In some cases that was in continuing a career in the military and in others it was as a veteran Warrior often living within new and different circumstances and limitations than before their military service. It also required more personal and intricate interactions with family members, friends, community, and government helping agencies. Making a difference in the present and future lives of my fellow Warriors and their families was a fulfilling and satisfying assignment which was a crucial stepping stone to my direction of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist.
I attended St. Mary’s University for a Masters in Marriage and Family therapy. I discovered my passion for learning more about the brain and how to utilize our brain and body natural healing qualities and abilities in the treatment of various mental disorders. Therefore, I learned more about neurofeedback and some biofeedback. I decided to get my professional counselor credentials to better round out my education and clinical skills. Then, having firsthand knowledge of the struggles the military has with alcohol and drug problems in addition to the trauma associated with serving in the military period and wars and conflicts, I pursued studies in alcohol and drug addiction.
It is while working for five years with Palmer Drug Abuse Program that I saw the connection of substance abuse and trauma. It was now that my passions made sense and came together along with the population I felt most passionate about serving, those afflicted with and struggling to overcome the debilitating effects of mind-altering chemicals. Warriors Heart provides me the opportunity to combine my two passions, helping to alleviate the damage the of lives affected by drugs and alcohol and assisting my fellow veterans and other warriors.
