Psychologist Shauna Springer on the Real Struggles Veterans Face - The ROI Online Podcast Ep. 41

What’s the real struggle warriors face when they leave the trenches? Here’s a hint: It’s something you’re facing right now. On this episode of the ROI Online Podcast, Dr. Shauna Springer a psychologist who works with service members explains how the loss of relationships and connection can be more damaging than the horrors of war.

Watch This Episode ⬇️

Dr. Shauna Springer went to Harvard University for her undergrad and got a degree in psychology. After college, she entered her first position, which involved working with veterans, warriors, and service members. One of the patients asked her a question that shattered her confidence in her authority: “What makes you think you could help me through my trauma when I've been to war and seeing things you can't even imagine?” 

Listen To This Episode ⬇️

That statement was a significant turning point. She spent 10 years researching everything from the best way to set up her office and how to start a conversation to how to build trust and keep trust with veterans. Shauna’s research ran counter to a lot of the ways she was trained. Instead of coming in as the expert, she had to put her authority aside and just listen deeply to their stories. 

An interesting point Shauna quickly learned is that veterans aren’t struggling with the “horrors of war.” They're feeling betrayed. They know the sacrifices they've made after years of service, but other people don’t see it. They feel like they need allies. They need people to stand with them. 

After 10 years of walking with warriors into the trenches, Shauna wrote Beyond the Military to share the real struggle these veterans face every day.  She wrote her book to help veterans develop insights as to the weight they care—as well as to help VA treatment providers and the loved ones of military service members and veterans understand them better.

When COVID happened, suddenly, the invisible threat and layers of moral anguish she saw in warriors every day began to surface in everyday people. All of us today face conflicting information, bad news, loss of jobs, economic turmoil, decreased quality of life, and many other struggles warriors face when they get back home. We also have the loss of relationships and connection, something even more dangerous. We’ve lost the basic ways of communications we took for granted.

Shauna’s book now speaks to everyday heroes as well as warriors fighting on the front lines. She has also written a new book, Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us, to help others help warriors find healing in life off the battlefield.


Listen on your favorite podcast network:

• Apple

Also available wherever else you get your podcasts.