Doug W.’s Post

🚀 Join the Virtual Book Launch of Hiding in Plain Sight: The Truth About Trauma, Service, and The Way Forward with Doug White! I’m thrilled to invite you to an exclusive online event where we’ll dive into the story behind Hiding in Plain Sight — a memoir about the realities of trauma, resilience, and reclaiming our voices. Mark your calendar and be part of this mission-driven gathering on Veterans' Day, November 11, 2024, at 6:30 PM EST! 🔹 What to Expect: Live Q&A: Have a question? Submit it through my website Contact Form at www.DougWhiteOfficial.com for a chance to have it answered live! Behind-the-Scenes: Get an insider look into the journey that led to Hiding in Plain Sight and what’s next for me and Tell This Story. Giveaways: I’ll be giving away signed copies to a few lucky attendees! 🌟 Call to Action: This event is more than a book launch — it’s a call to create a platform and empower veterans, first responders, and their families to own and share their journeys and find the way forward together. Let’s unite to support each other and make an impact. 📅 Reserve your spot now! Zoom Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/ezuFDgyG Use your voice, own your journey, and join us on this path toward healing.💬 #HidingInPlainSight #purpose #growth #family #veterans #traumarecovery #firstresponders #Veterans #TellThisStory #PTSD #Resilience #Storytelling #mentalhealthawareness

As we start this #SuicidePreventionMonth, I'd like to pose a couple of questions to the veterans and first responders in my network and beyond: Are you struggling to live a life that is fulfilling and meaningful? Do you find it difficult to connect with others on a deeper level? Do you feel like you're in survival mode or simply coping with life? Do you feel like you are destined to live a diminished life due to the struggles you have and the trauma you've experienced? If you find yourself answering yes to these questions but are craving the opportunity to live a great life, the Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) program might be the answer for which you've been looking. Developed by the Boulder Crest Foundation and offered in conjunction with partner organizations across the country, Warrior PATHH is a 90-day, non-pharmacological, peer-delivered training program designed to help our nation's warriors turn their struggles into strength using the science of Posttraumatic Growth. The program starts with a 7-day intensive and immersive initiation followed by 3 months of dedicated support, training, accountability, and connection from a team of trained combat veterans. It's a powerful program that makes a real difference in the lives of participants and those around them. If you're ready to thrive in the aftermath of trauma, look into the Warrior PATHH program and take the first step towards a better life. Click the link to learn more and apply today to find out how your life can change like mind has: https://lnkd.in/gsgNMFmk #PosttraumaticGrowth #ptg #StruggleWell #ShiftHappens #VeteransHelpingVeterans #Veterans #FirstResponders #BoulderCrestFoundation #ChooseGrowth

Veterans face unique challenges as a result of their military service, often carrying some type of invisible wounds of trauma. Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) is a transformative program designed specifically to help veterans not only heal but thrive in the aftermath of trauma. What makes Warrior PATHH so effective? --Posttraumatic Growth (PTG): Central to the program is the science of PTG, which focuses on how individuals can grow stronger in the aftermath of trauma. Rather than viewing trauma as something to merely survive, participants are empowered to transform their pain into purpose. --Mind-Body Connection: Techniques such as mindfulness and meditation help participants reconnect with their bodies and quiet the mental noise that trauma creates to enable more effective emotional regulation. --Peer-to-Peer Support: Participants work in small, intimate groups where shared experiences create deep connections. This support system is key in helping individuals feel understood, validated, and less isolated in their journey. --Structured Curriculum: The program’s curriculum blends ancient warrior traditions with modern science to teach veterans how to rewrite their stories, shifting from a mindset of victimhood to one of empowerment and leadership. --Practices for Life: Participants learn a variety of wellness practices they can apply long after the program ends to continue their journey of growth and healing. Warrior PATHH has proven time and again that trauma or diagnostic labels do not have to define us. Veterans can not only heal from their experiences, but emerge stronger, more resilient, and more purposeful to live a great life. If you're a veteran or you know a fellow veteran who is struggling, please visit https://lnkd.in/gsgNMFmk and learn more about how to transform struggle into strength. #PosttraumaticGrowth #ptg #StruggleWell #ShiftHappens #ChooseGrowth #VeteransHelpingVeterans #Veterans #BoulderCrestFoundation

Just a friendly Tuesday reminder about #militarytransition. 😉 Let's take a moment and talk about this... ☕ One of the major problems with TAP is that it's an event, not a journey. Even if you attend TAP multiple times over a 2-3 year period, the information is episodic and therefore mostly ineffective. In other words, this is what happens from a human behavior standpoint. Take TAP---Do nothing---Take TAP (again)---Do nothing---separate/retire Does this make sense to anybody? Bueller? 🤷♂️ If it does, please explain in the comments below. 👇 We know this because we talk to our students who've been through our PreVeteran program and then attend TAP. Here's what we hear: ❌ TAP is a resource dump (i.e. firehose) ✅ PreVeteran provides tools and is individually empowering ❌ TAP is episodic and has no enduring presence or support ✅ PreVeteran has an initial 5-Week program (i.e. the intervention), then supports the service member through post-military employment and beyond through our Alumni Community (i.e. enduring support) We'll say it again. 👍 Your military transition is a journey. A journey means you need to put in work consistently, over time, and go through the journey. This means you need a model to pour your effort and work into...and get support along the way. 👎 Your military transition is NOT a light switch. It won't happen overnight and won't happen all at once. If you find yourself thinking you can just attend TAP a couple times and be good to go...you won't be. If you don't believe me, as a friend who's done this approach and see how it worked for them. 😉 If you want to start moving the ball down the field to actually move the needle on transition and positively impact the lives of individual service members, their families, and the overall veteran population, let's chat. Our program is turn key, ready to scale, and effective. Let's go! Hunter, Aaron, Shawnda, Nicholas, Matt, Matt, Jonny, Vic, 🎣Sara, Erik, Dixon, Jack, Stuart, Joe, Ceir, Bobby, Bill, Steve, Bob, Jesse, Justin, Michelle Lang, Jennifer, Eric, Julie

“Doing your best” is just the beginning. The real game-changer? Knowing when your best isn’t enough and pushing to level up. It’s about self-assessment, learning from failures, and always staying teachable. If you want more, you’ve got to grow, adapt, and make your best even better. Full episode out now at the link below👇 https://lnkd.in/ePTjm7fn #revitalist #veterans #neversettle #mentalhealth #levelup #mentalhealthmatters

🌟 Intention: Find Your North Star In our pursuit of fulfillment, we often mistake movement for progress. Yet I've learned that our path forward isn't about collecting achievements—it's about aligning our actions with our deepest intentions. When we anchor our journey in clear intention—whether it's fostering meaningful connections, creating lasting impact, or discovering our authentic selves—we naturally gravitate toward experiences that resonate with our core truth. It's less about controlling outcomes and more about cultivating the qualities we seek to embody. True transformation begins when we shift from chasing external markers to nurturing the internal compass that guides us forward. This journey has taught me that our future can expand far beyond what our thinking mind could imagine. What intention will you set today that moves you closer to your authentic path? The Journey Home #veteranmentalhealth #veterans #usmc #ptsd #moralinjury #healingjourney #intentionalliving #purpose #meaning

MY INDEPENDENCE DAY GIFT, 2024: I was presented a wooden Certificate of Graduation plaque for completing the Military Reboot Course July 3. Military Reboot is a 12-week course designed to help veterans who have trauma overcome it. I took the course so I could see the trauma veterans suffer in a much deeper way so I could help them better. Three takeaways from this class: 1) It gave military men and women a chance to “talk about it” over 12 weeks. 2) Eveidence that some wounds run deep, some students have been in the course 4-5 times and are still healing. They learned something each time they took the course. 3) Many root wounds weren’t suffered on the battlefield. They came from upbringing, parental abuse and more. This certificate means more to me than receiving my Associates and Bachelors Degrees. I always cared for people. The trauma I faced as a child wound up benefitting me and others. ❤️ I received new course material at graduation, too. I will be unpacking the material and sharing it beginning Monday, July 8. Look for it. I help vets who have trauma get to the roots of their trauma and take action steps toward total healing. A 15-minute Discovery Call is FREE. Let’s talk it out. REVIVE YOUR SPIRIT React, comment or message me through LinkedIn.

One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in life.... Which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.🤷♂️ Not every relationship is meant to last.❌️ Some people teach you lessons.😫 Some people are Allies 🙌 Holding on does more harm in the long run then letting go. Cross the bridges that inspire and bring you peace 🙏 Burn the bridges that stop you from growing and cause misery. 🔥 Because sometimes burning a bridge isn’t a loss ❌️ It’s the beginning of a new, more fulfilling chapter of your life. 🎉 #wellbeing #veterans #growthmindset

From Vision to Reality: Supporting Veterans’ Greatest Transition Four friends, united by service, fatherhood, and a shared mission, came together with a vision to transform how service members and veterans prepare for the greatest professional transition of their lives. That vision gave rise to the Veteran Development Group (VDG). Yesterday, as we aligned on our 2025 strategy and KPIs, we were reminded of the sacrifices we each make to bring this vision to life. Our goal is clear: to improve veterans’ lives, reduce suicides, and help individuals find clarity and purpose during one of life’s most challenging transitions. For most Americans, leaving the military may seem like a routine step. In reality, it’s an unprecedented challenge filled with uncertainties. At VDG, we aim to provide clarity and a guiding light—a true north—to help transitioning service members navigate this journey confidently. Grounded in the principles of People, Product, and Process, our mission is to:   •  Empower veterans with actionable tools and resources,   •  Streamline their path to new opportunities, and   •  Focus on building meaningful relationships that foster growth and belonging. Together, we believe we can redefine what it means to transition successfully and purposefully into civilian life. The work has just begun, but the impact will last a lifetime. Juan Manco Omar Rebaza Alexander Sosa Jose Palos #Veterans #TransitionSupport #Leadership #PurposeDrivenMission

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by the ABC for a series that delves into the hidden dangers our soldiers face. The story, The Enemy Within: Blasts from Australian Soldiers' Own Weapons May Be Causing Brain Injury, sheds light on the overlooked neurological risks of blast exposure—even during training. In the interview, I shared the heartbreaking story of my late husband, Peter Café, a decorated commando who tragically took his own life in 2017. Peter’s struggle with crippling headaches, memory loss, and a constant sense of disconnection reveals the devastating impact of what we now understand could be blast-induced brain injury. This story is a powerful reminder of the unseen battles our veterans continue to fight, even long after their service ends. By sharing our family’s experience, I hope to raise awareness and emphasise the urgent need for research into these invisible injuries, which can mimic PTSD and lead to tragic outcomes. If you’re moved by this story and want to make a difference, consider supporting the Australian Veterans' Brain Bank (AVBB). The AVBB is at the forefront of brain health research, particularly for veterans and those exposed to repetitive brain trauma. By pledging your brain for research or making a donation, you can help advance our understanding of conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other brain injuries. Your support could lead to breakthroughs that improve the lives of countless veterans and their families. To read more about my interview and the full story, visit The Enemy Within: https://lnkd.in/eXhtM238 To learn more about the AVBB and how you can get involved, visit their website. Let’s keep this important conversation going and work together to support our veterans. 🧠 #BrainInjuryAwarenessWeek #SupportOurSoldiers #VeteranStories #AVBB #BrainHealth #VeteransBrainBank #ResearchForACause #CTE #TBI #Prevention #Treatments #VeteranFamilies #EarlyIntervention #VeteranFamilies #Veterans #Military #ADF #Defence #DefenceFamilies #MilitaryFamilies Gwen Cherne 📸 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (from article)