Crystal is a clinical psychologist who supported the Joint Special Operations Command, America’s premier counter-terrorism force.
Crystal is a clinical psychologist who supported the Joint Special Operations Command, America’s premier counter-terrorism force.
This episode focuses on how Dr. Redding:
-Treats super highly skilled service members.
-Likens the journey of working with a therapist as a “sherpa”, helping humans climb the mountain to achieve mental wellness and fitness
-Discusses stigmas surrounding therapy for service-members, noting that the history of therapy includes labeling people
-Shares her view of modern view of psychology which must focus on help with everyday life and tasks
-That the first 3 years out of the military have the highest rates of suicide
-She describes the story of a military sniper who needed help with anxiety – how the sniper already knew how to use breathing queues due to their training, and how that was utilized in their diagnosis
-“Its ok to say, I need someone to have my six on this”
-“Leadership is key” – Dr. Redding explains how great leadership can assist healthcare providers by providing confidential recommendations and pushing service members to get help without fear of consequences
00:00 Lee introduces the audience to Dr. Crystal Redding
3:28 Dr. Redding describes her experience as a clinical psychologist for the Joint Special Operations Command
6:27 Dr. Redding talks about the stigmas surrounding therapy and gives a brilliant analogy of therapy and mountain climbing
10:21 Howie explains the Joint Special Operations Command, America’s premier counter-terrorism force, giving context to Dr. Redding’s experience as a psychologist
12:20 Dr. Redding details her process for helping a soldier with their mental fitness
19:42 Howie and Lee get real about Howie’s experiences with mental health challenges
23:58 Dr. Redding addresses the serious confidentiality concerns of service members
32:18 Howie asks Dr. Redding – how can veterans take care of themselves?
33:45 Dr. Redding discusses how military skills can be translated and applied as healing tactics
37:45 Howie discusses how transitioning veterans sometimes don’t seek help
41:14 The conversation shifts to the incredibly important issue of problematic veteran transitions and its relation to veteran suicides
49:58 The ebbs and flows of mental fitness
55:12 Lee gives Dr. Redding her prospective book title and asks the final question
1:09:00 Dr. Redding tells us how she flexes her mental fitness by having clear boundaries
1:06:50 Show closing
