The book is written to be read, understood, and applied. This isn’t a book for professional therapists; this is a manual for highly skilled heroes— for the men and women who put their lives on the line and serve as warriors, firefighters, peace keepers, law enforcement, paramedics, and other first responders. 

GY6 is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe.

The goal of this resource is to help you begin the process of exploration and discovery as you pursue total wholeness, as well as normalize the conversation about emotional and spiritual health.

We originally planned to create a 150-page (or less!) resource.

And we almost did.

However, we added stories to the book (at the conclusion of each chapter), which bolstered the size of the book.

And, we included a teaching outline in the back for easy reference.

And, we included “terms and definitions” to empower heroes and readers alike to understand complex neuroscience in everyday terms.

Now, we’re sitting at 300 pages— but it still reads quick AND you can skip the parts that aren’t relevant / needed.

Over 100+ people read the “test version” of the book (95% of them veterans and first responders) and they all concurred— keep it all in there.

I am not a veteran or a first responder. I state this now, because I frequently use we throughout this book when communicating stories, providing illustrations, or sharing examples. Such verbiage is in no way intended to provide you with the wrong impression about my experience in your field.

I am not a hero like you.

That said, I have studied, written, and taught about total wholeness (body, soul, and spirit) for two decades. And, Crosswinds Foundation— an organization I worked with for seven years— has researched and helped warriors find relief from PTSD and Moral Injury since 2011.

Since its inception, the Crosswinds team has—

•  Interviewed hundreds of veterans, active service members, and family members of those who have served regarding their personal trauma and that of those they served with. These warriors have served in WWII up to the wars in the Middle East.
•  Talked with numerous clinicians, psychologists and other medical personnel, who serve (in both military and nonmilitary settings) and have treated these warriors or are experts in the field of trauma treatment and research.
•  Released three feature length documentaries and written six other books on the subject matter of this short manuscript.
•  Created online courses, podcasts, and other forms of content.

Throughout this work I frequently quote interviews and content from those resources, as well as others I developed on my own. They are each referenced in the appendix, along with other books and courses which may be helpful on your journey.

Though holding a map— and even creating one for others to follow— isn’t the same as “walking the terrain,” conversations with hundreds of heroes and the thousands of pages we’ve read (and written), have helped me grasp the issues in a way that I feel equipped to serve you in this area.

Visitors to the GY6 website and app will also find:

Blog posts containing many of the stories in the book, as well as others which are shared as a result of interacting with the material (some include video)

Videos about Post Traumatic Stress and Moral Injury— taught from a practical perspective

Links to sponsors, partnering organizations, small groups, and others who “know the lingo” and can assist them

Support groups, workshops, and other opportunities to takenext steps for resources

The ability to share their own story— and choose to have it posted or keep it private

Correct.

In addition to delivering the digital content, a smartphone app will also create an online “community” that functions much like a private Facebook feed / group.

The app will allow participants to self-select based on—

• Profession (i.e., military, type of first responder)
• Place (city, geographic area)
• Potential problem areas to address (i.e., PTSD, Moral Injury, addiction, etc.)

Volunteers will monitor each “circle” (segments based on profession or place, as outlined above).

Estimates suggest that veterans comprise 11-13% of the population (varies per area). Accounting for their families, we can safely estimate that 25% of the population is impacted by military-related concerns.

The percentages are somewhat higher in the south, where the enlistment numbers are highest.

And, they’re even more elevated in areas with military-dense population bases (where the numbers may go as high as 15-20% of the population, plus their families).

Though first responders comprise about 1% of the population, they are a significant presence as well.

This means that in a church or other group of 1,000, potentially 300 people (or more) may be impacted.

Notably, 1 of every 3 veterans are estimated to be impacted by PTSD. The numbers are somewhat higher for first responders.

Here’s a plan to start / timeline (adjustable, yet actionable in the current form) in any city / geographic area / church or nonprofit as a hub, etc.

Here are the steps, month-by-month.

Month 1 = Review the information and read the book.

Month 2 = do the following:

• Obtain consensus and take action, hold initial meetings with potential influencers
• Identify a leadership team / task force of 7-10 veterans and/or first responders from nearby churches, civic groups, etc. This group will work through the GY6 resource so they can promote it intelligently and with confidence

Month 3 = focus on the following:

• Work with this aforementioned group, walking them through the GY6 resource. We can do this by meeting either weekly in person or biweekly in person and biweekly via Zoom. In person is best.
• The goal of this initial run is to intentionally expose them to the GY6 resources, impart vision to them, and glean from their insights.
• Taking the time— on the front end— to do this well will go a long way towards launching the movement
• Contact local groups re: CEUs, so you can meet their requirements and begin scheduling

Month 4 = continue working with the lead team recruited in Month 2

Month 5 = After the group has completed the resource, plan and promote an initial mini-workshop.

This mini-workshop has the following objectives:

• 50 attenders
• 90-minutes total time, giving participants a taste of what’s to come— and preview what a full-day workshop might look like
• Introduce them to the concepts in the book
• Honor the attenders in some way
• Talk about the progress that has been made
• Invite business leaders and potential investors to “come and see” (with no “hard ask”)
• Give everyone a chance to join the project in some way

Note: This night would also serve as an initial “test” / pilot
project, get feedback, and build anticipation towards a January workshop

Month 6 = Add more to the leadership circle and multiply our capacity, from the workshop.

Run a short-term “Zoom” group

Month 7 = Host the larger workshop (i.e., +100 attenders), provide next steps, and lead people into groups.

Some of the attendees of this workshop would include:

• Heroes
• Family members
• Leaders of nonprofits and VSOs and LEO networks
• Church and/or business leaders who want to learn more
• CEU participants

Month 8 = replicate the groups, have a joint meeting with the appropriate church staff and the GY6 leadership team, and determine next steps based on what we have learned during this process

Month 9 = Shepherd the effort, launch new groups, etc., present in VSOs, chaplains’ organizations, etc.

Month 10 = host a family workshop (i.e., Soul Wholeness or something like it).

The following heroes will be impacted from your site by this project in the short term (these numbers will readily double by the time we include families):

• 10 leaders to be recruited to form the leadership team (Month 2 and following)
• 10 civic and business and/or church leaders to help network the project
• 50 more, with shared books during this effort (distributed through the leadership team)

First mini workshop, to test the material = 50 attenders (to be comprised of the leadership team, some of the 50, and others… accounting for absentees and others who cannot attend), Month 5

Short term Zoom group expands the circle = 75 total impacted, by adding more to leadership circle after they see the vision of what we are doing, as well as Zoom group, Months 5 and 6

Next workshop and live recording = 100 total, Month 7 (tentative)

Should be able to raise the number to 200+, including groups and presentations at VSOs, fire houses, etc. (Months 7 and 8)

Continue shepherding the effort throughout Month 9

Host a family event, targeting not only heroes but also family members, with 300+ attendees, Month 10

The subsequent launch of the next round of small groups should facilitate impacted 500+ persons— in person— with the first year

Note: these are persons impacted from your location. This does not include persons impacted in other cities where other GY6 hubs may begin. To be clear, your initial investment will make all of that possible, as well.

We are seeking financial partners and relational connections.
We would love to talk with you further about your involvement in a way that might enhance the work you’re currently doing. We believe this resource can enhance your efforts— not be a distraction.

We’re looking for people who will both invest in the mission financially and those who will serve as boots on the ground to actively participate.

If you choose to get involved, envision the following opportunities:

•  A large workshop hosted at your civic center, a local church, or place of business once every 4— 5 months (1-2 days in length). This might impact 50-200 people.
•  At that workshop participants will be led through the GY6 resource. They will be encouraged to invite family members (i.e., spouse or adult children) and friends (peers).
•  Participants will be invited to take a next step and walk with a small group for 9-10 weeks, journeying through the same material again. These groups might be hosted—
•  At a church or other organization
•  “Outside” of your organization— at a business, library, community center, VSOs (i.e., Veterans of Foreign Wars / VFW, American Legion), firehouse, etc.

Notably, veterans, military personnel, and first responders in your relational sphere already have contacts with these associations. They may have just not (yet) known they can turn them into their personal mission and serve others.

•  As they make their way through the resources with a smaller group, they are encouraged to take the “next best step” for them. This might include—
•  Leading a group
•  Taking a deeper dive in their own healing journey
•  Stepping into their purpose, or even overcoming an addiction.

Resources are presented and made available.

•  Participants are also invited to attend the next larger workshop and invite others.

Some of these steps are described and illustrated on this webpage.

Absolutely. 

Reach out to us at [email protected] or call / text 205-291-1391...

... or use a contact form on this website.