Oak Creek, WI – 09/23/2025 – Lead: Dr. Carter Check, a combat veteran and Suicide Prevention Specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs, joined host Marcus Hart on the Transform U! Live Show to discuss the critical gaps in traditional mental health care for veterans and advocate for nature-based therapy as a powerful tool for healing "invisible wounds."

In a candid and deeply personal interview, Dr. Check argued that the biggest risk factors for suicide are often unquantifiable metrics like helplessness, hopelessness, and shame, which he says the standard medical model is ill-equipped to address. He identified moral injury—a violation of one's core values—as a "compound fracture of the soul" that is a primary driver of veteran suffering (10:13).

"Moral injury is a proof that you have a moral compass," Dr. Check stated, offering a radical reframing of the wound. "It's not a sign of a defect. It's actually a highlight of the best part of you because if you didn't have morals, you wouldn't be hurting" (11:13).

Host Marcus Hart, an Iraq combat veteran and mental health journalist, guided the conversation toward actionable hope. "Dr. Check's work is a lifeline," Hart said. "He’s moving the conversation beyond the clinic and into God's creation, reminding us that healing is possible and that our deepest wounds do not have to define us."

Dr. Check, author of the Amazon bestseller "Healing in the Wild," detailed his work using outdoor therapy, where nature acts as a "co-therapist" to help veterans process trauma in a judgment-free environment. "The wild speaks to the soul in ways words can't," he explained (12:37).

The full episode provides a powerful look at Post-Traumatic Growth and offers practical tools for veterans, their families, and anyone wrestling with trauma and loss.

About Transform U! Live Show:

Hosted by Marcus Hart, the Transform U! Live Show offers faith-fired takes on urban chaos, mental health, and personal transformation. Hart uses his platform to inspire, ignite, and transform listeners navigating life's toughest challenges.

The full interview with Dr. Carter Check is available now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at marcus-hart.com.

Contact: 

Marcus Hart 

press@marcus-hart.com

marcus-hart.com

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Tag: #MentalHealth