Transforming Trauma: Episode 117

What comes to mind when someone mentions military trauma? Brian Peter Monson, a veteran and graduate student pursuing his clinical mental health counseling degree, observes that many active duty military personnel enter into the armed services navigating the same aspects of complex trauma as civilians ––familial, religious, disaster, childhood–– while also confronting the short and long-term effects of combat stress.   

In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily invites Brian Peter to share his experience serving in the military with unresolved developmental trauma and the paradox of observing one’s faith while carrying out methods of interrogation. The pair also discuss the overwhelming somatic events that led Brian Peter to NARM training and a more fulfilling career assisting others with complex trauma.

Brian Peter’s story is a complicated one to tell, made more so by the presence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in his life and its influence on his commitment to service. Brian Peter’s seamless transition from overseas LDS mission trips to military intelligence – and specifically, interrogation – came courtesy of his strong interpersonal skills and aptitude for languages.

But the often disturbing realities of interrogation work wore on Brian Peter’s morals and mental health. “It was easier for me to be doing this nasty interrogation spy work because it was that little boy trying to survive,” he admits. “The shift came from getting out of the military where those survival skills were no longer useful.”

Brian Peter now considers himself in full “re-survival” mode. He credits NARM with helping him reconnect with his authentic self, recommit to his community, and respond to the needs of those with military combat and religious traumas. Brian Peter says that NARM fits like glue between all other modalities. “If somebody’s considering taking NARM, the focus is on how NARM produces folks with the tools that they can go out and help people in the most effective and kind ways.”

Transforming Trauma is humbled by Brian Peter’s honesty and vulnerability. His story represents the radical intra- and interpersonal shifts that can occur when NARM is included as a treatment option for trauma-informed care, regardless of setting. 

 

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Brian Peter Monson is completing his Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Degree after switching careers from years in public service and non-profit work. Peter specializes particularly in military/combat and religious trauma work.

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