HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Christopher Slavens, an Army combat veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is now helping others work through mental adversity.
Slavens joined Jonathan Masaki on “The Rally Point” for an in-depth discussion about how his time in uniform informs the way he supports people facing challenges in their lives.
After his military career, the retired Army major earned a degree in social work and is now a licensed clinical social worker.
He has also served as a graduate-level lecturer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Social Work.
As a combat behavioral health counselor, Slavens said his experience helps him understand what others may experience when dealing with trauma, grief and major life transitions.
“One of the ways that I try to help for instance military service members, or even people that have been through trauma, is to understand that there are certain aspects of how you had to adjust,” Slavens said.
“For instance, in theater, in combat environments, that were a strength while you were there. The idea is to recognize it, to adjust it, to transition, not to cut it off and pretend it doesn’t exist,” he said.
His journey from the battlefield to the therapy room is a powerful story about resilience, purpose, and service.
Join HNN’s Jonathan Masaki, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, every other Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. as he highlights different aspects of the U.S. Military, military civilians, contractors and others who play a role in Hawaii’s armed forces.
Watch “The Rally Point” on all of HNN’s streaming apps.
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