Building a private practice is great. But building one rooted in lived experience is on a whole other level.

Christopher Brown, a Marine Corps veteran and EMDR-certified therapist, joins Michael Fulwiler to share his path from combat to clinical work. 

After surviving a suicide bombing and facing years of PTSD, Christopher found healing through EMDR and turned that transformation into a mission to help others do the same, may they be veterans, first responders, or trauma survivors.

He talks about launching the nonprofit Growing Veterans, the lessons he learned about money and mission, and why he started Helicon to help other EMDR providers build meaningful, sustainable practices.

In the conversation, they discuss:

• How EMDR helped Christopher process trauma and build clinical confidence
• The journey from nonprofit leadership to private practice
• Why first responders need better access to trauma-informed care

Connect with the guest:

• Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdbrownvet/
• Visit the Helicon website: https://www.gowithhelicon.com/ 

Connect with Michael and Heard:

• Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfulwiler/ 
• Newsletter: https://www.joinheard.com/newsletter 
• Book a free consult: joinheard.com/consult 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Welcome to Heard Business School

(00:26) Meet Christopher Brown

(06:59) Surviving a suicide bombing during deployment

(10:53) The PTSD Christopher faced after returning home

(12:28) How EMDR helped Christopher stop experiencing flashbacks

(17:43) Why he first sought therapy

(20:21) Launching Growing Veterans to support vets through farming

(24:39) The financial realities of running a nonprofit

(30:13) How Christopher transitioned to private practice

(36:34) Expanding his practice to include first responders

(41:08) How Helicon is improving EMDR access and certification

(44:56) Christopher’s take on psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans

This episode is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this episode.