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WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us
Warrior brings the worlds of the warrior and those they protect together to shine light on things that many of us thought we understood.
Trust
Stigma
Firearms
The Imploding Mind
Connection
Dr. Shauna Springer is a nationally recognized expert on initiatives that benefit the military community. Known as "Doc Springer", she is a trusted adviser for a vast network of veterans, military families and fellow thought leaders. She has helped thousands of veterans and their partners thrive after military service, supporting warriors in reconnecting with their tribe, strengthen their relationships, and build lives driven by their values.
In Warrior, Shauna offers a glimpse how our bravest citizens may struggle and draws from the experiences of our warfighters to help us understand true courage and the bonds of love that keep all of us in the fight.
Trust
Stigma
Firearms
The Imploding Mind
Connection
Dr. Shauna Springer is a nationally recognized expert on initiatives that benefit the military community. Known as "Doc Springer", she is a trusted adviser for a vast network of veterans, military families and fellow thought leaders. She has helped thousands of veterans and their partners thrive after military service, supporting warriors in reconnecting with their tribe, strengthen their relationships, and build lives driven by their values.
In Warrior, Shauna offers a glimpse how our bravest citizens may struggle and draws from the experiences of our warfighters to help us understand true courage and the bonds of love that keep all of us in the fight.
- GenresMilitary Fiction
318 pages, Paperback
Published May 10, 2021
29 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 19, 2020
As a retired Marine of nearly 30-years of service, the well roundedness of WARRIOR is heartfelt – heartfelt because many other books have fictional situations or examples to support one’s book; Doc Springer does not. She uses real people and real situations throughout her writing that substantiates the outcome. Simply put, WARRIOR is chock-full of empirical examples and not theoretical. This book is real.
What she shares has broad implications, not just for warriors, but for human mental wellness in general. I remember thinking while reading, “It’s about time someone recognizes and addresses suicide in a broader forum than the veteran community.” Throughout the book, Doc Springer mentions veterans, first responders, “and perhaps people in general” with regard to her life’s work. What the Doc espouses is not solely a veteran issue. An additional point I am compelled to share is the relevance of WARRIOR in the corporate environment. When taken seriously and applied correctly, this book has direct and positive outcomes; this I have proven more than once in my ten years in corporate work since my retirement from the Marine Corps.
Along with its nearly immediate application, please recognize the three living generations of individuals Doc Springer has represented in the Statement of Support. These individuals used words and phrases not commonly put in a sentence by Warriors who are describing civilians; words such as “humility,” “ingenious,” and “passion.” Phrases such as “…embedded her life…” and “…Shauna gets it” are just a couple of impactful phrases used to describe her. When Army veteran Mr. Burchik comments, “Her strategies for coping with these feelings…provide hope for both veterans and their families,” he is center mass on the target. Again, this is not solely a veteran issue; families are impacted each day and can gain from Doc Springer’s writing in WARRIOR.
At the end of each chapter, there is a section labeled Universal Principles I Learned from Working with Warriors. I found these sections not only worthy of being stand-alone sections, but also could serve as a continual independent study by both the Warrior, their family members, and for corporate leaders. Doc Springer’s lifelong passion serving this nation’s Warrior population and their families is not a one and done service. Her commitment to Warriors and their families throughout the book is repeated and on display frequently. Along with Principles I Learned…, the reader will also find Questions for Reflection and Application at the completion of each chapter that serves equally in complementing the Warrior, their families, and anyone looking for this level of help or personal self-development.
Probably the most enlightening part of WARRIOR for me has been the Glossary of Terms and Phrases We May Need to Rethink. With the exception of three terms, I have personally struggled with the remaining terms for decades. In my experience while serving in the corporate environment, the word “resilient” or “resilience” is nearly as common as “thank you.” When Doc Springer mentions how these two words could be “unintentionally creating a split,” that is something I could never really put into context until reading this book. WARRIOR has helped me understand a different view of unintended consequences and downstream effects in the corporate environment I find myself these days. I would like to think the corporate culture is not being malicious. Perhaps with a read of this book by corporate managers and leaders on all levels, might we lead ourselves in a different direction given the insights in WARRIOR?
There is a popular quote allegedly by Mark Twain that states, “The two most important days in you life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Dr. Shauna Springer has found her why. With two decades of her work presented in WARRIOR, she has helped many find a better Friday than how their Monday started. WARRIOR may bring you closer to your why or even refine your why if you are already there. Should you be inclined, read and study this book and help a Warrior and their family; lead yourself into a deeper level of insight, for your own wellness and to promote mental wellness in those you influence; Doc Springer has earned my trust and she “gets it.”
What she shares has broad implications, not just for warriors, but for human mental wellness in general. I remember thinking while reading, “It’s about time someone recognizes and addresses suicide in a broader forum than the veteran community.” Throughout the book, Doc Springer mentions veterans, first responders, “and perhaps people in general” with regard to her life’s work. What the Doc espouses is not solely a veteran issue. An additional point I am compelled to share is the relevance of WARRIOR in the corporate environment. When taken seriously and applied correctly, this book has direct and positive outcomes; this I have proven more than once in my ten years in corporate work since my retirement from the Marine Corps.
Along with its nearly immediate application, please recognize the three living generations of individuals Doc Springer has represented in the Statement of Support. These individuals used words and phrases not commonly put in a sentence by Warriors who are describing civilians; words such as “humility,” “ingenious,” and “passion.” Phrases such as “…embedded her life…” and “…Shauna gets it” are just a couple of impactful phrases used to describe her. When Army veteran Mr. Burchik comments, “Her strategies for coping with these feelings…provide hope for both veterans and their families,” he is center mass on the target. Again, this is not solely a veteran issue; families are impacted each day and can gain from Doc Springer’s writing in WARRIOR.
At the end of each chapter, there is a section labeled Universal Principles I Learned from Working with Warriors. I found these sections not only worthy of being stand-alone sections, but also could serve as a continual independent study by both the Warrior, their family members, and for corporate leaders. Doc Springer’s lifelong passion serving this nation’s Warrior population and their families is not a one and done service. Her commitment to Warriors and their families throughout the book is repeated and on display frequently. Along with Principles I Learned…, the reader will also find Questions for Reflection and Application at the completion of each chapter that serves equally in complementing the Warrior, their families, and anyone looking for this level of help or personal self-development.
Probably the most enlightening part of WARRIOR for me has been the Glossary of Terms and Phrases We May Need to Rethink. With the exception of three terms, I have personally struggled with the remaining terms for decades. In my experience while serving in the corporate environment, the word “resilient” or “resilience” is nearly as common as “thank you.” When Doc Springer mentions how these two words could be “unintentionally creating a split,” that is something I could never really put into context until reading this book. WARRIOR has helped me understand a different view of unintended consequences and downstream effects in the corporate environment I find myself these days. I would like to think the corporate culture is not being malicious. Perhaps with a read of this book by corporate managers and leaders on all levels, might we lead ourselves in a different direction given the insights in WARRIOR?
There is a popular quote allegedly by Mark Twain that states, “The two most important days in you life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Dr. Shauna Springer has found her why. With two decades of her work presented in WARRIOR, she has helped many find a better Friday than how their Monday started. WARRIOR may bring you closer to your why or even refine your why if you are already there. Should you be inclined, read and study this book and help a Warrior and their family; lead yourself into a deeper level of insight, for your own wellness and to promote mental wellness in those you influence; Doc Springer has earned my trust and she “gets it.”
July 14, 2020
This is a wonderful and insightful book and a must read for anyone working with our returning Warriors. I would recommend this important resource not only for professional counselors and veterans service officers, but for the Warriors themselves, as well as their family members. Through Doc Springer's extensive work with our returning Vets, she has been able to gain their trust, and through this trust, she has helped those veterans to understand their feelings, to cope, and ultimately to help heal themselves. After the Vietnam War, I worked as a Veterans Service Officer and a Vietnam Veterans Counselor. I would have welcomed to have this important work at my disposal.
November 26, 2020
Doc Springer speaks right to the heart of the true pain that so many struggling with PTSD, suicidal ideation, and trauma are facing. Having battled suicidal ideation myself and having experience working with those who are looking for ways to find life on the other side, I highly recommend that you read this book. It will help you understand what so many don't understand about trauma, moral injury, survivor's guilt, and much more. She truly does help us understand how we can better "support those who protect us." Thanks, Doc Springer!
March 18, 2021
I read this book as part of a book club through our Valor ERG at work. We had 2 discussions with Doc Springer and she was really great about explaining her topics in more depth as well as providing discussion. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in mental health, veteran health or military to civilian transitions.
February 7, 2023
Incredible thorough book presenting a whole new insight for our Veterans, Warriors. I never expected to be drawn in but it's messages and stories gave validation to so much in my own personal journey it is now a must read for me to share with others who work with Veterans and anyone with a passion to help or understand more. The book welcomes you to explore it's tried and true wisdom. It challenges you to take that hard inventory of yourself and what your purpose is, if you truly wish to help.
It gave me the understanding of TRIBE and how vital it is to a Warrior's circle. It made me demand more of myself. Most importantly I knew this book mattered to a man who is a highly decorated combat Veteran I read it eventually simply because he recommended it, I wished it hadn't taken me so long. Every healthcare giver/ VA provider should be mandated to read it and share it's message. It can easily be included in any university reading for psychology/sociology courses.
It gave me the understanding of TRIBE and how vital it is to a Warrior's circle. It made me demand more of myself. Most importantly I knew this book mattered to a man who is a highly decorated combat Veteran I read it eventually simply because he recommended it, I wished it hadn't taken me so long. Every healthcare giver/ VA provider should be mandated to read it and share it's message. It can easily be included in any university reading for psychology/sociology courses.
June 1, 2023
Thoughtful and analytically astute using skills learned by all military personnel to help themselves heal. Doc Springer brings to light some really simple principles to engage with veterans, promote trust and communication, and ultimately healing. I look forward to reading other works by this author.
I have an MA in Military Psychology so this work really resonated with me and everything I learned from my time in grad school with all of my instructors being active militarily or veterans. Whilst listening to this audiobook, I found myself metaphorically slapping my head thinking why weren’t these simple techniques thought of sooner by actual Military Psychologists who served in the military. I realise that sometimes mental health counselling can be more of a triage situation than preventative care. But what if the military were to use the mental training and discipline for both combat and preventative mental health care?
I have an MA in Military Psychology so this work really resonated with me and everything I learned from my time in grad school with all of my instructors being active militarily or veterans. Whilst listening to this audiobook, I found myself metaphorically slapping my head thinking why weren’t these simple techniques thought of sooner by actual Military Psychologists who served in the military. I realise that sometimes mental health counselling can be more of a triage situation than preventative care. But what if the military were to use the mental training and discipline for both combat and preventative mental health care?
November 10, 2025
This book is a crucial and compassionate guide for anyone seeking to understand the challenges faced by service members, first responders, and those around them. Springer draws on her extensive experience to examine the role of trust, stigma, and the deep bonds formed in “warrior tribes,” showing how these forces impact mental health, identity, and relationships. She offers practical insights and real‑world stories (rather than abstract theory) that illuminate how people who protect others often struggle to find support themselves. Thoughtful, honest, and grounded, Warrior doesn’t just raise awareness—it gives the reader tools to make a difference.
October 12, 2020
Have extra time to read while home during the pandemic. Terrible book not worth your money. Glad it was loaned to me to read, paying nothing. The author comes off as a know it all and an ego that everyone thinks she's an expert. She has at the most 8 yrs experience in govt, a place that cant fire people. I worked with several from the VA. Most of the popular Doctors and counselors don't find a need to write a book. I wonder how many people she 'helped' without taking advantage of them.
March 1, 2022
Helpful resource
July 26, 2021
I absolutely love and appreciate this book. Doctor Shauna Springer (AKA “DOC” Springer) is on point with so much and it resonates with me on so many different levels. I feel as this this book was written just for me. And I’m only on chapter 7. I have the audio version from audible to listen to as I read The hardcopy. It’s an amazing read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews