Join us for an inspiring interview with Colonel Charlie Jenks, a 28-year military veteran. Colonel Jenks has been recovering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and found peace and healing by connecting with horses, practicing breath exercises and finding kind mentors. In this engaging conversation, we delve into the transformative power of equine therapy and the profound benefits it can have on our mental and emotional well-being.

Motivated in part by the loss of his brother, also a veteran, to suicide, Charlie Jenks discusses the non-profit organization he has created, Connecting Veterans with Horses. We learn about Charlie's ambitious goals to help as many veterans, their families and others recover from trauma and find ways to connect more deeply with the people they care about and function with greater joy and peace.

Charlie Jenks shares his personal journey of finding refuge and purpose through working with horses, highlighting how these majestic creatures can serve as powerful vehicles for healing trauma and fostering personal growth. By forming a deep bond with these animals, our guest discovered the importance of trust, empathy, and non-verbal communication in building meaningful connections.

Episode "Chapters"
0:00 Introduction
01:20 Charlie's Introduction
01:59 Charlie Jenks as a former Veteran
02:52 Charlie Jenks sharing his experience on having a PTSD - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
03:53 Questions about ourselves
05:10 Symptoms of PTSD
06:49 Charlie Jenks' healing journey
09:43 Non-profit organization - Connecting Veterans with Horses
13:24 Veterans' experiences with Meditation and Breathwork with horses
16:36 People that are Introvert and Extrovert and how they face challenges in life
19:23 Charlie Jenks sharing his path and enjoying the community he have
20:10 Margo talking about healing, and connections
24:06 Building relationships with others who can look out for you
27:02 Is it Masculine to Cry?
28:53 Most people just need a hug
31:51 Supporting the Connecting Veterans with Horses
32:57 Charlie Jenks' contact info and website of Connecting Veterans with Horses
33:57 Support and contribute to Body Aware Living's Mission to show people the practical ways to care for our health during the best and worst of times.

Guest Bio/contact info:
Charlie Jenks retired from the US Army after 28 years of active service including combat tours in Afghanistan. After struggling with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSP) Charlie discovered that meditation, breathwork, finding mentors and time in connection with horses helped him feel and function better.

In 2021 Charlie founded a non-profit organization called Connecting Veterans with Horses that provides an equine therapy program for Armed Forces Veterans, Active Duty service members and their families dealing with Post Traumatic Stress. That same year, his brother Mark, also a veteran, took his own life. Mark's death has further motivated Charlie to grow these healing programs with the goal of expanding to other locations around the country.

Contact info:
Connecting Veterans with Horses
Website:
https://connectingveteranswithhorses.com/

Email:
charlie@connectingveteranswithhorses.com

Donate to Connecting Veterans with Horses:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=6W5hL4MbvuaIDzPkcazwfSpptPAW5XaB_VkWCF4_VlxeoL7dnLaMuSZAMqXuRLWJTgyRpSZ0suNCKtUV

Social media:

Charlie Jenks on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jenkscharlie/?hl=en

Connecting Veterans