Episode #33
Healing from Trauma Through Faith: Vietnam Veteran Keith Cole on PTSD, Grief & Recovery.
What happens when you spend decades carrying grief, trauma, responsibility, and pain without ever truly learning how to process it? In this episode of Walk With Me Conversations , Stephanie sits down with author, speaker, and Marine Corps combat veteran Keith Cole for a deeply personal conversation about survival, faith, healing, and the courage it takes to finally face the things we have carried for far too long. Keith shares how the death of his father during his senior year of high school changed the direction of his life and eventually led him to join the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. His service included combat in Vietnam, multiple injuries, and later the difficult responsibility of notifying families when a Marine had been killed or wounded in action. After returning home, Keith continued to push forward—becoming guardian to his younger siblings, attending college, becoming a CPA, building a career, and creating a life that looked successful from the outside. But the grief and trauma he had set aside never truly disappeared. Over time, emotional numbness, exhaustion, nightmares, and alcohol became signs that what had been buried still needed to be addressed. Keith eventually reached a breaking point that became a turning point. He cried out to God for help and began writing about his experiences. That writing became part of his healing process and eventually inspired a fictionalized story drawn from his own memories, pain, and redemption. Through that process, Keith also developed what he calls PRAISER, God's Recovery Plan , a scripture-based recovery practice designed to support people navigating trauma, severe stress, and the challenges of everyday life. In this conversation, Stephanie and Keith explore why avoiding pain is not the same as healing from it, why trauma does not have to come from combat to be real, and why asking for help is an act of strength—not weakness. Keith leaves listeners with an important reminder: whatever you are carrying, you do not have to carry it alone. Support may come through trusted friends or family, clergy, a therapist, or another person willing and able to walk beside you. In This Episode How grief changed the direction of Keith's life Serving as a Marine during the Vietnam War Surviving combat and multiple injuries The emotional toll of notifying families of military casualties What happens when trauma is continually pushed aside Alcohol and avoidance as coping mechanisms Reaching a point of surrender and asking for help How writing became part of Keith's healing The connection between faith, reflection, and recovery Why healing requires active participation Why strength includes being willing to talk about pain The importance of reaching out instead of struggling alone Connect with Keith Cole Learn more about Keith, his speaking, book, workbook, and recovery resources at: Recovery by Faith: recoverybyfaith.com Email: keith@recoverybyfaith.com Keith is also available to speak with churches, veterans' groups, and other organizations where his message may be helpful. Continue the Conversation If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or reminded you of someone who may need to hear Keith's message, share it with them. For more conversations about healing, resilience, personal growth, and learning how to walk through the difficult parts of life with greater awareness and intention, visit: WalkWithMeConversations.Com Listen to more episodes, explore additional resources, and continue walking with us—one conversation at a time. To book a private session with Stephanie: https://calendly.com/stephanie-bloom5280 My favorite guests book through PodMatch: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/stephaniebloom We couldn't do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show: CashApp- https://cash.app/$WalkWithMeSteph Venmo- https://venmo/StephanieBloom5280 Click here to purchase my book on Amazon Purchase the supplements you already use at a discount here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/roottobloom
