We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justin Hoover. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justin below.
Hi Justin, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience was forged in three pivotal chapters of my life. High school cross country taught me that the mind can push the body far beyond what it thinks is possible, mile after mile. The Army strengthened that lesson, demanding the grit and fortitude to face adversity and traumatic hardships head-on. Finally, The Battle Within gave me the tools to heal from those experiences and transform them into purpose, allowing me to guide others as they navigate their own path to recovery.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I serve as Executive Director of The Battle Within, a nonprofit that provides veterans and first responders with the permission to begin their journeys of healing and process trauma, and strengthen mental health. We provide clinical programs that break down the resistance to treatment, a peer support network, and a nationwide network so heroes can reclaim their purpose and thrive.
What excites me most is watching someone arrive feeling no one understands, cares, or believes they are worth it, due to the invisible wounds they carry and leave only five days later with a renewed sense of hope. Then watch as they transform that hope into change by continuing the work with a therapist from our Frontline Therapy Network. It is changing not just for them, but also for their families and communities.
As our organization continues to grow, we are launching new mental-health workshops to bring permission to take care of oneself to departments and military commands. This allows our clients to gain access to a trusted network of care much earlier in their lives, avoiding years of isolation and suffering.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities shaped my journey.
Lived experience with the veteran and first responder community lets me see the unique barriers to care and design a path they can realistically follow.
Humility to accept that every person must own their healing. We serve as mentors and guides, not saviors.
Team building—bringing together experts who share our values and commitment to serve with excellence.
My advice: do your own work first and keep doing it every day. Authenticity comes only from personal growth, and that authenticity draws like-minded people to your mission.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We are seeking companies that employ veterans or first responders and want to support their people’s mental health. After personal willingness, the second biggest barrier to care is the lack of paid time off to attend our five-day program. Without that support, employees often endure years of needless suffering and risk more severe crises—outcomes that cost far more to the individual and the organization than granting time for healing.
If your company is ready to become an ally in this effort, please contact me at [email protected]
to start the conversation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebattlewithin.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_battle_within_kc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jointhebattlewithin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-battle-within/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebattlewithin7417
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