Doc Springer speaking

The story of why veterans and first responders die by suicide is often NOT the same as the story of why civilians die by suicide.  If we continue to use approaches developed for civilians, we will not get real traction in preventing veteran and first responder suicide.

This talk presents a totally novel approach – applying a tactical framework that empowers service members, veterans and those who support them with a new understanding for how to prevent suicide. This talk helps us understand the greatest vulnerability of society’s bravest citizens and describes strategies that have the greatest potential to keep our veterans and first responders in the fight. 

What can healers who treat warriors do to build trust and overcome treatment-related stigma?  This keynote training will provide a wealth of new insights to help mental health providers support patients who are current or prior military servicemembers. 

Based on her unique role as a civilian psychologist who has become a trusted 'Doc,' Dr. Shauna Springer explains the trust deficit between warriors and mental health treatment providers, illustrates key differences between the values that underlie military training and the values that drive growth in therapy, and provides practical ways for all providers to build the kind of trust that promotes effective outcomes in therapy.  

Some people see fighting as a sign of fundamental incompatibilities. They’re right. We’re all incompatible on some levels, and it’s delusional to think otherwise.

In fact, you can take this as a rule of nature: You are never as compatible as you think you are at the start of any new relationship.

Many couples avoid conflict to prolong the “cocaine rush phase” of new love or to “keep the peace” in an existing relationship. This is a mistake. We need to fight. 

This presentation explains: 

· What conflict can teach us that we would not know otherwise

· How avoiding conflict will endanger our relationships over time

· How conflict is critical for building trust and strengthening our relationships  

At one time in history, couples’ therapists gave foam bats to couples in conflict and encouraged them to “release their anger.” Interestingly, the same tactic is used in the Marine Corps to train Marines to become aggressive. 

If “venting” aggression only makes us more aggressive, how can we fight without damaging those we love? 

How to Have a GOOD Fight addresses: 

· Key distinctions between pre-meditated and reactive aggression 

· A clear description of what distinguishes aggressive and assertive behavior

· Insights on “rage” and “emotional flooding”

· Practical, effective strategies for gaining emotional self-mastery that have worked for both civilian and veteran couples 

The rate of divorce in America is 50% for first marriages. This does not mean that you have a 50% chance of divorce. Your odds might be much higher - or lower – than 50% depending on a number of key factors.

What can we learn from a massive sample of women who have a 6% divorce rate? 

This talk describes results of the Lifestyle Poll (Lifestyle Poll link) and draws from several of my most popular articles which have each been read by several hundred thousand people. 

 This talk presents and explores these three truths:

 1) Soulmates as most of us think of the term do not exist.

 2) People who love each other dearly for a lifetime were never soulmates to begin with.

 3) It is possible however to become your partner’s  soulmate, if you understand how we CONNECT in long-lasting love partnerships.

Learning to love well is a skill that can be developed with insight and practice. 

This presentation focuses on 6 of the best ideas for how to love your partner in a way that will make you irreplaceable and precious to him or her.  

This offering is geared towards committed couples, but anyone with an interest in learning how to sustain a healthy long-term committed relationship can benefit.

Think about the happiest long-term couple you know. 

Like all similarly satisfied couples, they went through three distinct relationship phases. 

This talk provides an over-arching model for the development of successful relationships, identifying key hallmarks of each phase. 

Doc Springer also de-bunks the notion of “soulmates” while describing how two partners can become each other’s “one in a billion” perfect match. 

This is a mentally stimulating talk that gives a birds-eye view on the life course of happy marriage.