Healing Veteran Trauma Through Service Dogs with Ryan Woodruff

Can the warrior mindset that keeps you alive in combat… …be the thing that holds you back once you're home? In this episode of Point of Impact, Aaron Hale sits down with Ryan Woodruff, Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Clear Path for Veterans, to explore the unseen battles veterans face after the uniform comes off and what real healing actually requires. Ryan shares his journey from infantryman in Iraq to struggling civilian and how service dogs became a pathway back to empathy, connection, and humanity. Together, they unpack the human-animal bond, the ripple effects of trauma, and why growth often comes through pressure, honesty, and being met where you are. It's an honest look at healing and what it really takes to move forward, especially for veterans finding their way back to normalcy. 0:00 Intro 1:09 Meet Ryan Woodruff and Clear Path for Veterans 6:01 Finding purpose through service to other veterans 11:46 Dogs can carry our pain 14:27 How service dogs restore empathy and human connection 25:07 Training dogs for environmental resilience 28:05 How service dogs interrupt anxiety and panic 38:03 Why veterans downplay their own trauma 45:09 Authenticity and meeting veterans where they are 55:56 Countdown to Impact Resources Mentioned: Clear Path for Veterans: https://clearpath4vets.org  Assistance Dogs International (ADI) https://assistancedogsinternational.org/  📚 Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl https://amzn.to/4q6XbN2  📚 Gates of Fire — Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/44qMooI  📚 Can't Hurt Me — David Goggins https://amzn.to/4s1KapE  📚 Wild at Heart — John Eldredge https://amzn.to/4pzWnjU  📚 12 Rules for Life — Jordan Peterson https://amzn.to/4pE9H6J  Disclosure: Some of the links in these show notes are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).