What if your pain was invisible and no one believed it was real?

This powerful episode dives deep into the lived experience of Shannon La Douce, a veteran, CrossFit coach, single mother, and licensed psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Her journey from being the only girl on all-boys hockey teams to becoming a voice for trauma-informed care is one of grit, heart, and undeniable purpose.

Raised in male-dominated spaces and shaped by high-pressure environments like collegiate athletics and active-duty military, Shannon learned early how to fight for belonging. But it wasn’t until a wounded soldier wished he had “lost a limb” instead of sustaining a traumatic brain injury that her calling became clear.

The mission: to change the way we see mental health especially the parts we can’t see.

👤 Meet Shannon La Douce
Shannon is a former NCAA athlete, Army nurse, and now a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner at Upwell Psychiatry. She specializes in trauma-informed care and holistic healing, particularly for veterans, healthcare workers, and first responders.

🔹 Key Takeaways

🔹 Invisible wounds matter
The story of a soldier with TBI changed Shannon’s career and revealed how damaging mental health stigma truly is.

🔹 Your brain is an organ
Mental health should be treated like any other system in the body without shame.

🔹 Healing is a team sport
From CrossFit gyms to virtual communities, Shannon emphasizes the power of connection in recovery.

🔹 Motherhood and mission can coexist
As a single mom, Shannon leads by example, showing her kids the power of purpose and self-care.

🔹 Burnout prevention starts with the basics
Sleep, movement, hydration, and community are non negotiables in Shannon’s toolkit.

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🔗 Upwell Psychiatry - Website

🔗 Connect with Shannon - Website

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