Healing in the Wild: Dr. Carter Check on Moral Injury, Outdoor Therapy, and Why Writing His Story Changed Everything

In this episode of the Smart Publishing Impact Series, host Renée Lautermilch sits down with newly published bestselling author Dr. Carter Check to talk about his debut book, Healing in the Wild: Overcoming Trauma Through Outdoor Therapy.

If you’ve ever wondered how someone turns invisible pain into powerful storytelling—or how writing a memoir can become its own form of therapy—this conversation will hit home.

Meet the Man Behind the Mission

Dr. Carter Check is a U.S. Army veteran, clinical chaplain, healthcare ethicist, and suicide prevention strategist who has spent over a decade helping veterans and first responders navigate deep emotional wounds. He’s also the founder of Hunt Therapy, a nonprofit that uses nature, ritual, and storytelling to companion people through trauma and grief.

But before he was any of those things, Carter was someone struggling to name the pain he carried.

“I didn’t write this from a platform,” he says. “I wrote it from a tree stand, a riverbank, a place of real pain.”

What Is Moral Injury—and Why Should We Talk About It?

Unlike PTSD, which is often clinical and event-based, moral injury is deeply personal and hard to define. It’s what happens when you witness or participate in something that violates your sense of right and wrong. For Carter, it started during his military service, when a self-defense altercation led to criminal charges—and a lifelong sense of betrayal from the very system he swore to serve.

“Moral injury isn’t a disorder. It’s a sign that something sacred inside you was violated,” he explains.

Throughout the episode, Carter shares the difference between trauma and moral injury—and how most systems offer symptom relief, not soul restoration.

Why He Took the Story Outdoors

The wild plays a starring role in Healing in the Wild. And that’s no accident.

Carter’s approach—what he calls “upstream moral care”—is rooted in nature, ritual, and sacred storytelling. He believes the wilderness doesn’t rush healing; it holds space for it. He even wrote seven chapters of his book during a bear hunting trip with his son.

“The wild became my classroom,” Carter says. “It’s the one place that doesn’t demand you be okay. It just asks you to show up.”

His nonprofit, Hunt Therapy, now companions people through grief and trauma using outdoor immersion, not just as a retreat—but as ritual.

A Book for the Hollow and the Hoping

Healing in the Wild isn’t just for veterans or first responders. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt hollow, betrayed, or stuck between who they were and who they’re trying to become. Whether you’ve lost someone, questioned your faith, or just need help finding solid ground, this book was written with you in mind.

“You don’t have to wear a uniform to carry a wound that doesn’t bleed,” Carter says.

The book is a guide—not a how-to, but a companion. Each chapter ends with real-life tools, outdoor rituals, and invitations for reflection. It’s part memoir, part field guide, and 100% heart.

A Mindfulness Practice from the Book

During the episode, Carter walks listeners through a powerful (and simple) grounding practice:

• Grab a pen.

• Hold it between your thumb and forefinger.

• Breathe deeply while feeling the texture and movement of the pen.

• Let it anchor you in the moment.

Why a pen? Because you’re the one writing your story.

“As long as you’re holding the pen, you get to decide how your story ends.”

A Final Word for Anyone Still Carrying Pain

This episode isn’t just for aspiring authors—it’s for anyone looking to name what hurts and find hope in the process.

“You’re not broken. You’re just carrying something heavy,” Carter reminds us. “And the wild is big enough to help you set it down.”

Whether you’re on a healing journey or writing your first book—or both—this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to do it alone.

Connect with Dr. Carter Check

📖 Grab the Book: Healing in the Wild
🌲 Learn more about Hunt Therapy: www.drcartercheck.com
📍 Located in Tulsa, OK? Visit Dr. Check through the VA Eastern Oklahoma suicide prevention team.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode: Smart Publishing Impact Series – “Real Talk with Real Healing”