In this month’s Community Connection, we’re proud to spotlight Charlton Clarke, who’s been with Family Care Center since 2020. Charlton has an inspiring journey, both in his career and personal life. Starting as Clinic Director at the Circle clinic, he grew into the Regional Director for South Denver and has recently taken on the role of Vice President, Colorado Clinical Operations.
A military connection and a purpose-driven career
Charlton’s career in therapy spans nearly 20 years and has been influenced by a heart for the military. With several family members serving in the military, including a great uncle who has received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award, Charlton has a deep respect for those who serve. He explains, “From a young age, I saw military members as heroes. I’ve always admired their grit, discipline and mindset.”
Throughout his years as a therapist, Charlton developed a deep understanding of the emotional toll war takes on Veterans, even if they aren’t physically injured. “War impacts people emotionally and mentally in ways that can’t be avoided,” he says.
Charlton has made it his mission to help Veterans acknowledge they aren’t alone in their struggles. He is particularly passionate about his work with retired Special Forces members, many of whom grapple with their traumatic experiences or symptoms of depression, hypervigilance and anxiety.
Helping Veterans heal
Charlton shares a powerful story about a combat veteran from Iraq who had lived with the emotional weight of PTSD for years. “We worked together using EMDR, and while the memories didn’t go away, he began to feel relief, less hypervigilant and less anxious,” said Charlton. “Seeing the load lifted from his shoulders was a profound experience.”
For Charlton, helping Veterans recover from trauma gives him tremendous purpose. “They fought for us, and now we have the opportunity to fight for them,” he says. He believes it’s an honor when Veterans trust him with their stories, a level of vulnerability that is incredibly rare, especially for those who have spent years in combat.
Partnering with All Secure
Charlton’s connection with All Secure, a nonprofit organization founded by Tom and Jen Satterly, was born from a podcast in which Tom, a retired Delta Force command sergeant major, shared his own struggles with addiction and mental health and his journey to recovery. Tom’s vulnerability deeply moved Charlton, who saw parallels with many of his clients.
Family Care Center sponsored the All Secure Homefront event last month, which Charlton attended and represented our organization’s support for Special Forces Veterans and their families.
“It’s rare to see that level of vulnerability from people who have been trained to be the best of the best,” said Charlton. “They normalized their struggles, discussed moral injuries and shared how they rebuilt their marriages and lives. It was a reminder that even warriors can struggle, but there’s hope for recovery.”
The weekend event also included military spouses, who had the opportunity to connect with other partners facing similar challenges. “Seeing military spouses come together and share their stories was incredibly powerful,” Charlton added. “They experience their own trauma, often carrying the emotional weight of their partner’s struggles. The event provided a supportive space for them to heal and grow together.”
A lasting impact
Whether working with a Special Forces Veteran or a teenager facing emotional struggles, Charlton finds the most rewarding part of his job to be bringing order to the chaos his clients face. He helps them understand their experiences, normalize their emotions and build solutions that show they aren’t alone.
Charlton’s drive to make a difference undoubtedly inspires the providers and support staff around him. He reminds all of us that while the impact of trauma is inevitable, the path to recovery is always within reach.
