“I’m in a good place now”: A case study of empowerment of a combat veteran engaged in peer-led disaster relief

Abstract: This qualitative single case study examines the lived experience of empowerment of a combat veteran with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who engages in volunteer, peer-led disaster response activities with Team Rubicon (TR), a nongovernmental organization. Team Rubicon members utilize unique skill sets of both military veterans and civilian first responders to rapidly deploy response teams to domestic and global emergencies. Minimal research to date disseminates experiences of empowerment among combat veterans. The single case study methodological approach offers a rich descriptive and contextual analysis for exploring implications for mental health stigma reduction in combat veterans through an empowerment lens. The study serves to: provide a preliminary foundation for continued theory building of empowerment in combat veterans through peer-led disaster relief settings, expand research, and offer practical implications for social workers in stigma reduction efforts.