Royal Rock Wellness

🎉 End of Year Message to the Royal Rock Community | Thank You for 800+ Strong! 🇺🇸

Family,

I had every intention of releasing an end-of-year video—but as many of you know, sometimes duty calls before the camera does. There were responsibilities that required my full attention, and I chose to honor those first.

That said, I could not let the year close without saying thank you.

Because of you—your subscribing, liking, sharing, commenting, and engaging—this channel has grown to 800+ subscribers and counting. That growth didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of your unwavering commitment to learning, asking questions, and holding space for one another as veterans and family members navigating the VA system together.

I am deeply grateful.

🚀 What’s Coming in the New Year (This Is Just the Beginning)

In the year ahead, you can expect even more top-tier VA claims education, grounded in:

CFR and M21-1 guidance

Evidence strategy and lay statement development

Ethical, veteran-first information you can trust

👑 NEW: Channel Memberships Launching Soon

I’m excited to introduce two membership levels designed to support you more directly:

🏰 Royal City
👑 Royal Court

Membership benefits include:

📬 Weekly Members-Only Newsletter

💬 Private chats and members-only lives

📘 Bi-Weekly VA Claim Submission Strategy PDFs & Playbooks

🕒 One FREE 45-Minute VA Claim Review & Consultation

This is about equipping you—not exploiting you.

🎁 Free Resources (Available Now)

📘 The 3-Stage VA Claim Playbook
👉 drive.google.com/file/d/1JONzB2tXX7qke76A-ADtJnLpI…

🧠 Mental Status Examination (MSE) Assessment Decision Tree
👉 drive.google.com/file/d/18aHmXTlPm3_BXlM6sMHQEHimJ…

🎆 Happy New Year

As we step into the new year, I’m excited—not just about content—but about what we can build together as a community rooted in integrity, wisdom, and service.

Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for being part of Royal Rock.

Live Royally. Live Well.

— Craig

6 days ago | [YT] | 3

Royal Rock Wellness

Hey Vets and Families,

Some extenuating circumstances prevented me from posting a video today for our "30 VA Claims in 30 Days" series. Therefore, I will post two videos tomorrow.

Thank everyone for your support of the channel. It is extremely encouraging.

See you all tomorrow...Live royally, and live well...


Craig

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

Royal Rock Wellness

🎖️ Veterans Day Live Stream: Real Answers. Real Strategies. Real Support.

📅 Tuesday, November 11, 2025
🕖 7:00 PM CST (Central Standard Time)
📍 Live on YouTube @ Royal Rock Counseling & Consulting

🇺🇸 Event Overview
This Veterans Day, join Craig from Royal Rock Counseling & Consulting for a LIVE Q&A Session dedicated to helping veterans and their families navigate the VA Disability Claim process with truth, strategy, and confidence.

This special event is positioned in the middle of the “30 VA Claims in 30 Days” video series — where each day, Craig breaks down a different VA condition, explains how the VA rates it, and shares evidence-based strategies to strengthen your claim.

Now, it’s YOUR turn to ask questions, get clarity, and walk away with practical tools you can use immediately.

💬 What You’ll Learn During the Live Stream:

✅ The truth about current VA disability reform and how it impacts your benefits
✅ How to prepare, position, and persevere through your claim or appeal
✅ What evidence carries the most weight for PTSD, MST, and physical conditions
✅ How to document effectively for nexus letters, C&P exams, and lay statements
✅ Live insights from the VA Senate Hearing and recent policy updates
✅ How to stay mentally, emotionally, and spiritually grounded while waiting for decisions

💥 Free Downloads for Attendees:
📘 3-Stage VA Claim Playbook (PDF) — Your roadmap for filing and supporting your claim
🧠 Mental Status Exam Assessment Decision Tree — Understand what mental health evaluators look for in your claim

Both resources are designed to help you file smarter, prepare stronger, and stay ready for success.

🔔 How to Join:

Subscribe to the Royal Rock Counseling & Consulting YouTube Channel
Turn on notifications so you don’t miss the live event reminder
Comment your questions in advance or bring them to the live chat

🎥 Livestream Link: lnkd.in/daYGv9-8

💬 Why This Matters:
Veterans deserve clarity, fairness, and dignity in how their service-connected disabilities are recognized and compensated.

Craig’s mission is to equip veterans to live with confidence, connection, and purpose — no matter how the VA system changes.

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Royal Rock Wellness

🎖️ 30 VA Claims in 30 Days + Veterans Day Live Stream!

Starting November 1st, I’m breaking down 30 VA Disability Claims in 30 Days — one every day. Each video will help you understand how the VA evaluates your condition, what evidence you need, and how to build a winning strategy.

Then, join me LIVE on Veterans Day (Nov 11) for a full Q&A — I’ll be answering YOUR VA claim questions in real time!

💥 Free Downloads:

3-Stage VA Claim Playbook (PDF)

Mental Status Exam Assessment Decision Tree

These two resources are all you need to confidently file and support your claim.

🔔 Hit Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a single episode.

#VAClaims #VeteransDay #VeteranBenefits #PTSDClaims #VeteranSupport #VeteranCommunity #RoyalRockCounseling

2 months ago | [YT] | 4

Royal Rock Wellness

🚨 We Hit 500 Subscribers! Thank You 🚨

Veterans & Families — THANK YOU! 🙏 Royal Rock just hit 500 subscribers, and I couldn’t have done this without your support. Every like, share, and comment helps us reach more veterans who need guidance, hope, and strategies to live royally and live well.

To celebrate, I’m making available 14 FREE VA Claim Strategy PDFs — each one breaks down a different part of the VA claims process and includes an appendix with strategies to help you file a winnable claim.

💡 All you need to do: Head to any of my YouTube videos, drop the applicable keyword in the comments (see list below), and I’ll reply with your free PDF Playbook.

📌 Keywords:

OVER 55 → VA Claims Over 55

EVIDENCE → VA Claim Evidence

DUE PROCESS → VA Due Process

DECISION → VA Decision Letter

SUBMIT → Submitting Your VA Claim

FILE → Filing Your Claim the Right Way

NARRATIVE → Narrative Lay Statement

DESCRIPTIVE → Descriptive Lay Statement

HISTORICAL → Historical Lay Statement

BUDDY → Buddy Statement

CONTRAST → Before vs After Technique

FUNCTIONAL → Functional Impact Statement

PERSUASIVE → Persuasive Writing Style

CLAIMS 101 → VA Disability Claims 101

🎙 And we’re just getting started — much more content is coming to help you reclaim purpose, strengthen relationships, and thrive in civilian life.

👉 If this content helps you, you can also support more videos here: buymeacoffee.com/cjcarlton0v

4 months ago | [YT] | 3

Royal Rock Wellness

Notes from the Client Chronicles




They first came into my office for help with intimacy and communication.

Pleasant. Curious. Open.


They shared how they met, what drew them together, and how long they’d been committed to one another.


Then I asked a seemingly simple question: “How do you spend your evenings together?”

The wife answered:

"Oh, I usually watch TV in the house… and he’s in the garage."


I turned to the husband:

“What happens in the garage?”

“That’s where I smoke weed.”

“How often?”

“Every day. I’m addicted. I can’t go an hour without it.”


The tears followed.

The desire for help became clear.

The referral was initiated.


But something powerful happened in that moment:

He felt accepted, seen, free of judgment, and—for the first time in a while—hopeful.


Whether couples use substances together or one uses alone, marital satisfaction declines significantly in the first few years of marriage (Homish et al., 2007). That disconnection can become a breeding ground for unhealthy coping.


As a therapist grounded in Attachment Theory and using Emotionally Focused Therapy, I always look beneath the surface.


By understanding the underlying emotional needs that can lead to these coping strategies, we can shift our focus from the symptom to building a more secure and healing connection.


Regardless of our chosen theoretical orientation, our most vital skill is learning to look underneath the surface. Moving beyond the presenting problem to uncover the root causes empowers us to bring about actual change and transformation in our clients. This is the heart of our work.


I love to share insights that I’m learning from the people I serve. Check out my YouTube channel for weekly videos on counseling, relationships, and veteran mental health:

youtube.com/@RRCC-cjc


Homish, G. G., Leonard, K. E., & Cornelius, J. R. (2007). Illicit drug use and marital satisfaction. Addictive Behaviors, 33(2), 279-291. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2007.09.015


#CouplesTherapy #AttachmentTheory #EmotionallyFocusedTherapy #SubstanceUseRecovery #ClientChronicles #MentalHealthAwareness #TherapistLife #VeteransMentalHealth #LiveRoyallyLiveWell

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

Royal Rock Wellness

Have you ever struggled to talk about mental health with your family due to differences in belief, culture, or faith?

Mental health conversations can be tough—especially when stigma, generational gaps, or spiritual misunderstandings get in the way. In my latest video, I share 5 practical tips to help you lead these conversations with confidence and compassion.

👇 Vote below and let’s open this conversation together:

Poll Options:

Yes – It’s been really difficult

Somewhat – I’ve had mixed results

No – My family is very open

I haven’t tried yet

💬 Feel free to share your story in the comments—what’s helped you most?
🎥 Watch the full video here 👉 https://youtu.be/h1aGvkX_GXo
#MentalHealthAwareness #BreakTheStigma #ChristianCounseling #VeteranWellness #FamilyHealing #RoyalRockCounseling

6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Royal Rock Wellness

Are you a veteran struggling with life after service?
Feeling stuck, stressed, or unsure how to move forward?
Live Royally, Live Well is an 8-week virtual coaching program designed just for you.
We tackle the seven biggest challenges veterans face—from PTSD and emotional wellness to career transition, financial stability, and navigating VA benefits.

Each week, you’ll get:
✅ Live virtual coaching
✅ Action-focused worksheets
✅ Limited personal support
✅ And access to our private veteran community

Plus, we’ve got your back with 90 days of bonus Q&A check-ins—free.

Whether you're fresh out or years removed from service, this program will help you regain purpose, build confidence, and thrive in civilian life.

It’s time to take back control.

🎯 Enroll now and start living with resilience, purpose, and power.

Live Royally. Live Well.

Contact me at craigc@royalrockllc.com for more information.

7 months ago | [YT] | 3