The Power of One

Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder and president of Give an Hour™

A journalist recently asked why I founded Give an Hour. She wanted to know what lead me to walk away from the successful clinical practice that I built to start a nonprofit organization in a sector I knew nothing about. I spoke about my father, a WWII veteran who lied about his age to join the Navy long before I was born. I talked about how he fought in the Pacific, was injured during the war, and never talked about the pain and trauma he must have experienced. I reflected on growing up during the Vietnam War in rural California and how decades later, as a mental health professional, I worked with Vietnam veterans in the community mental health system who continued to suffer as a result of invisible injuries that never healed.

But I also spoke about my desire to be an example for my two daughters--the way my father had been an example for me. I wanted to show my girls the importance of compassion and conviction, and the value of service. I wanted to show them the power of one. The journalist seemed intrigued by this concept and asked if I really believe that one person can make a difference in addressing the daunting issues that face our military and our society.