Ronnie Shumard, Special Projects Operation, JLC-FL
After serving over 8 years on active duty in the U.S. Army with multiple deployments, my transition to civilian life presented unexpected challenges. Despite successfully advancing in both the steel industry and the oil and gas sector, I battled persistent PTSD, anxiety, and occasional episodes of rage and depression.
My personal situation deteriorated when several life events converged: my oldest son deployed to Afghanistan, my wife of 30 years experienced menopause, and I required back surgery. These compounding circumstances ultimately led to the dissolution of my three-decade marriage. The combination of pain medications and increasing alcohol consumption created a dangerous spiral, pushing me toward self-destructive behaviors and strained relationships with my sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.
The Turning Point
My path to recovery began through the intervention of three pivotal individuals: Dirk Harkins, a Peer Mentor from JLC Services; my ex-wife Tami; and Darla Hoagland. They educated me about treatment options backed by substantial clinical data. Though initially skeptical, I eventually enrolled in the eTMS program at Perry Behavioral Health on December 1, 2022.
The results were transformative. By the second week of treatment, I experienced dramatic improvements in my condition, feeling better than I had in years. After completing the program at the end of December, I volunteered at the clinic through March 2023 before accepting an invitation to join the team as a transcranial magnetic stimulation technician. Following specialized education and training, I worked at the New Lexington, Ohio clinic through July 2023.
Expansion and Growth
August 2023 marked the beginning of JLC Services’ accelerated expansion:
- August 2023: Opened a new clinic in Dayton, Ohio and supported an FDA trial at Wright State University
- April 2024: Established an additional clinic in Roanoke, VA and supported an ongoing PTSD trial at Virginia Tech
- August 2024: Launched a clinic in Fayetteville, NC
- October 2024: Deployed to Florida and began treating patients on November 1st at the Tampa 1 facility while simultaneously opening the Miami 1 location
Our Florida expansion continued at a rapid pace, with new facilities opening every 6-8 weeks:
- Current Bay Area: Two clinics with plans to add 2-3 additional sites in the near future
- Current Miami: Two sites including a mobile unit
- Current Additional Sites: One in Jacksonville and one in Orlando, both actively treating patients
- March 2025: Opened sites in The Villages
- May 2025: Scheduled opening of a clinic in Melbourne, Florida in partnership with Baytree Behavioral Health (Wellspring Counseling, Satellite Beach, FL)
The enthusiastic reception from the Veterans and First Responders communities has been extraordinary, fueling our commitment to further expand these vital mental health services in the coming years.
