Former soldier finds new purpose in counselling after overcoming homelessness, addiction and cancer

A military veteran – who experienced homelessness, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cancer after leaving the armed forces – has committed his life to helping others after successfully retraining and opening his own counselling service.

After leaving the army in 2004, Chris Sanders struggled with civilian life. Financial pressures and undiagnosed PTSD led to heavy drinking, housing and job instability, and homelessness.

Chris, 49, had to sell his medals, earned over more than a decade in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR). He was shot while serving during the Bosnian War in 1994. He was attacked with a knife in Northern Ireland in 1996 and injured during a riot in Cyprus the following year.

“When I left the forces, I didn’t think I’d make it to 40,” said Chris.

“I had to sell my medals to put food on the table. I eventually became homeless.

“It was a challenge, but I look back on that time and say without it, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

Chris turned to Alcoholics Anonymous for support.

“I’d started drinking a lot more,” he said. “I met someone from the armed forces with similar experiences, who was drinking to suppress PTSD.

“I didn’t realise I was doing the same. In 2006, I was officially diagnosed.”

Chris faced brief periods of stability and instability, moving frequently and feeling ‘lost’ after personal issues and a job which fell through. But it was education that set him on a new direction.

He began studying literacy, numeracy and British Sign Language at a Sheffield community learning centre. In 2017, after moving back to Rotherham, he enrolled on a Level 2 Counselling course after borrowing an Alfred Adler book from a friend. The course helped him examine and understand his own experiences.

“I didn’t have any qualifications except those I’d got in the army,” he said. “I only realised through my counselling course that I was triggered by noisy, crowded environments – but I’d spent my life working in them.”

Chris continued to the Level 3, and then Level 4 Counselling course, both with Barnsley College – securing a placement and then employment with a supported housing organisation for homeless people.

In 2023, a prostate cancer diagnosis – followed by a hospital stay with sepsis – threatened to derail his progress.

“A couple of times, I thought about stopping – I thought, ‘is this too much for me?’,” he said.

“But something in me just made me keep going. It felt like something I was meant to be doing.

“Unless you’ve been homeless, you don’t understand the fullness of the hardship it presents. Anyone is only ever two bad decisions from becoming homeless.

“I’m giving people the advice that I never had, but wish I did.

“Some people are able to reconnect with their families. Some people go on to do college courses. Knowing I was part of their journey is a feeling I can’t explain. The closest I’ve got to that feeling is when I was in the army learning to skydive.”

Now cancer-free, happily married and in stable employment, Chris has made ‘lifelong friendships’ through his studies. He and fellow graduate Rosanna Duggan have launched a new counselling service, Reflective Development Counselling Space (RDCS).

Based at the Barnsley College Business Centre, RDCS aims to help those who feel stuck between NHS services and more costly private providers.

“This will enable people on low income or benefits to have counselling, enabling them to be seen quickly while reducing NHS waiting times,” added Chris.

“Whatever life throws at you – you always have a choice. You can dwell on it, or accept it and keep moving forward.”