Abbie is a former UK police sergeant and served for six years.

She was incredibly passionate about her work and was promoted within three years, but fell seriously ill a year later from stress, burnout and trauma caused by events both in her personal and professional life 

On the road to recovery, she discovered a completely different approach to healing than the one we were taught in the police - working with the body/somatics and the nervous system

This became her new passion and two years later, she walked away from what was once my dream job to qualify as a somatic breathwork practitioner & run her own coaching business - Healing Blue Hearts, guiding frontline workers to become more resilient to stress and burnout using the same modalities that supported her

30 fire service career, presented at local, state and national conferences. Currently working as a LPC, consultant and trainer. Focusing on Emergency responders as a whole.

Adrienne Tichy is a Recovery Advocate, International Bestseller, Public Speaker and lover of life!  Since 2008 Adrienne has been on the front lines of addiction, and has seen the 40% increase in overdose, addiction and mental health issues.  She has created a Recovery Residence Community called The Lodge at Delray Beach and created the Recovery Comes Home virtual and in person recovery program.  Adrienne is passionate about connecting families impacted by addiction as they heal together.

I’m an experienced certified professional coach I coach and work with clients to gain increased clarity, confidence and resilience.

Through my coaching practice, Westbourne Associates, I provide 1-2-1 coaching sessions, leadership development programs and run assessments for teams and individuals.

In 2021, I published my first book, Generation Panic, filled with tools & techniques for anxious professionals to get back on track.

AK Dozanti, MA is a nationally recognized speaker and former deputy sheriff known for tackling burnout in public safety without compromising performance. Her work blends the physiology of stress and trauma with nervous system regulation and emotional intelligence, translating science into tools officers can actually use in real time. As the author of Beat the Burnout and Responder Reset, AK focuses on helping first responders sustain their edge, capacity, and longevity, without losing their humanity to the job.

Alexa Silva is a clinician and social worker specializing in working with first responders, active military, and Veterans, with a trauma clinical background (such as training in EMDR and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)). She focuses on both individual and couples therapy, bringing a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those who serve. Coming from a big family of first responders and military personnel, and as the wife of a Marine Veteran and Firefighter, and a mom of two, Alexa blends professional expertise with personal experience, using authenticity and humor to build trust and connection with her clients. With over 5.5 years of sobriety from alcohol, she offers a lived perspective that resonates deeply within the first responder and military communities. In this episode, Alexa shares how her personal journey and clinical work come together to support healing, resilience, and connection for those who serve—and those who love them.

Amanda earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree from Umass Boston with a double major in psychology and sociology and a Master's Degree in Social Work from Boston University. Amanda has considerable experience working with the first responder population, as a CISM peer, co-response clinician and as an individual therapist. Amanda also collaborates with OpenSky to provide Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) to local police departments and agencies. 

As a co-founder of NourishDoc, a global holistic wellness platform for peri to post menopausal women, Amita is on a mission to bring affordable wellness to every woman in the world. NourishDoc has designed evidence based and culture sensitive holistic wellness programs for women wellness, self care and prevention. With menopause as a taboo globally and over 1 billion women reaching menopause, wellness for women at this stage should be at the forefront. 

I have worked in the mental health and counseling profession for 16 years. I have had the honor to help individuals of all ages in multiple treatment settings including, community counseling, therapeutic schools, day treatment programs, adolescent and adult residential facilities, and psychiatric clinics. In 2011, I decided to open my own private practice and have since become well established in the Central Florida community. I am grateful to be a trusted referral for many providers in the area and value promoting mental health awareness. 

Offering Telehealth Therapy allows me to serve clients throughout the entire state of Florida and has added convenience and increased access to my services. I have completed extensive training and certification in providing mental health counseling through Telehealth. My goal is to reduce the barriers to mental health treatment as much as possible. 

Andrew D. Kang, JD, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical therapist. Andy specializes in treating substance abuse and addiction, mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, stress, bipolar disorder, as well as relationship, couples and family issues. Andy conducts couple and family sessions and runs a group for professionals in recovery.

Ann Diment is a bestselling author and a leading expert in Health, Safety, and Wellbeing, with over 20 years of experience in the sector. Ann’s recently published book, *Turning the Tables on Burnout*, reflects her innovative approach to managing stress and building resilience, drawing on both her extensive professional background and her personal journey overcoming complex PTSD and other mental health challenges.

Ann has pioneered a holistic, mindful methodology that integrates her Health & Safety management expertise with socially engaged creative practices. This unique approach empowers individuals and organisations to foster healthier, more inclusive working practices.

Anna has been a nurse for 20 years. She enjoys her work in nursing leadership. Most recently she adopted a mixed breed named Birdee. 

Dustin and Ashley Wright are the proud owners of Valor Counseling Center, a private counseling practice focused on working with first responder wellness, in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Dustin is a Police Sergeant and has been in the field for over 16 years assisting in areas such as SWAT as member and commander, community services supervisor, and patrolling. Dustin recently started Wright Training and Consulting to help families and businesses better prepare for threats. 

Ashley is a licensed counselor and supervisor specializing in trauma, responder wellness, and building a team of clinicians who are passionate about helping our heroes be healthy. 

Audrey Albert King, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT, CMA, is a body-centered psychotherapist in private practice. Audrey brings 30 plus years of somatic training and experience into her work as a therapist. She enjoys working with individuals to listen, reconnect and trust their bodies to help guide them in their therapeutic journey. In addition, Audrey facilitates dance/movement therapy for people living with dementia. She is an adjunct faculty at Lesley University where she also serves as an off-site BC-DMT student supervisor. A lifelong dancer, Audrey is grateful to step into to her movement practice daily to sustain a healthy, vital, and meaningful life.

Austin is a Coast Guard veteran with service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, largely stemming from his time in CG Search & Rescue a decade ago. Through different therapies, medications and peer support he's learned to cope with these challenges and even co-founded a business that provides innovative mental health tools to military and first responder organizations. Today, Austin will share with us how his company, Mindstrong Guardians, models peer support through lived experience conversations.

Becky Schmooke is a leadership coach, author, and keynote speaker who challenges traditional views of leadership by redefining it as a lifestyle, not a job title. Her book, Choose the Handle That Holds: A Guide to Living, Leading and Owning the Moments That Matter, blends timeless Stoic philosophy with personal stories to empower readers to live with intention and integrity She’s the founder of Stoic Edge Consulting and Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, where farm life meets leadership training through retreats, camps, and hands-on learning. Becky’s work centers on the belief that every moment offers a choice—and that the right choices, no matter how small, are what build a life truly lived. Whether she’s coaching executives, speaking to NFL players, or wrangling baby goats, her message remains the same: leadership isn’t something you do—it’s who you are.

Bed Hermin (they/them pronouns) is a Colombian-American mental health counselor, facilitator, artist, and meditator currently inhabiting unceded Nipmuk land. Since completing a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on Expressive Arts Therapy methods (2020), Bed Hermin has worked as an educator, individual / group counselor, and program supervisor. Drawing from a rich cultural, creative, and compassionate background, Bed Hermin seeks to employ humor, imagination, and exploration in all walks of life. 

Beth Salmo earned a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and has over a decade of experience. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois. Ms. Salmo is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP). She is working on getting her Emergency Responder and Public Safety Clinician Certification (ERPSCC). Beth owns Thin Line Counseling Services, where she specializes in helping first responders, military-connected individuals, and their family members. She is trained in and practices trauma-focused CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) to treat trauma, depression, anxiety/panic, grief, moral injury, and anger. 

Since unexpectedly becoming a single mom at 19 years old, Bethany has continued on a road paved with life changing events and self-growth opportunities; and she meets all of these challenges head on. Her unique and inspiring journey has allowed her to blossom into a powerhouse in the coaching industry, supporting women and moms to become the most authentic and empowered versions of themselves. With grace in her heart she embraces sincere empathy, heartful compassion, and the power of raw vulnerability with her global community of women coming together to be better people; learning how putting themselves first makes them better mothers, wives, entrepreneurs, and more successful in life. This newly single mother of 3 is an entrepreneur in the business of life herself and leads by example at home and in her community

Bill Dwinnells has worked in the field of emergency services/crisis counseling for the last 26 years.  He has worked with multiple law enforcement agencies helping to educate the officers on how to interact with mentally ill people.  Bill has also created custom software for the management of emergency psychiatric service programs currently in use by multiple teams across the state.  He also has a private practice where he works with individuals.

Blythe Landry is a dually mastered LCSW/MSW and M.Ed. with 20 years-experience helping clients globally recover from trauma, grief, and narcissistic injury.  This work is accomplished through 1:1 client interactions, small-group training, and larger-group, corporate training.  While there is a relational and practice cohesiveness with all direct service work, Blythe meets each client and organization where they are and offers individualized training and recovery interventions based on unique need(s) and goals.

Started working for the Department of Correction on June 15, 1986 and retired on February 13, 2020. During my 34 years of employment I worked my way up through uniform ranks, entering a management position (Director of Security) after 20 years in uniform (with 12 years of those 20 years as a Captain). Some of the positions I have held are Unit Team Sgt, IPS (Investigation Unit), ACA, Training Instructor, Auditor, along with several others. I also worked at several institutions, to include SECC, OCCC, Treatment Center (for the sexually dangerous), MCI-Framingham (female institution), MASAC (substance abuse treatment center), MCI-Shirley, Pondville CC, MCI-Norfolk and State Transportation. Additionally I have been contracted with the National Institute of Corrections where I have consulted on Female Offender Training along with Staffing Analysis within several states.

Took a dare and did stand up comedy. Life hasn’t been the same since. The effects of making people laugh is some of the best therapy if ever had, and it’s free!

Brad is a Captain/Paramedic with more than 40 years of experience in firefighting, EMS, and disaster medicine, and serves as the President and CEO of the National Medical Education & Training Center (NMETC). He also serves on the faculty of the Fellowship in Disaster Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and is a graduate of Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative.

Army Vet, EMS 32 years, Fire service 20 years. My mental health breakdown happened in 2015 where I was taken from the streets to inpatient. Since, I have been working with groups to let people know there's help and resources out there. I host a weekly peer support group via Zoom, I am in a soon to be relased Documentry on my journey. I'm active on podcasts preaching the importance of using the resources to include your family!

Overwhelmed and frustrated law enforcement officers can leverage Bridget’s 30 years of wellness, leadership, law enforcement, and legal training and experiences for a blueprint on how to feel more comfort, ease, and support for increased balance and joy in life. Bridget is passionate about helping law enforcement officers discover their ability to find happiness daily, regardless of the environment or circumstances surrounding them. Bridget is an attorney, former Deputy Sheriff (SWAT and Undercover Narcotics), and the founder and CEO of Protective Wellness and the Lady Law Shield Law Firm.

Brody Clemmer is a new father, a son, a soon to be husband, a product leader and generalist. Brody comes to us from Philadelphia, where he's lived most of his 34 years. Brody is currently with Koa Health, a digital mental health company that's developing products that enhance the experience and efficacy of traditional mental health care for employers, payors, and healthcare systems - and living each day to fulfill his personal mission statement of "enabling people to be the best versions of themselves".

Bruce Wasser was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. A graduate with highest honors from Princeton, Mr. Wasser served as a public school teacher for over three decades in Newark, California. During his career, Mr. Wasser earned local and state-wide honors for developing a curriculum that stimulated empathy for those who were victims of persecution. Now retired, he lives with his wife, author Fern Schumer Chapman, in northern Illinois.

After 13 years as the Director of Ashland Youth and Family Services, Cara decided to jump into a new beginning and start her own mental health counseling practice in Holliston. With a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and over 25 years of experience in providing support and counseling for all ages. Cara utilizes positive cognitive behavioral approaches, solution-focused and integrative therapies. Some of her work will involve motivational interviews for modifications and challenging client's cognitive distortions. Cara continues to enjoy giving back to her community. She has been an active member of a hoarding task force, spearheaded a memory café, and facilitated a caregiver's support group. Currently, she is the President/Secretary of the Ashland Dog Park Committee, Co-founder/Secretary of AREA and formerly Founder of Ashland Citizens Action Committee. 

Caren Paskel, a best-selling author and speaker, founded the S.E.E. Foundation, inspiring thousands through her book 'The Power of Self-Belief'. Caren's journey through grief and transformation offers deep insights into resilience and empathy, aligning perfectly with the episode's key theme.

Carolina is a serial entrepreneur that runs 3 businesses and started her first when she was 12 years old. As a mental wellness advocate for business owners, she was diagnosed ADHD in her 30’s has since used her past difficulties to fuel her current business endeavours around the purpose of prioritizing mental wellness in business. Having turned her struggle into a passion she is on a mission to highlight the realities of entrepreneurship on our mental health; by helping dispel stigmas surrounding neurodiversity and empowering business owners to embrace their difference, find their superpower.  

Dr. Catherine Darley is the expert in natural sleep medicine. Having treated patients for over 20 years, she now teaches the sleep skills people need to thrive through online course. 

Catherine DeMonte is a licensed Psychotherapist in Southern California, Reiki Practitioner, author, and creator of 8-session small-group Abundance Circles where she shares powerful tools for attracting what people have been longing to attract into their lives but which have remained elusive to them. For years she has seen these tools call into her clients' and students' lives *exactly* what they longed to attract. She is the author of the book, "Beep! Beep! Get Out of My Way! Seven Tools for Powerful Creation and Living Your Unstoppable Life," as well creating the "Beep! Beep! Get Out of My Way Companion Journal". The Journal was an Amazon #1 in New  Releases in the Self Help category on the day it went up, as well as making The Hot New Releases that day!

Chris Bingham is a law enforcement leader, former K9 handler and commander, author, and working dog advocate with more than two decades of service. Alongside his retired K9 partner, Tambo, Chris has built a powerful platform centered on resilience, second chances, and the extraordinary bond between working dogs and their handlers. Their journey is the inspiration behind his upcoming book, Defying the Odds: The K9 Tambo Story.

Chris McDonald is a Holistic Therapist, Yogi, Meditation Teacher and Author.   She is Certified in Brainspotting, is a 200 hour RYT, and offers gentle yoga to clients in sessions.. In her group practice she specializes in the  treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and grief in young adults.  Chris also offers Therapy for Therapists and is host of “The Holistic Counseling Podcast.” Her favorite holistic daily routines include yoga and meditation.

Dr. Christopher Gordon, MD is a psychiatrist in Framingham, MA and has over 45 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1975. He is affiliated with several medical facilities in Massachusetts, including Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham.

Cody is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy class of 2015. Cody started as an Emergency Management Coordinator for MassDOT. Cody started his full time career in policing for the Hopedale Police Department in 2018. Cody then came to the Milford Police Department at the end of 2020. Since being at the Milford Police Department, Cody has spent 4 years as a School Resource Officer (SRO). Cody has transitioned to the Family Services unit and is currently a Detective and Co-Responds with the Departments Clinician.  

Corey Moss is the writer, director and producer of White Elephant (Comcast’s Xumo) and also directed the documentaries Socker Slam (Hearst’s Very Local) and Dear Jack (Warner Bros.). Moss is a veteran producer with more than 50 projects to his credit, including the films Rose All Day, 4/20, and Confessional. Series credits include You're Not a Monster (IMDb), QB1 (Netflix) and Tiny Commando with Ed Helms (Yahoo). He's also been an executive at MTV, AMC, Yahoo, Artists First, Hearst and Complex Networks.

I graduated from Lesley University in 2014 with a Master’s Degree in Expressive Therapies: Dance Therapy with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts (License # 10213), and a Registered Dance Movement Therapist through the American Dance Therapy Association (R-DMT-1959).

Over the past 10 years, I have provided individual counseling and group therapy to a diverse population of adults at various levels of care. I continue to advance my education and practice through seminars and trainings related to the mind-body connection; diversity, equity, and inclusion; integrating spiritual beliefs and practices; and mindfulness.

Craig Meriwether is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Medical Hypnosis Specialist, Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) specialist, and Founder of Arizona Integrative Hypnotherapy helping people eliminate the negative emotions and limiting beliefs that may be keeping them from reaching their full potential. 

For over 12 years, Craig has been helping people heal from early childhood trauma, helping cancer patients with pain control, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, students with test anxiety, children with nightmares, entrepreneurs with confidence, athletes with peak performance, and anyone who may be dealing with overwhelm, fear and anxiety.

Craig has created Ace Any Test, the most comprehensive course for test anxiety relief so people can eliminate anxiety around exams, auditions, job interviews and public speaking, as well as increase confidence and self-esteem. 

Crystal Partney is an author, speaker, suicide grief coach and founder of Scattering Hope and Owl & Thistle. She is also the host of the upcoming You Are Loved podcast. After losing her sister, the day before her birthday, from suicide, Crystal is scattering hope to those who need it.

Cyndi Doyle is the founder of Code4Couples®, a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, and a retired police spouse. As the author of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship and host of the Code4Couples podcast, Cyndi is a trusted voice on the unique challenges faced by law enforcement families. Drawing on research, clinical expertise, and her personal experience, she empowers officers and their spouses to build resilience and foster healthy relationships amidst the pressures of the job.
Cyndi’s journey began when her own marriage was affected by the emotional spillover from law enforcement work, inspiring her to educate others on mental and relational health. Today, she is a nationally recognized expert, collaborating with agencies and departments across the country.

Dana is former police and fire dispatcher who became a Transit Police Officer. She retired at the end of last year. As have many other first responders, she has responded to some incredibly difficult calls, and has not only struggled with seeing the pain of others, she deals with the vicarious trauma from them as well. In addition, as a survivor of her own traumatic incidents, she hopes to shine the light that vicarious trauma and personal trauma can be overcome. Not only is there help out there, but it is ok to be a helper in need of help.

Daniel sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury during high school, which led him to the social work profession. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and works as a trauma therapist focusing on helping men recover from a variety of life stressors and trauma. He is certified in EMDR therapy and is currently working on becoming a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Daniel created Revitalize Mental Health PLLC as a means to provide effective, high quality treatment for those looking to heal from past events. 

David J. Roberts, MSW, LMSW, became a parent who experienced the death of a child, when his daughter Jeannine died of cancer on March 1, 2003  at the age of 18. He is a retired addiction professional and an adjunct professor in the psychology child life department at Utica University in Utica, New York.  Dave has also presented numerous workshops on grief, both locally and nationally. He is the host of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, which can be found on most podcast platforms.He has co-authored a book with Reverend Patty Furino titled, When The Psychology Professor Met The Minister, which was published on March 1, 2021, which details among other things, a spiritually transformative experience that helped him find peace with his daughter's death.

As the COO/Co-Founder of New England Medical Group, I lead the operations, business development, sales, and marketing strategy of a growing organization that provides integrative behavioral health and addiction treatment services. With over ten years of experience in the hospital and health care industry, I have a passion for delivering quality care and creating positive outcomes for our clients and partners.

I leverage my skills and knowledge in business and strategy to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, such as insurance companies, referral sources, and community organizations. I also oversee the financial performance, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency of our facilities and programs. I am always looking for new opportunities and innovations to expand our reach and impact in the field of behavioral health and addiction.

Dennis Sweeney is a Counselor in Holliston, MA. Dennis Sweeney currently practices in his own practice with over 40 years of experience.

(Retired) Chief Douglas Wyman, Jr. brings over three decades of distinguished service in law enforcement, having served in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts for 32 years, including 12 years as Chief of Police. His leadership extended beyond local departments, serving on the Board of Directors for the New England Association of Chiefs of Police and representing the New Hampshire Chiefs of Police on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Diversity and Inclusion.
In 2021, he was awarded the Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal by the New Hampshire Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.
Currently, Chief Wyman serves in the Office of Investigations for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. 

Dr. Charles "Charlie" Powell is a decorated former Naval Lieutenant Commander, war veteran, multiple medical-patent holder, and former owner and Chief Medical Officer of a major medical system in Texas. He is the father of a special needs son, Charlie, who is the inspiration for Saint Charlie Resorts. In 2024, Dr. Powell founded Solo Vive, meaning "Just live," as the parent company to Saint Charlie Resorts, Vive Scientific™, Solo Vive Studios™, and  Healing Heroes– a reality docuseries that brings viewers on a journey rescuing, treating, and returning home healed 10 short days later. veterans and first responders who suffer from PTSD with innovative new approaches not available in the United States (of which he has found healing).  His passions/projects also include special-needs children/families, and anyone that needs a louder voice for their health and wellbeing. 

Dustin and Ashley Wright are the proud owners of Valor Counseling Center, a private counseling practice focused on working with first responder wellness, in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Dustin is a Police Sergeant and has been in the field for over 16 years assisting in areas such as SWAT as member and commander, community services supervisor, and patrolling. Dustin recently started Wright Training and Consulting to help families and businesses better prepare for threats. 

Jill has over 30 years experience as a minister. She has served as both lead pastor and staff pastor over the years as well as been a part of planting three churches. As a business consultant and leadership coach Jill has worked extensively in the areas of leadership development and strategic planning.

Jill has struggled with mental illness for the majority of her life. She has Complex PTSD, depression, anxiety and a dissociative disorder. A published author and editor, Jill is now a full-time blogger, journalist, and podcaster. She is working and writing to break the stigmas around mental illness and to open conversation about mental health in the Church. Her podcast is Post Traumatic Faith. Jill welcomes guests from around the world who work at the intersections of faith and mental health.

Elizabeth Ecklund is the passionate owner of Mindforge Therapy Group in Washington State. With a rich background as a career firefighter, EMT, and nurse, Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience to the table, including her recent role as an Airport Rescue Firefighter in Antarctica with the National Science Foundation. Drawing on 15 years of combined service in emergency response, she offers a unique and empathetic perspective that truly sets her practice apart. Elizabeth is dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding therapy and is committed to addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, burnout, and PTSD within the professions she serves. Join us as we explore mental health, resilience, and the transformative power of therapy in high-stress environments.

Emma is a paramedic from England. She left front line work due to PTSD after a traumatic event I suffered on the road in 2025. She went through EDMR therapy and only needed one session to overcome a lot of her struggles. To her, this is super important to talk about and so would like to share her experience. 

My name is Eric Knox, I've been a full-time Firefighter EMT for the past 24 yrs in the Town of Brookline MA.  Ive earned degrees in Fire Science and Business Marketing.  I'm a full time dad to my son and daughter.  Im life long a hockey fan and enjoy fishing, skiing and traveling along with long walks on the beach!

Eric Robinson spent 12 years in Christian ministry before leaving the Baptist pulpit to join the FBI, where he served 24 years investigating drugs, gangs, public corruption, crimes against children, financial crimes, and national security. He also spent 15 of those years as a SWAT operator and tactical instructor. His book, "Irreverend - Fom Saving Souls To Chasing Sinners In The FBI" comes out in October.

Erica Curry is a former D1 athlete and now licensed therapist and coach. She helps athletes reach their athletic and other career goals. She also provides clients with skills regarding mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and communication. These coping skills changed her life and considers it a privilege to bring these skills into the lives of others. Some common things she helps athletes with include: mentally healing after injury, finding self after sports retirement, addiction, self-harm, anxiety and relationship issues.

Erin Sheridan opened her solo private practice in 2021 to focus on working with First Responders, veterans, their family members and provides Clinical Supervision. She focuses on individual therapy using EMDR as her primary focus but will also use other eclectic therapeutic modalities as well.  She has been working in the field since 2008.  She comes from a first responder family and has been happily married to a first responder for the last 10 years. Erin is the Clinical Director of her local CISM team for the last 3 years and has extensive training in working first responders. As a spouse and family member, she has had a first-hand look at the impact of the job on the family. Erin’s goal is to decrease the stigma of Mental Health among First Responders. Erin is also in the process of training her American Labrador, Bella to become a therapy dog, which adds a therapeutic element to the therapy room to boost rapport with clients.

Erin Todd is a Health and Performance Coach with a special interesting in addressing emotional eating, perimenopause, and optimising mindset and nervous system health. As a qualified Functional Medicine Health Coach coupled with an 19-year background as a psychologist, she guides women through transformative journeys, aiding them in reshaping their relationship with food, improving overall health, and thriving.

Gina is a licensed psychotherapist, mental health educator, and media consultant in New York City. In practice for nearly two decades, she has helped thousands of people seeking treatment for trauma, grief, as well as challenging life experiences and transitions. This includes work with Holocaust survivors at 92Y, as well as being a clinical director for a Mt. Sinai Hospital Outpatient Program specializing in addictions. She received her master’s degree in social work with a specialty in trauma from New York University.

L. Gordon Brewer, Jr., MEd, LMFT therapist | podcaster | trainer | speaker | writer is a  licensed marital and family therapist and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast. The Practice of Therapy provides information and resources for clinicians starting, growing, or scaling private practices.

Gordon started a new podcast in 2022, The Kindness & Compassion Podcast, that explores the intersection of psychology, science, and spirituality to create more kindness and compassion in the world.

Gordon has worked in the human services and mental health fields for over 30 years.   He has also served as an adjunct instructor and internship supervisor at East Tennessee State University.

Hannah Elmore is the Clinical Outreach Coordinator for the IAFF Center of Excellence. Hannah works with fire fighters through connection to behavioral health resources, providing education, and offering support. Hannah educates on behavioral health topics pertaining to the fire service and first responder communities to departments, peer teams, families and clinicians. She received her master's degree in clinical social work from Florida State University and is certified in IAFF Peer Support. 

Hayden A. Duggan, Ed.D. is the President and Founder of the On-Site Academy in Gardner, Massachusetts, a residential trauma treatment and training program for Public Safety Personnel. He is the Team Clinician for the Boston Police Stress Support Unit CISM Team and is the Chief Psychologist for the Boston EMS Peer Support Team. He is the Chief Clinician for the Fitchburg Police Department Peer Support Team. He is the author of two books on crisis intervention and empathy. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (earning his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1977) and a Designated Forensic Psychologist (inactive) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ivanna is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a therapy and coaching practice in Rochester, NY where she lives with her husband, 3-year old daughter, and 2 rescue dogs. Ivanna is certified in Terry Real’s Relational Life Therapy, an approach that considers the influence of patriarchy on how we relate to ourselves and others. Ivanna believes the quality of our relationships determine the quality of our lives so whether through her work with clients, creating content on Instagram, or writing for various media outlets, she is passionate about helping people learn the relational tools and skills necessary to create and maintain a fulfilling life.ivann

Pharmacist in long-term recovery from substance use; been working in the addiction field for over 12 years; advocate and resource for evidence-based treatment approaches and stigma reduction; regularly facilitates patient and parent support groups.

Sgt. Jay Ball is a 2004 graduate of the 12th Municipal Police Officers Class (MPOC) at the MBTA Transit Police Academy in Quincy, MA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Psychology from Liberty University. Presently, Ball is a sergeant assigned to the Community Impact Unit with the Framingham Police Department. Before this assignment, he was a detective with the City of Framingham Police Department, attached to the Metro West Drug Task Force. He has also worked as a patrol, evidence, and school resource officer.

Jay Nakhai is the Founding Owner, Executive Director of AEON counseling.  Jay has over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, fulfilling roles from clinical staff to management, program development & program evaluation, as well as holding a role in the North Shore Latino Business Association’s Board of Directors and in the National Association for Social Worker’s (NASW) Board of Directors – MA chapter.  Jay has nurtured her clinical practice with Spanish speaking populations and now practices independently in Massachusetts. As a clinician, she is committed to diversity, evidence based practice, and encouraging organizations to invest in their workforce to create healthy organizational cultures. Jay values integrity, critical thinking, and a bio-psycho-social view of integrated patient care. Jay has a strong background in clinical practice and psychological assessment, training and development, as well as strategic leadership and board governance.

In 2010, Jeff Dill founded Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) 
and began holding workshops to educate firefighters, dispatchers & EMS members about behavioral health awareness, moral injury and suicide prevention.  FBHA also began tracking and validating data on FF, EMS and dispatcher suicides across the United States
 
Jeff holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, is a retired Fire Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois.  

He speaks internationally about his work for his brothers and sisters.  His message offers hope and inspires all to enjoy life by understanding their own behavioral health.

On July 1st, 2021 Jeff was appointed the new Behavioral Health Administrator for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Supervisor. with 20 years' experience in the field and a passion for walking alongside others toward a place of healing. A Christian Counselor, she integrate spirituality into the counseling process in accordance with her clients' comfort level.  She works with a variety of issues but specialize in trauma and emotional woundedness. 

Jenn Waldron, LMHC  specializes in working with first responders and uniformed service members. She has prior experience working in corrections as a corrections officer, as well as in an acute psychiatric hospital, where she served in the Uniformed Services Program. Her diverse background allows her to effectively support clients facing trauma, high-stress environments, and critical incidents.
Jenn is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space for first responders and uniformed service members to process their experiences and learn new tools and skills.

Jenny Helms-Calvin, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT), is a compassionate therapist and ambitious business owner.  She founded and owns SOMA Therapy, the largest mental health practice in Kansas with over 55 mental health providers and growing and New Perspectives with 20 providers and growing. She has over 7 years of experience working with clients in coaching, therapy, group, and hospital settings. She specializes in issues related to relationship trauma, self-worth, eating disorders, and mental health for high performers. Jenny also creates TikToks and other content weekly to help people learn about building their self-worth and having healthy relationships. Her current passion project is her weekly coaching group to give access and support for those wanting to increase their self-worth and improve their relationships.

Growing up, I fell into the trap of diet culture and developed a complicated relationship with food and exercise. In high school, I remember being consumed by body image standards, striving to meet impossible goals, and letting food and fitness rule my life. By college, over-exercise and rigid dieting took a toll on both my physical and emotional health. It wasn’t until my own recovery journey that I discovered there was another way – one rooted in balance, self-compassion, and trust in my body.

I knew I wanted to combine my passion for mental health and fitness to support women in reclaiming their lives from diet culture.

After earning my undergraduate degree in Psychology from UConn, I pursued my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. At the same time, I immersed myself in learning about strength training, eventually becoming a Certified Personal Trainer.

Joe Rizzuti is a founding member of First Responder Wellness of Merrimack Valley, an organization providing mental health and wellness services and training to first responders in the region. With over 27 years of experience as a retired police officer, Joe has dedicated himself to supporting his brothers and sisters in the first responder community. His deep connection to public service is rooted in a firefighting family and further enriched by his time as a veteran who served on both active duty and with the Massachusetts Army National Guard as a Military Police officer.

Joe Smarro is a decorated U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran who served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After his service, he joined the San Antonio Police Department, where he spent 11 years in the Mental Health Unit helping build a nationally recognized crisis response program. He is the founder and CEO of SolutionPoint+, a national training and consulting firm focused on mental wellness, de-escalation, and human performance. Joe is a TEDx speaker and featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, and is the author of Unarmed. His mission is bold and clear: to eliminate suicide among first responders by transforming culture, mindset, and leadership.

Tony Crescenzo is a Marine veteran and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Waves (IW), a veteran-owned, mission-driven systems integrator delivering advanced technology solutions in cybersecurity, systems engineering, data science, software development, and cognitive human performance to the U.S. government.

Simultaneously, he is the Founder of Peak Neuro, LLC, a neuroscience and AI-powered company. Peak Neuro harnesses proprietary neuroacoustic technology through a mobile app to enhance sleep, emotional resilience, and trauma recovery—especially for veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, TBI, or chronic stress.

JONATHAN KEMP is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and creator of SmartWisdom, a scientifically validated note-taking technique. Born into privilege as the future 3rd Viscount Rochdale, he built careers in law enforcement and entrepreneurship and undertook postgraduate study, unaware that bipolar disorder, depression, and dyslexia were shaping his life. His mental illnesses were diagnosed aged 39, when he finally sought professional help. Jonathan won the British Dyslexia Association’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2011.

Justin is a retired Coast Guard officer that served 22 years, working in 45 different countries, and living on all 4 of America’s coasts. After retiring from the Coast Guard, Justin chose coaching as his next profession and takes great joy in helping people to unlock their true potential, rid themselves of attachments and lies that restrict their success and empower them to live their life to the fullest. Justin lives in Springfield, VA and has two sons, aged 17 and 27. 

Katelyn is currently the Lead Clinician at Westborough Behavioral Health Outpatient Services, with a focus on first/last responders. She is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician and certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Previously, Katelyn worked for Advocates for 7.5 years, first as a co-response clinician in Framingham on the 4-12 shift for 4 years and she then helped to launch  the first and only Co-Response Training and Technical Assistance Center(CR-TTAC) in MA, which she managed for 3.5 years. Katelyn's previous experience includes residential behavioral management, supported housing case management, psychopharmacology research, and substance abuse/mental health treatment within the correctional setting.

Kathryn is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with 10 years of experience in the mental health and substance use fields. She brings her clinical expertise in occupational stress and resiliency, trauma, suicide prevention, and substance misuse to her work consulting with first responders and other high-stress industries to build workplace wellness programs. She is passionate about using holistic treatment options like nutrition coaching, movement, and meditation. Her experience highlights include co-responding with police officers to mental health emergencies in the community, delivering trainings to CIT officers since 2019, running a suicide prevention for first responders, and working as an emergency services clinician.

Keith Hanks is a retired firefighter and EMT from Massachusetts and 21-year veteran of the fire service. He was a training officer, certified educator, and field training officer. He was diagnosed with Complex PTSI in 2015. He has since dedicated his life to advocating for mental illness, substance and alcohol abuse recovery, and suicide awareness. In March 2022, he completed the filming of his first feature length documentary focusing on PTSI in the first responder community. He is an international speaker, podcast personality, and published author and writer. He currently resides in New Hampshire and is a proud father to three children.

K. L. Sadler is a retired U.S. diplomat, former Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and author of From the Badge to the Vine: A Journey Through Duty, Trauma, and Healing. Over a 26-year career in law enforcement and international security, she served in high-threat assignments across Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda, Mexico, and El Salvador.

Her memoir explores moral injury, grief, identity, psychedelics, spirituality, and the long process of healing after a life shaped by duty and control. Her work has been featured in the MAPS Bulletin.

In 2026, Sadler walked 780 kilometers across Spain on the Camino de Santiago with her dog, Nona.

Today, her work centers on a simple message: healing is possible, there are many paths to healing, and the first step is often recognizing the need to heal—then finding the path that is right for you.

Kerry Keegan is an author and pioneer in energy medicine, working as an intuitive, astrologer, teacher, metaphysician and certified quantum biofeedback practitioner specializing in multi-species collaboration, and higher consciousness realities.  She is a graduate of Bard College where she earned a degree in the History and Philosophy of Science.  



Kerry lives at home in Maine, where she raised her 3 sons.  In 2011 Kerry began conversing and collaborating with our planetary elders, the humpback whales on the inner planes. Kerry shares this wisdom through her children's books, personal readings and zoom classes. For more information please visit https://kerrykeegan.com.

I was a Captain/Battalion Chief for Highlands County Fire Rescue for 15 years. Currently in the process of obtaining my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Barry University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Using my experience as a firefighter/paramedic I hope to bring cultural competent therapy to the brothers and sisters in the fire service. 

Dr. Gilmartin is a behavioral scientist specializing in law enforcement and public safety related issues. He is the author of the book Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families. He previously spent twenty years working in law enforcement in Tucson, Arizona. During his tenure he supervised the Hostage Negotiations Team and the Behavioral Sciences Unit.

Kiera Newbury is an EMT and emergency room technician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Writing and brings a powerful storytelling perspective shaped by her experiences caring for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Krista Gregg brings over five years of experience in crime and trauma scene cleaning, offering a unique perspective on the profound effects of tragedy on individuals and families. Witnessing these moments revealed the urgent need for understanding, resources, and advocacy for those facing trauma and challenges like hoarding. Inspired by these experiences, Krista founded Bright Sky House, a media company dedicated to uncovering hidden stories that inspire hope, challenge stigmas, and foster meaningful connections.

Krista Verrastro, MA, RDT/BCT (she/her) is a Registered Drama Therapist and Board Certified Trainer who blends drama therapy, talk therapy, and EMDR therapy. She works with teens and adults in private practice in Maryland. She specializes in helping people who feel used, abused, neglected, and rejected transform from surviving to thriving. She also facilitates workshops, provides clinical consultation, provides private practice building consultation, and provides supervision for drama therapists. She presents nationally and internationally about drama therapy and mental health issues. krista verrastro

Kristen is a lifelong mental health advocate and student turned multi-passionate entrepreneur who's simply striving to live a life of purpose and discovery. She's always held a passion for understanding the mind and human behavior which eventually merged with her love of children in a School Psychology graduate degree. However, entrepreneurship found its grip and has dramatically changed her life - leading her to a business of helping therapists elevate their marketing. She may not know 100% where this journey will take her, but she's enjoying the ride!

Paramedic and respiratory therapy. 30 year sin healthcare.  

Lane’s journey began with an autoimmune diagnosis, leading her to a life free from alcohol and demonstrating the profound impact of mindful and nutritional choices on overall well-being. From bio-identical hormone therapy to the forefront of nutrigenomics, Lane’s dedication has made her a leader in achieving balance for both body and mind.

With in-depth knowledge and certifications in DNA Nutrition, Applied Neuroscience, Brain Health, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Lane’s holistic approach has positively impacted thousands, fostering recovery, resilience, and enlightenment.

In a world full of digital noise, Lane chooses genuine connection over superficial engagement. From a successful modeling career to overcoming personal health challenges, her journey is a testament to the wisdom and strength she shares with others.

aura Long is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to her private practice, Laura also provides business coaching, consultation, and mentorship to mental health therapists gain confidence in their practice as well as in their other entrepreneurial pursuits. She offers online masterminds, in-person retreats, and conducts workshops for therapists who are ready to "do the damn thing."

Lee Povey is a high-performance leadership coach specializing in working with founders and start-ups. As a lifelong entrepreneur,  a former elite cycling athlete, and Olympic Development Program Coach for USA Cycling, Lee has a deep understanding of what it takes to lead at the highest levels.

He helps leaders and high-achievers understand how to motivate, lead, give feedback, and empower their teams to incredible growth and performance. He breaks down the human experience in a relatable way, sharing tips, skill sets, and valuable mindset insights.

Lee has participated in, led, and facilitated men’s support groups for nearly thirty years. As the son of a narcissistic and sociopathic father, he has benefitted immensely from these groups and is passionate about supporting other men in their emotional growth. He believes this work is vital for men to become even better fathers, husbands, friends, and leaders.

Liana Lucine is a soft-skills trainer, psychology graduate, and former London police officer with 18 years’ service. Her work focuses on resilience, pressure, trauma, leadership, and the hidden assumptions that shape how we respond when people are struggling.

She is also the author of *Men Ignored*, which explores how male victims and men in distress are often minimised, laughed at, or dismissed, even when the harm is real.

I have been in human services for about 20 years and have worked at several non profits that serve the elderly, homeless, individuals diagnosed with mental illness, and those dually diagnosed.  For the past 10 years, I've worked at a state agency doing outreach and community work with individuals diagnosed with a severe,  chronic mental illness assisting them to maintain safety and independence in the community. I was on the board of directors  for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central MA chapter and remained involved in their mission to raise mental health awareness for all.  I think my ideas and thoughts have changed throughout my career but my belief that everyone deserves to be heard and we need to continue advocating for and normalizing mental health care never waivers.  

Retail Banking Management Professional with a long standing history of seeking stretch assignments to continuously build skill set. Drives top line sales and service results, while balancing coaching and team development of both direct reports and peers.

Experienced in change management, associate readiness, process improvement, and data analysis. Blends passion for building winning strategies and gaining shareholder buy-in, with delivering results through tactical execution.

Lonfg-time wrestling fan and the spiritual world, she combines her love daily. 

Lisa Knowles, LMHC, is the owner and co-founder of The Watch Wellness Group, Inc. in Ludlow, Massachusetts—the area’s first private group mental health practice exclusively dedicated to first responders, public safety professionals, and military personnel. She’s been doing this work since 2012, when one uniformed officer showed up at her office in crisis and unknowingly launched a mission. Known for her direct, grounded approach and cultural credibility, Lisa built trust in the first responder community one client at a time. In 2022, she opened The Watch to meet the growing demand and, in 2024, founded the Massachusetts Coalition of First Responder Clinicians to unite others across the state who had also been doing this work in isolation. Today, she leads a growing team of passionate clinicians and proudly collaborates with the colleagues she helped bring together—because she knew from the beginning that first responders deserve care from people who get it.

I help anxious, supersmart professionals who feel numb after pain and tragedy reconnect to their bodies so that they can release their pain and feel good again. Together we explore how to feel emotions without wanting to run away or find distractions and by using movement we can access thoughts and feelings that otherwise might stay hidden. By connecting to our bodies, we can truly feel our emotions and let them go (along with all the tension, pain, and stress that we carry). As a licensed professional clinical counselor and board certified dance therapist, I use dance therapy, dynamic attachment repatterning, and other mental health techniques to help people live a fully embodied life!

Lisa Mustard, MPH, EdS, LMFT has worked for a college counseling center, addiction recovery center and has been working with a military branch for the past 14 years. Lisa is a lover of all things fitness and health, a Podcaster and Coach.

Lisa Trusas grew up in Upton and now lives in Millville. She has a true passion for helping people. As a 911 dispatcher for over 20 years, she knows all about the curve balls life can throw at you and the stigma behind substance misuse and mental health disorders. Due to personal experience in her own family, Lisa is able to display empathy to loved ones who are impacted daily by someone struggling with substance abuse, as well as those who find themselves in the grips of addiction.  

Liz Kelly, LICSW, has over 13 years of experience in the mental health field supporting professionals in the Washington, DC, metro area managing grief and loss, anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, and life transitions. Liz has worked in a variety of settings, including the D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office, the D.C. Bar Lawyer’s Assistance Program, the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, Talkspace, and Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital. She currently works as a psychotherapist in private practice. Liz has been seen in publications and media outlets such as USA Today, Bustle, Refinery 29, Todayshow.com, Investor's Business Daily, Parade, Brydie, The Daily Beast, Teen Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and Cheddar News. She can be found at lizkellymsw.com

Lynn Kee is a survivor of childhood sexual trauma, advocate and activist working to strengthen protections for fellow survivors in memory of her sister, Amanda Hernandez, who passed away in January after a long and hard-fought battle with C-PTSD and Substance Abuse. 

As a woman in long-term recovery, herself, she is committed to sharing her own experiences, strength and hope in an effort to spread the message that TRAUMA IS THE TRUE GATEWAY DRUG and increase access to adequate trauma, mental health and substance abuse treatment in her home state of MA and beyond.

A firm believer that getting the right treatment can mean the difference between life and death for many survivors (her sister included), she credits her recovery, in large part, to the trauma work she's personally done both in and outside of therapy since childhood. 

Maegan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Board Certified - Dance/Movement Therapist. She found her way to this field through her passion for helping others. She was a Dance Major and Psychology Minor in Undergrad, and when trying to figure out what her future would hold, she took a course in Dance/Movement Therapy and loved it! She found it was the perfect combination of psychology and movement. Maegan's approach to therapy is to be someone you can trust and feel supported by. She uses a person-centered approach, bringing creativity into her sessions while focusing on the mind-body connection. She has worked with a diverse population of clients at a variety of levels of care. She graduated with her Masters from Lesley University in 2017 and has served on the board of the New England Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association from 2018-2021. 

Malka is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of New Jersey, New York, and Florida.  She has been in the field of mental health for over 25 years, and has been successfully running her own private practice for the last 15 years. Her private practice works with individuals and couples while  specializing in women’s issues such as maternal wellness, anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, EMDR and support during life transitions. In conjunction with psychotherapy, as an extension of her practice, Malka has continued to study and treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, both in community psycho-educational and debriefing  as well as treating individuals.

Marc is a New York City psychotherapist with 35+ years of experience helping people get healthy, tidy up their world, and straighten out their lives.

He is also the author of the popular book Reset Your Romantic GPS: Why You Steer Toward the Wrong Partners and How to Change for the Better, which explains the idea of attachment style, a psychological force we develop in early childhood, and how it influences every emotional choice and decision we make.

The book has sold thousands of copies internationally.

Marc's areas of expertise include couples therapy, marital challenges, anxiety, depression, employment difficulties, sexual dysfunction, and eating disorders.

He is also a board member, faculty, and supervisor at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies, a leading training institute for psychotherapists, and a former associate editor of Psychoanalytic Perspectives: A Journal of Integration and Innovation.

Maya Benattar, MA, MT-BC, LCAT is a music therapist and psychotherapist in private practice in Midtown Manhattan and online throughout NY state. Her specialties include anxiety, childhood/intergenerational trauma and highly sensitive people (HSP).
In addition to her clinical work, Maya offers supervision/consultation for other therapists, provides professional development and wellness workshops, and offers restorative workshops for helpers and healers.
Maya received her master’s degree from New York University, and has completed extensive postgraduate training in vocal psychotherapy, creative arts therapies in trauma treatment, and music and imagery.

Meg Appelgate is the co-founder and CEO of Unsilenced, a nonprofit dedicated to ending institutional child abuse within the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI). A survivor of two TTI programs where she spent over three years, Meg now advocates for systemic change and supports other survivors. Her new book, “Becoming UNSILENCED: Surviving and Fighting the Troubled Teen Industry” (April 2024), details her harrowing experiences and the urgent need for reform. With a background in psychology and extensive nonprofit management, Meg is committed to ending abuse in the Troubled Teen Industry through advocacy, education, and securing justice for survivors. 

Michael Sugrue began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer in 1998.  As a Security Forces Officer, Michael specialized in Law Enforcement, Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Nuclear Security, Foreign Air Field Assessments and Air Base Ground Defense.  

Michael served all over the United States, Europe, the Middle East and South America.  He was also a Security Forces Phoenix Raven with the unique identifier of #1173.   Michael honorably separated from the Air Force as a Captain in 2004.

Immediately after the Air Force, Michael was hired by the Walnut Creek Police Department where he served in a variety of assignments.

Michael is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, training on Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and First Responder Suicide Prevention. 
 

Michele is an LMHC, and is a recently AASECT certified sex therapist, working in private practice with couples and sexual issues. She has been working in community mental health for 20 years where she started out addressing the complex struggles of children and families in the social services system. This led to a passion for working with the core unit of the family system, the couples and parents who can be instrumental in breaking the cycles of intergenerational trauma. 

Over the years she has cultivated an approach that reinforces the need for joy, pleasure and a sense of wellbeing in life; and where mindfulness and wellness are foundational. Her work as a relationship and sex therapist invites the many expressions of relationship, identity and sexuality into the process of finding healing and reconnection, while also identifying and shifting the cycles and narratives that keep us stuck and hurting.

Morgan Yaskus is a licensed professional counselor and former Mobile Crisis Team supervisor based in Alaska, where she worked alongside EMS, fire, and law enforcement to respond to mental health and substance use emergencies across communities. She now operates a private practice specializing in trauma therapy for first responders and their families. Her work integrates modalities such as EMDR, DBT, and Internal Family Systems to support healing and long-term resilience. Morgan is deeply familiar with the systemic gaps and moral injury experienced by frontline professionals, particularly in underserved regions. She brings both clinical expertise and boots-on-the-ground experience to a mission that centers one simple truth: first responders deserve care as fierce as the care they give.

Muunie is the childhood nickname of independent artist and life coach Morgan Beard. Her mission is to use pop music as a vehicle for emotional liberation.

As co-founder of the Global Grit Institute, a mental health training platform for leaders and coaches, co-founder of the Dharma Coaching Institute, training thousands to live their best lives, and a thriving coach in her own right, Neeta Bhushan has helped thousands of people move past their heartbreaks, failures, and disappointments. And after years of research into human behavior, observing people in their worst and best moments, being a mother of two small children, and failing more than a few times herself, Neeta knows what it takes to get back up no matter what bowled you over. Her new book, That Sucked, Now What? is a real-talk guide to personal growth that draws on and embraces the suck–and helps you break through to lasting, audacious resilience. 

Nick Jonsson is a bestselling author, international speaker, and executive coach specializing in the mental and emotional well-being of high-performing leaders. As the co-founder of EGN Singapore—a confidential peer network for senior executives—Nick is dedicated to breaking the silence around loneliness, burnout, and internal struggle in leadership. Through private coaching, leadership workshops, and men’s groups, he creates safe spaces for personal growth, vulnerability, and connection. After overcoming his own burnout, addiction and emotional crisis, Nick has made it his mission to help others lead with resilience, purpose, and authenticity.

Nikki Mason, MS helps connect people with services for mental health and addiction. She graduated with her Masters in Forensic Psychology in 2009 and has held various positions in community-based & treatment center-based environments since that time. She has experience in secured/locked psychiatric and detention settings with people of all ages. Her current role is with Granite Recovery Centers helping with treatment navigation for both civilians and first responders. Coming from a first responder family has shaped her professional life and helped her to have a better understanding of unique treatment needs.

 I am 75 years old, clean and sober 37 years, and a practicing psychotherapist 31 years. Specialties were dual diagnosis, trauma and intervention and treatment. In recent years, they are spiritual growth, grief and loss, wellness aging and the process of dying to this life and returning to the Spirit 5th dimension and above. My patients needs nad intentions for therapy as well as my own spiritual evolution have shifted my clinical focus from traditional roles to a more shamanistic role. 

After only a year of marriage, Pavel Ythjall found himself staring into the eyes of a neurosurgeon who told him point-blank: “Your wife will be paralyzed, neck down, for life.”

At the time, Pavel had a broken neck too. His vertebrae were supported by a halo screwed directly into his skull. A tragic accident on the way to a Christmas party had changed their lives forever...

Rachael Chatham has been a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Asheville, NC for the past ten years. She is certified in Buddhist Psychology, Traumatic Stress and Schema Therapy and she integrates experiential work with traditional talk therapy in her work with individuals. Rachael works with people struggling in their relationships with themselves and others and finds her work with clients to be deeply meaningful and fulfilling. When she's not practicing psychotherapy, she can be found writing, reading, cooking, walking or dreaming.

Rachel Fletcher has been in recovery for over 5 years. She owns a large tattoo studio in Southern Florida, and a community liaison for Moving Mountains Recovery. Also an avid Rock climber who advocates for its benefits with your recovery and mental health. She also runs a climbing page called @climbingwithboobs with a growing following encouraging women to climb. 

Renae is a former firefighter-paramedic turned Life and Wellness Coach who calls out the real reasons first responders burn out - and it’s not the job, it’s the leadership. She spent over a decade on the frontlines before burning out herself, physically and mentally, learning firsthand how toxic command culture can wreck even the toughest crews. Today, she runs Wayward Wellness Coaching, helping police and fire departments tackle the root causes of burnout instead of just throwing EAPs and wellness fliers at the problem. Her mission is to forge leaders who actually mentor, not micromanage. When she’s not shaking up old-school thinking, you’ll find her playing violin and singing in her band - because life’s too short to live by someone else’s blueprint.

Richard Winning, got his masters in social work from Westfield State University, where he currently volunteers on the alumni council association. He began responding with police to acute psychiatric crisis in 2017 and from that role, opened his practice "responders refuge" in 2023, and has been providing outpatient services for police, fire, ems, er and specialized acute medicine and teachers for the past 3 years.

Robert Cherney is a Chief Psychologist and Internship Director and Director of Trauma Informed Training and the Trauma Team at Advocates based in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Robyn L Garrett is the Founder and CEO of Beamably, where she works to give young leaders the courage they need to change the world. After several years as a startup executive, Robyn became tired of working with "leaders" that continuously put profits before people. She wanted to help guide a new generation of leaders, teaching them to bring light into the lives of others. Now, she is working to build tools and technology to help further this mission. 

Sarah A. Cloud, MBA, MSW, LICSW, received a Master of Social Work from Boston College School of Social Work in 1996 and MBA from Isenberg School of Management in 2018. During her career, She has been recognized for her leadership through awards for improving access to treatment for Latino & Brazilian communities, suicide prevention for elders, opioid epidemic and community justice.  She has specialized in the development of innovative programs, healthcare integration and interagency partnerships, and has lectured on those topics at national conferences.  Sarah serves as a Board Member for the Boston Bulldog Running Club, a wellness community for people in recovery, affected by addiction and treatment providers; and PCO Hope, drop in centers providing a safe gateway to substance use information, support, and hope for individuals and their loved ones; she is published author of children books on grief and loss related to the opioid epidemic.

Following 20 years of a career as an accidental paramedic in the UK, Sarah upped sticks with her husband and two cats and moved to Canada where she's now a creative copywriter and brand photographer. Sarah also co-hosts a podcast about creativity and writes and takes photographs in her spare time as well as her work time because she did the thing they say you should never do–make your hobbies your job. She was late-diagnosed with ADHD back in 2022 and now fully embraces her neurospicy life. She also enjoys writing and talking about her experiences as a paramedic, especially through the lens of mental health and how it impacts first responders. 

Scot Ruggles’ journey since graduating from college reads like a script waiting to be brought to life on the big screen. For the past two decades, he has traversed the realms of sports and education, leaving an indelible mark at every step.

From the sidelines of high school fields to the prestigious halls of Harvard University, Ruggles has worn many hats – teacher, administrator, and coach. His coaching prowess has taken him to the helm of teams at various levels, from high school to college, even rubbing shoulders with the pros.

But Ruggles didn’t stop there. In 2007, he made a bold move, trading the ivy-covered walls of Harvard for the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles. Here, he ventured into the world of acting and producing, seamlessly blending his passion for performance with his sporting expertise. 

Dr. Stacy Raymond is a Clinical Psychologist who has been in private practice in Ridgefield CT for 27 years. She is a trauma specialist, an Approved Consultant in EMDR Therapy, an approved clinician for both the FOP and IAFF, and a member of the Police Psychological Services Section of IACP. The daughter of a retired police officer and US Marine, Dr. Raymond is a co-host on Responder Resilience podcast, the co-author of “Helping the Helpers: The Clinician’s Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness”, and she also just published her own research in her new book, “Dump the Bucket: Healing Trauma in Police with EMDR.

Stefani has worked with parents, children and families for over 30 years and have stressed positive parenting strategies. Over the years, she helped fearful kids informally face the fear of dogs and during the last ten or so she formalized a 10 step protocol for cynophobia. A few years ago I put it all into a book . "Overcoming Your Child's Fear of Dogs". In addition to parents, the book is also useful for therapists, dog trainers and anyone wants to feel safer around dogs.  Her three hats - psychotherapist, dog lover and parent have come together in her practice helping people of all ages overcome their fear of dogs through exposure therapy using a live dog.  Together with canine assistants, she has done presentations for school children and scout troops on humane education, kindness to animals and bite prevention

Dr. Stephanie Conn is a former police officer, daughter and wife of police officers, now a Licensed Psychologist, specializing in peer support, stress, trauma, and resilience. Stephanie is Board Certified as a Police & Public Safety psychologist with 29 years of combined experience working in the first responder field. She supports first
responder agencies with critical incident stress management, peer support, and mental health training. She is the author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel and Building Effective Peer Support Teams: A Guide to Creating Resilient First Responders.

Drawing on my background in psychology, movement, mindfulness, and trauma-informed practices, I partner with individuals, businesses, and organizations to achieve their greatest potential by creating alignment from a holistic perspective. Skilled at holding space so that individuals and businesses can get clear on their purpose and be intentional with their goals, I empower my clients to lead their lives with courage and to the fullest by creating communities and workplace cultures that are human centric, fostering and valuing employee wellness and sustainability.

Susan Roggendorf is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Iowa. She's the LGBTQ+ owner of Coffelt Counseling Services in the Quad Cities. Susan works with folx living with anxiety in her LGBTQIA2s+ community. and with First Responders grappling with anxiety as well as other life issues. When not in her garden or busy annoying her adult kids, she's hosting and producing her own podcast, F*ck The Rules.

Tamar Medford, a Visionary Coach, Neuro Change Master Practitioner, podcast host, and author, is your ultimate ally, unwavering cheerleader, and empowering guide on your transformative journey towards discovering the life you were destined to live and breaking free from any obstacles that hold you back. With over 11 years of sobriety, Tamar has tapped into her creative side, becoming a skilled producer of podcasts and building visually captivating websites.

Tina Djuretic is a Canadian author who was raised by strict, religious parents who isolated her from the rest of the world. What followed were three toxic relationships that nearly killed her.
After her last breakup she sought help in the form of a channeller, who sent her on a path of healing. While writing her memoir she was able to find forgiveness; both for herself and her abusers. This process taught her a lot about generational trauma, gaslighting, narcissists, and putting up healthy boundaries.
It's Tina's goal to share her story with anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, and to educate people on the subject of toxic relationships, healing, spirituality, and not just surviving...but THRIVING.