Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. Erin is former Australian Police Officer and Detective, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organisation and CISM trained, certified Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Public Safety Professionals and their Spouses. She is also the wife of an active duty American Firefighter. This week, I was fortunate enough to sit down with The Great Bearded One, Rich Creamer; Navy Veteran and former Police Officer, with a career spanning over 24 years in Norfolk, VA before retiring 4 years ago. Rich shares with Erin that a knee-injury whilst on an operation in the Navy, ended his envisaged career prematurely, which prompted a detour into law enforcement that he never imagined for himself. He worked in many different roles, including as an investigator with Gangs and Homicide. He found himself as someone people would turn to, seeking help or advice, so he become certified as a peer specialist. Rich even went back to school, to get his BA in Sociology and MA in Counseling and Criminal Justice. But, as he shares with Erin, behind the pretense of helping others, he was really trying more than anything to understand all the things he was thinking, feeling and experiencing, behind the mask he wore that hid everything well. The mask and everything he'd been carrying since childhood came crashing down, with a major cancer diagnosis, that ended up being a significant turning point for him personally, as well as his relationships with his family. Since retiring from his policing role, Rich has been involved in developing wellness programs, creating and training CISM/PS teams, carrying on his involvement in the wellness of Public Safety members, for over a decade now. His current role is the Director of Public Safety Insights, with Lighthouse Health and Wellness and he explains to Erin the impact they're able to have with boots on the ground members. Rich also shares what prompted him to step out from behind the keyboard, with eloquent articles about his experience gaining traction and being sharing more on social media, including starting The Responder Reset Podcast. We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! Rich is the Bostonian big brother Erin needed in her life and his raw, humble authenticity is only matched by his desire to truly help those First Responders in need. He knows, because he's walked this path himself. He understands that the right help shouldn't be challenging to find or limited, because of a gatekeeping culture focused on grift and exclusivity, instead of what's actually needed. Find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-creamer-60bb37171/ Follow him on IG: @rich.creamer_77 or @theresponderresetpodcast Catch the podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-responder-reset-podcast/id1846142502 Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane. Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695 YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station! Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
