Resilience Development in Action: First Responder Mental Health

Steve Bisson
  • 5.0 (21)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Discover practical resilience strategies that transform lives. Join Steve Bisson, licensed mental health counselor, as he guides first responders, leaders, and trauma survivors through actionable insights for mental wellness and professional growth.Each week, dive deep into real conversations about grief processing, trauma recovery, and leadership development. Whether you're a first responder facing daily challenges, a leader navigating high-pressure situations, or someone on their healing journey, this podcast delivers the tools and strategies you need to build lasting resilience.With over 20 years of mental health counseling experience, Steve brings authentic, professional expertise to every episode, making complex mental health concepts accessible and applicable to real-world situations. Featured topics include:• Practical resilience building strategies• First responder mental wellness• Trauma recovery and healing• Leadership development• Grief processing• Professional growth• Mental health insights • Help you on your healing journey Each week, join our community towards better mental health and turn your challenges into opportunities for growth with Resilience Development in Action.

  1. E.244 What First Responders Want From Therapy And Group Work

    5D AGO

    E.244 What First Responders Want From Therapy And Group Work

    Send a text What do first responders actually need from therapy to make it stick? We unpack fresh survey results from 46 clients and more than 30 first responders to surface what’s working, what’s missing, and the changes we’re rolling out next. From session length and structure to real follow-up and safer groups, this is a candid look at the nuts and bolts of care that moves the needle. We dig into why 60 minutes often isn’t enough and how a 90-minute option creates space to warm up, process, and land with a clear plan. We’re honest about insurance friction and share practical paths forward, including an optional add-on that protects access without cutting depth. You’ll also hear how our first responder group keeps trust high with two hard lines—strict confidentiality and a no-apologies norm—so people can speak plainly about trauma, hypervigilance, substance use, and family strain without fear of gossip or judgment. A big theme is momentum between sessions. Listeners asked for homework, short videos, book recs, and a single “action before next session” to keep progress alive on real shifts like sleep, sobriety, anger, or communication. We share how we’re building lightweight follow-ups that fit busy schedules and how wellness visits, vetted resources, and culturally competent clinicians can make help easier to find and safer to use. We also preview more solo segments by request, upcoming presentations, and a growing network designed to connect police, fire, and EMS with trusted treatment options across Massachusetts. If you care about first responder mental health, you’ll leave with clarity on what changes are coming—longer sessions, stronger follow-up, and a tighter, safer community of support. Listen, share your take, and help shape what rolls out next. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the one change you want to see first. Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    14 min
  2. E.243 Leading With Care: Real Support For First Responders Part 2

    FEB 25

    E.243 Leading With Care: Real Support For First Responders Part 2

    Send a text Stigma keeps too many first responders silent, and silence can cost careers, health, and lives. We sit down with a former deputy sheriff and burnout expert AK Dozanti  to map clear, practical ways leaders and peers can replace fear with trust—without waiting for a crisis to force the issue. From the first honest check-in to a policy that actually protects time for care, we unpack what real support looks like on and off shift. We talk about the gap between leadership and the line, and how to close it with routine, human conversations—quarterly coffee, or even better, side-by-side cruiser rides that make it easier to open up. You’ll hear why “the opposite of depression is expression,” how to speak up safely using unions and peer support, and why building a pre-crisis network is the strongest predictor of bouncing back after critical incidents. We also get candid about therapy: EAPs help, but cultural awareness matters. When clinicians understand shift work, critical incidents, and the code of the job, responders stop giving “safe” answers and start telling the truth. We spotlight two resources built for the field. Beat the Burnout reverse-engineers burnout with stepwise guidance and constant actions you can use even when your brain is crispy. Responder Reset delivers 99 “read-this-when” tactics for moments like wired-but-tired or post-incident spikes—grounding, bilateral stimulation, breathing, and proprioceptive tools explained in plain language with tactical trade-offs. Leaders will learn why embedded clinicians accelerate trust, how annual wellness visits normalize care before it’s urgent, and how to frame mental health in practical, tactical terms that earn buy-in. If you value practical tools over platitudes, this conversation is for you. Listen, share it with your shift, and tell us: what one change would make your department safer to speak up? Subscribe for more candid, field-tested strategies, and leave a review to help other first responders find this show. Visit her website at: www.akdozanti.com Freed.ai: We’ll Do Your SOAP Notes!Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    35 min
  3. E.243 How A Cop-Turned-Coach Helps First Responders Heal And Lead

    FEB 18

    E.243 How A Cop-Turned-Coach Helps First Responders Heal And Lead

    Send a text When a split-second choice could become tomorrow’s headline, how do you stay human under the uniform? We sit down with former deputy sheriff turned coach and author AK Dozanti to unpack the real toll of first responder life—and the science-backed tools that help you heal without losing your edge. AK traces a rare path: undercover ICAC work at 19, road patrol, officer of the year, rapid burnout, then a pivot into victim advocacy, graduate study in criminology and victimology, yoga teacher training, and ultimately a mission to coach police, fire, EMS, and dispatch. She shares how early suicide losses set a hidden baseline for stress, why trauma is a near-universal experience rather than a diagnosis, and how high-velocity calls collide with a nervous system built for survival, not perfection. We break down the biology of stress—adrenaline surges, the brainstem’s grip, and the prefrontal cortex going offline—and show how that clashes with modern expectations: body cams rolling, phones pointed, pristine Miranda, and zero room for error. We also tackle the weight of public narratives: how one viral failure can stain an entire profession, how ambushes and doxxing amplify hypervigilance, and why the “off switch” at home can be the hardest skill of all. AK offers practical, field-tested resets for the nervous system—slow exhale breathing, orienting, grounding through the feet, and micro-recoveries between calls—along with culture shifts leaders can make today: protect days off, normalize precise language around suicide, include dispatch in wellness training, and reward process over speed. The goal isn’t spin; it’s operational readiness and human dignity. If you serve on the front lines or love someone who does, this conversation gives you language, tools, and hope. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review to help more first responders find what they need. What practice will you try first? Visit her website at: www.akdozanti.com Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    28 min
  4. E.242 Why Emotional Safety Makes Therapy Work For Police, Fire, And EMS (Part 2)

    FEB 11

    E.242 Why Emotional Safety Makes Therapy Work For Police, Fire, And EMS (Part 2)

    Send a text The hardest stories rarely get told in the places that need them most. Susan Roggendorf and I open the door to how confidentiality truly works for police, fire, EMS, dispatchers, and medics—and why airtight boundaries are the backbone of real therapeutic change. No nods in public that out you, no name drops across departments, and no casual mentions that break trust. HIPAA is the law, but it is also a lived ethic that lets you speak freely without risking your reputation or your career. We get candid about the therapist–client relationship: professional, paid, and deeply human. It feels friendly at times because safety grows where pain is met with care. We talk about scheduling like chess to avoid back-to-back clients from the same team, navigating community run-ins, and letting clients choose whether to say hello or keep distance. Culture fit matters—dark humor, blunt talk, and straight answers help first responders feel seen. Sometimes the most therapeutic move is five minutes of sports talk to let your nervous system shift gears before you tackle the call you can’t shake. We dig into vicarious trauma and why “talk to a friend” isn’t enough. Friends can support you; therapists are trained to hear what is unsaid, track patterns over time, and offer clear choices: do you want support or solutions today? That simple question hands back control when so much of the job strips it away. We challenge the quiet shaming of help-seeking and argue for a culture that treats mental health like gear maintenance—nonnegotiable for readiness and longevity. If you’ve wondered whether a therapist will keep your confidence, or how therapy can actually work for your world, you’ll hear real practices that protect privacy and deepen trust. Walk away with language to set boundaries, insight into how clinicians think, and a clearer path to care that respects the badge and the person behind it. To reach Susan, please go to https://psychhub.com/us/provider/susan-roggendorf/1316326036 If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with your crew, and leave a review so more first responders can find it. Your feedback keeps this work moving. Freed.ai: We’ll Do Your SOAP Notes!Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    37 min
  5. E. 242 Please Stop Asking Cops About Dead Bodies Part 1

    FEB 4

    E. 242 Please Stop Asking Cops About Dead Bodies Part 1

    Send a text Ever been told to “suck it up” after a call that split your world in two? We challenge that script with a grounded, respectful look at how first responders can access care that actually helps. Steve sits down with licensed clinician and podcaster Susan Roggendorf for a candid, unfiltered conversation about culture, stigma, and practical support for police, fire, EMS, dispatch, ER, ICU, NICU, and corrections. We unpack why the tired question “What’s the worst thing you’ve seen?” is not only unhelpful but harmful—and what clinicians should ask instead. Susan shares her background serving LGBTQ clients and first responders, detailing how role-specific stressors shape symptoms: from dispatchers carrying incomplete stories and auditory flashbacks, to EMS haunted by pediatric calls, to ER staff absorbing wave after wave of crisis without pause. Together, we outline a trauma-informed approach that centers consent, pacing, and control, building skills that fit real shifts: brief grounding, tactical breathing, movement that discharges stress, and cognitive resets you can use between calls. This episode also draws a clear map of the first responder circle without watering it down. We talk moral injury, hypervigilance, sleep disruption, and why peer support must be more than a checkbox. You’ll hear podcasting war stories, yes, but also a deeper point: humility and repair are part of resilience, whether in a studio or on a scene. If you’ve ever sat through a therapy session that felt like a TV script, this is your reset. Expect real language, straight answers, and tools you can put to work immediately. To reach Susan, please go to https://psychhub.com/us/provider/susan-roggendorf/1316326036 Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    28 min
  6. E.241 Step Away From The Cape, You’re Not The Department Of Everything

    JAN 28

    E.241 Step Away From The Cape, You’re Not The Department Of Everything

    Send a text If you’re the one everyone turns to, you might be carrying more than you realize. We sit down with psychotherapist and mental wellness consultant Leah Marone to unpack the “serial fixer” habit—why it thrives in first responder culture and how it quietly fuels burnout, resentment, and frayed relationships. Leah works extensively with police, fire, EMS, and dispatch, and she brings sharp, compassionate insights you can use today without adding hours to your schedule. We break down the real difference between therapy and consulting, then rebuild the foundation of wellness with small, sustainable practices: bookending your mornings and nights, using micro resets during daily transitions, and reclaiming self-care as single-task presence instead of numbing or multitasking. Leah introduces a practical rule that changes conversations fast—support, don’t solve—along with validation skills that help teammates, partners, and kids think more clearly and take ownership. You’ll hear how the fixer impulse can become “compassion as control,” why quick advice often backfires, and how to replace that urge with grounded presence. Expect concrete tools and memorable metaphors. The internal “balloon” lets you notice pressure before it pops, and that shaken “soda bottle” reminds you to release slowly, not explode. We also cover sleep hygiene as the no‑nonsense cornerstone of recovery, data collection to challenge “dark cloud” thinking, and first responder-ready ways to downshift from high gear without losing your edge. If you want stronger boundaries, steadier energy, and deeper connection, this conversation will help you change your default settings. To reach Leah, here is the link to her work: https://linktr.ee/leahmaronelcsw If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a teammate who needs lighter armor, and leave a quick review so more first responders can find these tools. Your support helps this community stay sharp, safe, and human. Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    43 min
  7. E.240 When Systems Fail: First Responders, Crisis Work, And The Cost Of Care Part 2

    JAN 23

    E.240 When Systems Fail: First Responders, Crisis Work, And The Cost Of Care Part 2

    Send a text The calls keep coming, but the solutions don’t. We sit down with crisis clinician and EMDR therapist Morgan Yaskus to trace how a frayed safety net pushes first responders into impossible roles—and how that mismatch breeds moral injury. From long drives to the nearest DMV or ER to midnight discharges with no plan, we map the structural barriers that turn compassion into exhaustion and good intentions into public criticism. Morgan shares what mobile crisis teams can do well—resolving most calls on scene, staying with families after deaths, and offering a humane handoff—and where policy still ties everyone’s hands. We talk about the revolving door of brief psychiatric evaluations, the bureaucratic maze of IDs and benefits, and the social media spotlight that amplifies one bad moment over a hundred quiet saves. Small towns feel this even harder: everyone knows everyone, scanners travel fast, and rumors outrun the facts. We also get practical. Morgan explains how EMDR intensives can speed recovery from single‑incident trauma, why embedded wellness trainings reduce stigma, and how family wellness programs give spouses and kids tools to navigate shift work, hypervigilance, and communication breakdowns. The theme isn’t “do more with less.” It’s “build a system that holds what responders are asked to carry,” with warm handoffs, guaranteed short holds, transport support, and streamlined ID recovery to break the cycle. If you care about first responder mental health, this conversation is a map and a motivator. Listen, share with your team, and send this to someone who thinks burnout is a willpower issue. Then tap follow, leave a quick review to help others find the show, and tell us: what single policy change would make the biggest difference where you live? To contact Morgan, go to her website at www.bewildandrooted.com Freed.ai: We’ll Do Your SOAP Notes!Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    30 min
  8. E. 240 Alaska, Crisis, And The Thin Line Part 1

    JAN 21

    E. 240 Alaska, Crisis, And The Thin Line Part 1

    Send a text The toughest calls rarely end when the sirens go quiet. We sat down with Alaska-based counselor Morgan Yaskus to explore how real support for police, fire, EMS, dispatchers, and paramedics takes shape in small communities where everyone knows your truck, your shift, and your business. Morgan spent three years on a nonprofit-led mobile crisis team working alongside first responders through MOUs, navigating scenes that were neither strictly medical nor criminal. That proximity reshaped how debriefs happen, how trust is earned, and why cultural competence matters more than any script. We get honest about the barriers that keep first responders from care: parking outside a therapy office that sits between the firehouse and PD, the risk of being recognized by neighbors, and the thin bench of clinicians who truly “get it.” Morgan breaks down what helpful looks like—clear boundaries, discreet logistics, and a therapist who understands dark humor without pathologizing it. We challenge voyeuristic “worst call” questions and focus instead on regulation, meaning-making, and peer-informed support that fits the tempo of the job. Beyond the room, access and policy loom large. Telehealth opened doors, but interstate licensure compacts and reimbursement rates remain sticking points in places with higher costs of living. We talk ethical realities in rural practice, the trade-offs when conflicts of interest are unavoidable, and the duty to serve when the alternative is no care at all. If you’re a responder, a clinician, or a leader trying to build a healthier department, you’ll leave with practical steps for debriefs, privacy, and finding culturally competent help. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with your team, and join us for Part 2! To reach Morgan, go to www.bewildandrooted.com Freed.ai: We’ll Do Your SOAP Notes!Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast

    30 min
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5
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About

Discover practical resilience strategies that transform lives. Join Steve Bisson, licensed mental health counselor, as he guides first responders, leaders, and trauma survivors through actionable insights for mental wellness and professional growth.Each week, dive deep into real conversations about grief processing, trauma recovery, and leadership development. Whether you're a first responder facing daily challenges, a leader navigating high-pressure situations, or someone on their healing journey, this podcast delivers the tools and strategies you need to build lasting resilience.With over 20 years of mental health counseling experience, Steve brings authentic, professional expertise to every episode, making complex mental health concepts accessible and applicable to real-world situations. Featured topics include:• Practical resilience building strategies• First responder mental wellness• Trauma recovery and healing• Leadership development• Grief processing• Professional growth• Mental health insights • Help you on your healing journey Each week, join our community towards better mental health and turn your challenges into opportunities for growth with Resilience Development in Action.

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