Mental health and therapy Episodes

April 19, 2023

Getting Past Your Past: Thriving After Adversity | S3 E16

Join us on Responder Resilience as we welcome former SWAT Operator and keynote speaker Laura G. Hanson. As the only female on the full-time SWAT Team in Virginia Beach for over 4 years, Laura has a wealth of experience to share. She'll discuss her memoir "Why I Went In," her work as CEO of Brain Bu…

Guest: Laura G. Hanson

April 4, 2023

Revolutionary Medicine: Reinventing the Emergency Medical Response | S3 E14

In this episode, Bonnie and David speak with Dr. Peter M. Antevy about managing mental health challenges at critical incidents, the story behind creating the Handtevy App, and how it saves lives and significantly reduces medication errors.

Guest: Peter Antevy, MD

March 29, 2023

Responder Retirement: Navigating Life 2.0 (Part 2) | S3 E13

In the second part of this mini-documentary, Responder Resilience continues the deep dive into the topic of first responder retirement. We are joined by a panel of twenty one retired or active first responders and resilience experts, representing law enforcement, the fire service, EMS, dispatch, an…

Guests: Ray Connors , Anne and Mike Gagliano , Matt Domyancic , Dan Welch , Steve Zagami , Ernie Stevens , Patrick Fitzgibbons , Edmund Russell , Adam A. Meyers , Scott Medlin , Jonni Redick , John Kelly , Denise Beard , Dr. Olivia Johnson , Kasey Brainerd , David H. Ferris Jr. , Mike Grasso , Gordon MacCalla , Peter Marengo , Angela Matthews , Jeff Ward

March 22, 2023

Responder Retirement: Navigating Life 2.0 (Part 1) | S3 E12

In this two part mini-documentary, Responder Resilience does a deep dive into the topic of first responder retirement. We are joined by a panel of twenty one retired or active first responders and resilience experts, representing law enforcement, the fire service, EMS, dispatch, animal control, and…

Guests: Ray Connors , Anne and Mike Gagliano , Matt Domyancic , Dan Welch , Steve Zagami , Ernie Stevens , Patrick Fitzgibbons , Edmund Russell , Adam A. Meyers , Scott Medlin , Jonni Redick , John Kelly , Denise Beard , Dr. Olivia Johnson , Kasey Brainerd , David H. Ferris Jr. , Mike Grasso , Gordon MacCalla , Peter Marengo , Angela Matthews , Jeff Ward

March 15, 2023

Family Matters: Managing the Psychological Costs of the Job | S3 E11

We’re joined by Giovanni Rocco, retired LEO and FBI covert operative and author of the book “Giovanni’s Ring: My life Inside the Real Sopranos”. Giovanni talks about the toll the job takes, and the unwitting sacrifices our spouses and children make as a result of the first responder profession. Gi…

Guest: Giovanni Rocco

Feb. 15, 2023

A Happier Hour — The Journey to Recovery and Wellness | S3 E7

We’re joined by retired firefighter and Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, John Vargo, who shares his personal struggle with burnout, anxiety, anger, and dependence on alcohol during his honest and raw interview with Bonnie and David. John describes hitting bottom, and finding his way out …

Guest: John Vargo

Feb. 8, 2023

Life After EMS: Departure With A Purpose | S3 E6

In this episode, Bonnie and David speak with Denise Beard, who began in EMS in 1992. We explore the pitfalls of burnout and compassion fatigue, what happens after you leave EMS, and how to move forward into a new mission and purpose after being a first responder.

Guest: Denise Beard

Jan. 18, 2023

Innovative Leadership for a Culture of Wellness | S3 E3

We’re joined by Neil Gang, Chief of the Pinole, California Police Department since 2014, who has served in law enforcement for over 34 years. Neil is the author of the Asher Model 7 Point Approach to a Culture of Wellness, and the host of the 6th Pillar Podcast. His innovative work as a law enforc…

Guest: Neil H. Gang

Dec. 7, 2022

Staying Fit for Duty: Conquer Your Job Stress and Trauma | S2 E49

Our guest is Scott Medlin, a Marine Corps and Law Enforcement Veteran, Author, Speaker, and host of The 10 Code Mindset podcast. Scott Medlin mentors police officers using powerful tools that enable them to make self-care and life fulfillment a priority, even when they're constantly being called to…

Guest: Scott Medlin

Nov. 23, 2022

The Silent Epidemic in Police Officer Mental Health | S2 E47

In April 2016, Police Officer Adam A. Meyers was involved in a critical incident when he used deadly force against someone who armed themselves with a hatchet inside a busy department store. In the aftermath of this incident, Meyers was plagued with trauma and guilt, descending into a spiral of …

Guest: Adam A. Meyers

Oct. 26, 2022

Mental Health Cops: Connecting with Empathy | S2 E43

Join us for a conversation with Ernie Stevens from the Emmy Award Winning HBO Documentary, Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops.

Guest: Ernie Stevens

Sept. 21, 2022

CopShock: Normal Reactions to Abnormal Stress | S2 E38

In this episode, we’ll be speaking with trauma expert and author of the book CopShock, Allen Kates, about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and how to survive it by employing resiliency techniques.

Guest: Allen Kates

Sept. 7, 2022

Pete & Scott: Crisis Intervention Team | S2 E36

Crisis Intervention Team coordinator Peter Elste works closely with Crisis Intervention Clinician Scott Alvord on the Danbury Police Crisis Intervention Team. Together, they respond to calls involving mental and behavioral issues to help connect people to available services.

Guests: Peter Elste , Scott Alvord, LCSW

Aug. 31, 2022

Trooper Turned Therapist - Tackling Trauma with Timely Tools | S2 E35

Sonny Provetto is a former state trooper, EMDR clinician and a trauma consultant for police departments and emergency responders nationwide.

Guest: Sonny Provetto

Aug. 17, 2022

The Reality of PTSD When Children Die S2 | E33

Throughout his 46 year career as a Fire Captain and Investigator, Patrick Wills had seen more than his share of trauma and death, but it wasn’t until he responded to a tragic fire that claimed the lives of three young sisters that he unknowingly descended into total PTSD.

Guests: Patrick Wills , Kim O'Neill

July 10, 2022

How EMDR Works: What You Should Know | S2 E27

First Responder therapists Dr. Stacy Raymond and Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW will be talking about EMDR, a powerfully effective way to take the charge out of stressful memories and reprocess them.

Guests: Stacy Raymond , Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW/EMT

July 2, 2022

Relentless Courage: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma | S2 E26

Every day, thousands of police officers put themselves at risk to keep others safe. Sgt. Michael Sugrue was one of them. He has been on the front lines of the battle against duty induced trauma since he responded to a fatal officer involved shooting that instantly changed his whole world. Watch to …

Guest: Michael Sugrue

June 24, 2022

FrontlineCT: Breaking the Mental Health Stigma | S2 E25

We speak with Steven Wilcox Director of Education for FrontlineCT about their first responder peer support program and the stigma around first responder mental health.

Guest: Steven Wilcox

Feb. 23, 2022

Grace Under Fire - Spirituality In The Trenches

Matt Domyancic, the Tactical Chaplain, offers his modern spiritual approach to help police officers and firefighters who are "in the trenches".

Guest: Matt Domyancic

Feb. 9, 2022

Finding The Right Therapist, When Your Comfort Zone Is Chaos

With Deputy Fire Chief / Paramedic Bernie Meehan Jr., a true icon of emergency services in Connecticut, about Peer Support and Finding an Appropriate Clinician in the “New” Emergency Services.

Guest: Bernie Meehan, Jr.

Jan. 12, 2022

Support From Superiors - Do They Have Your Back?

In this episode, Dr. Stacy Raymond, Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW/EMT and Lt. David Dachinger (Ret.) talk about Institutional Abandonment in emergency services.

Guests: Stacy Raymond , Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW/EMT , David Dachinger

Jan. 5, 2022

Story of a Trauma Response Team

Guests, Dawn Roy LCSW and EMDR Therapist, and Captain Jacques Roy speak about the birth of Fairfield County Trauma Response Team.

Guests: Jacques Roy , Dawn Roy, LCSW