Hi!
I’m Helen. I am a paramedic and resilience coach.
I started this blog as a way to talk to my fellow medics about how to have a long, safe career without being overwhelmed by the stress of the job. In other words, how to be resilient. There are too many medics, firefighters, police officers, deputies, and many others in public safety that seem to fall by the wayside because they did not know how to deal with the trauma and horror that we often see. They do not teach us that in medic school, right? So we get burned out, PTSD, OCD, and all those other acronyms that keep us from enjoying the job we used to love.
I have been a paramedic over 31 years in an urban system in North Carolina. Before becoming a paid provider, I volunteered 7 years in some rural and suburban systems. I have had my ups and downs, but managed to get through them. I did not always manage it well, though.
After watching my peers go through some of the same problems I had been through, I figured I could do something to help them and others manage their stress better. So, I went to school and got a masters in professional counseling. Now I am a licensed professional counselor associate in NC.
The thing is, counseling only helps after the stress has become too much to bear. We need to keep people from needing counseling! That is why I started this blog. It will be a source of information to help you know what I have learned about managing stress. I sincerely hope it will keep other medics from burning out or worse. So, twice each week (usually Monday and Thursday) I will share from my heart information about physical, mental, emotions, dietary, and other areas of interest that will help you be a resilient medic.
I hope you will enjoy reading my posts to you. I really do want to hear your comments and suggestions.
My current credentials include:
- NC Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA #A11538)
- NC Paramedic (#P028391)
- International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC): Community Paramedic (CP-C #141)
- ICISF Approved Instructor (#1627)
- Mental Health First Aid Approved Instructor