 Building trust with first responders in a counseling relationship involves addressing their unique needs and challenges. Here are some factors that can promote trust between a counseling professional and first responders:
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 Firefighters have a unique bond and understanding due to the nature of their work. The peer support system within the firefighting community can be a valuable resource for emotional support and assistance. Here's how firefighters can lean on their peer support system:
 Supporting new hires in the fire department is crucial for their successful integration into the team and their overall professional development. Here are some ways to provide support to new hires:
 Sleep deprivation can have a significant impact on firefighters' overall well-being and job performance. Here are some effects of sleep deprivation on firefighters:
 When scheduling their first counseling appointment, firefighters may want to consider the following things:
Don't ever hesitate to reach out to directly Hayne Steen at hayne@elbowtreecooperative.com.  In the spring of 2017, my daughter broke both of her arms while skating at the skatepark in downtown Chattanooga. When we learned that she had taken such a hard fall, we took her directly to the emergency room. She came home with shiny new new casts on each of her freshly broken arms. She wore casts on both of her arms until the end of that school year.
At the last visit to her bone doctor, he pulled out two x-rays. “Sadie, this image is from the day you came into our office with two broken arms.” I could see both breaks were clean and distinct. He went on to say, “Sadie, this next image is an x-ray we took today. Look at all that new bone. Your arms have never been stronger.” When I think of emotional or psychological injuries, I can not help but remember those parting words from the bone doctor. “Your arms have never been stronger.” The doctor defined for me that day the clearest definition of post-traumatic growth. When treated in a timely and intentional manner, both of my daughters arms were able to heal correctly. She went on to play four seasons of varsity basketball at her high school and even went to the state tournament finishing in the final four in the state of Florida. Her senior year she was the team captain and had an absolutely magical season. Her team had relied on both of her strong arms for four wonderful seasons. She recently graduated from high school and at her celebration dinner with all of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins present. I took a few minutes to remind her again of those same words from her doctor. I wanted her to remember that brokenness is not the final answer. What can happen in and beyond brokenness is remarkable when we take the time to treat it with the care it deserves and needs. In the fire service, you will experience physical, emotional, and psychological injuries. This is not just a likely event but certain as the work have chosen to do brings an inherent risk and likelihood. Good news! You have choices. You can choose to avoid the injury and it will likely become post-traumatic stress or worse. I’d like to advocate for you to address the injury. Research reveals that when you take an active approach to treating emotional injuries, you will likely experience “post-traumatic growth.” So how do I begin to effectively treat emotional injuries? Counseling: Reach out to an Elbow Tree counselor to schedule your first appointment. Call 904-877-4750 or email catherine@elbowtreecooperative.com to initiate getting scheduled. Education: Read (1) “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown or (2) “The Body Keeps the Score - Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessell Van Der Kolk, MD Listen: Check out a handful of thoughtful podcasts that promote emotional and psychological resilience. (1) Hidden Brain podcast (2) Unlocking Us podcast (3) Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast. Watch: (1) Good Will Hunting (2) Inside Out (3) In Treatment (television series on HBO) (4) Ted Lasso There are so many amazing resources for taking a look at creative ways to attend to your inner life. May each of these be a helpful tool for cultivating new growth in your life!  Firefighters, like anyone else, may have various reasons for resisting or being hesitant to go to counseling. Here are some common reasons. How true do these feel to you?
Interested in scheduling a counseling appointment with Elbow Tree? CALL 904.877.4750.. The first call will be focused on gathering some key info from you in order to link you with the most appropriate member of our counseling team. Once you've been linked with one of our counselors, they will personally reach out by phone and email to get the ball rolling to get you scheduled.  Firefighters can engage in various activities for self-care to promote their well-being. Here are ten examples:
Interested in scheduling a counseling appointment with Elbow Tree? CALL 904.877.4750.. The first call will be focused on gathering some key info from you in order to link you with the most appropriate member of our counseling team. Once you've been linked with one of our counselors, they will personally reach out by phone and email to get the ball rolling to get you scheduled. by Hayne Steen, LMHC  People typically come into therapy when a circumstance, relationship or mental health issue activates an uncomfortable amount of pain and distress. It tends to be more of a reactive relationship with counseling.
The best time to get a mental health resource in place is before tragedy strikes. A trusted friend of mine calls this “digging your well before you’re thirsty.” Getting established with a mental health counselor at Elbow Tree who you trust could be one critical way you prepare for trouble ahead. Let’s face it. Life throws us some menacing curve balls.
In a world full of so much trouble, we can become jaded believing that world is ONLY trouble. Sometimes we just need some help leaning into the trouble as we learn how to hunt for the good. (good, beautiful and true) in the midst of our devastation. Counseling is a space completely dedicated to promoting human resilience where we (1) can name the trouble we've known, (3) begin to hunt for the good and (3) grow in our ability to determine for ourselves what kinds of things are helpful to us and what things (practices, people, priorities) are actually quite harmful to us. Did you know that the severity of the impact of trauma is determined by two things? Frequency and duration. The greater the frequency and longer the duration of the trauma exposure, the more dynamic the emotional and psychological injury will be. Your job serving in fire rescue guarantees you will experience both frequent and enduring vicarious (nearby) and direct (head on) exposures to trauma. Your years of dedicated and faithful service to the fire rescue service will leave a harmful impression. Not everyone wants to go to counseling. You are not alone if you experience a noticeable inner resistance to meeting with a counselor. We get it! It’s a massively vulnerable step to take. Firefighters are not the only ones who experience resistance. Here are a handful of "Reasons why people refuse to see a counselor." Do any of these feel familiar?
Each of the reasons to refuse counseling listed above are honest and legitimate expressions of resistance to pursuing therapy. Here's what I'd like for you to consider.
If you think you'd like to explore having a regular space like this, don't hesitate to reach out and set up your first session, You can call our live operator 24/7 at (904) 877-4750 and we will be in touch within 24 hours and get you scheduled for your first appointment within 7-10 days.  Maintaining a strong and healthy marriage or partnership can be challenging for firefighters due to the unique demands and stresses of the profession. Here are some tips for firefighter couples.:
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