I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness - A First Responder Mental Health Podcast

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Josh Bailey, a Veteran of the Australian Defence Force, both enlisted and as a reservist and former police officer with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Protective Services, where he performed duties as an Air Marshall.

Josh left the AFP after an on-duty motor vehicle accident, which resulted in a PTSD diagnosis. He is a registered provisional psychologist in Australia, almost finished his Master's of Professional Practice in Psychology and is also a member of Disaster Relief Australia, a veteran focused, volunteer disaster recovery organisation, with multiple deployments to emergencies and natural disasters, across Australia and New Zealand.

Josh and Erin discuss his incredible life of service, in so many varied capacities, including joining the Australian Army Reserves at 17 and becoming a member of the 1st Commando Regiment (Reserve Special Forces). Josh is open and honest about his pride of attaining his "green beret" but that he was disappointed that he wasn't suited to the role as much as he'd hoped.

Josh tells Erin about joining the Australian Protective Services and that he was amongst the first group to go through the Air Marshalls training, something that ramped up after September 11th, then his lateral switch over to the Australian Federal Police, based in and around Canberra.

He discloses a rather toxic culture at play in the force at the time he was in General Duties and the circumstances surrounding an awful motor vehicle accident that occurred at a high rate of speed whilst on duty. Josh sustained psychological trauma as a result of the accident and ended up with a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis, which is one of the primary reasons he left the job.

He moved to Queensland with his partner Tracey and enlisted in the ADF as a Fitter & Turner, however his mental health battles became overwhelming during this service and he was medically discharged in 2020.

Josh has since found purpose with his psychology studies and strongly believes having endured significant mental health challenges himself, places him in an excellent position to be able to help others in the future, as a registered psychologist.

He has also found a wonderful sense of purpose and community with the veteran focused, Disaster Relief Australia organisation.

This was a wonderful conversation, full of some brutal honesty, funny stories and basically just two Aussies having a laugh and a chin-wag. Josh is completely open, about his mental health, triumphs and disappointments along the way, in an authentic manner that not many could emulate or live up to.

This conversation is evidence of the kinds of connections that can be generated through the power of the First Responder Mental Health community and social media.

You can follow Josh on Instagram with the handle ⁠⁠@the_everyday_prov_psych

Find out more about DRA here: https://disasterreliefaus.org/

We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share!

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin jumps on to talk about the incredibly heavy start to this year for First Responders, especially those in the Law Enforcement community, with the news of police officers being shot and killed in the line of duty populating our news feeds almost daily.

It strikes at the heart of anyone who has ever worn the uniform and Erin talks about the heartache, as the spouse of a fellow First Responder, of how difficult it can be to watch your partner leave for work, not knowing if they'll return and how fearful and anxiety inducing it must be to be a wife/husband/spouse/partner of anyone in Law Enforcement right now.

She discusses the number of officers lost so far this year, not only in the line of duty, but also to suicide and shares some data and statistics from the National Fraternal Order of Police and Blue Help.

Erin segways into the fact that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and talks about how crucially important it is for First Responders and Emergency Services members to take their mental health seriously, given all that they see, do and are exposed to. She encourages everyone listening to take this month as an opportunity to evaluate what kind of coping skills, strategies and mechanisms you have at your disposal, whether you feel like you're in need of them or not, as the more you have in your "tool kit" should the need arise, the better. Be proactive in knowing what services are available and even try adding a new coping skill into the mix this month!

Lastly, Erin talks about The Overwatch Collective's "50 Miles To Memorial Day Challenge", which she's participating in this year. It's encouraging people to walk, run, hike or ruck 50 miles/80.4km before Memorial Day and share it on social media, in order to raise awareness for their organisation, which funds therapy and coaching services, purely through donations alone, for First Responders, Military Veterans, their spouses and families. An incredibly worthy cause and Erin will be posting her progress and updates on Instagram and Facebook all month, with links to donate should you be in a position to.

We hope you enjoy this episode. It certainly discusses some heavy topics, but Erin felt the need to jump on, talk about and acknowledge the losses rippling through the First Responder, and in particular, Law Enforcement community right now.

This is where you can find information Erin referenced in the episode, as to the names and numbers of officers shot and killed in the line of duty:

https://national.fop.net/reportshotkilled512024#page=7

This is where you can see the information in regards to the losses of Law Enforcement to suicide that Erin mentioned:

https://bluehelp.org/honor-wall/

If you'd like to donate to The Overwatch Collective and help fund therapy and coaching services for First Responders and Military Veterans, please follow this link: https://www.theoverwatchcollective.com/donate

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_

Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Matt Pitcher, a former police officer with over 22 years experience in law enforcement, with both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD in North Carolina and Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida. His professional duties included extensive undercover experience, at both the State and Federal levels, involving drug trafficking, organised crime, political corruption and domestic terrorism. Matt even received the Medal of Valor for his role in one such case. Throughout his career, he had involvement in Major Crime invesitgations, involving rape, human trafficking and homicide, in particular one case involving a suspected serial killer.

Matt medically retired from law enforcement in late 2022 and kindly now, shares his stories and experiences in a mission to help fellow First Responders, especially Law Enforcement Officers, recognise the mental health implications of careers in these kinds of professions and encourage others to seek assistance when they need it and not leave it until it's too late.

(If you haven't already listened to Part 1, Episodes 21 & 22, and Start of Part 2, Episode 23, I encourage you to go back and listen, as this episode picks up exactly where the last episode left off). 

In their conversation, (Part 2 of 2) Matt tells Erin in detail about his second deep undercover investigation, where he infiltrated an environmental anarchist group, that had members within their ranks with plans on domestic terrorism. Namely, to bomb the Democratic National Convention in 2011.

This was completely different to his previous operation and a very different personality to portray, as well as demographic of people to ingratiate himself with. He spent most of his time with a very dangerous, manipulative and unpredictable man named Billy, in an organisation that styled themselves on Al Qaeda. 

As a result, he was able to provide information to his handler, which thwarted their efforts to conduct a catastrophic domestic terrorist attack. For his dedication to this investigation, Matt was awarded the Medal of Valor.

Suffice to say, two back to back undercover operations took their toll on Matt's mental health significantly, making acclimation back into his "real" life challenging at times.

Matt is really open and honest with Erin during this conversation, going in depth about the kind of psychological and physiological effects his career had on him. He has spoken often about his time as a police officer, but it's taken time for him to feel comfortable sharing the mental health aspects. But his desire to help others struggling and the catharsis he experiences sharing his story is all a part of his own healing process.

What a privilege it was for Erin to speak with Matt and hear about this aspect of his journey.

Matt is working on a book about his experiences and career and we think it will be an amazing read!

You can follow Matt on Instagram or TikTok with the handle ⁠@ret_det_mattpitcher⁠

We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Matt Pitcher, a former police officer with over 22 years experience in law enforcement, with both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD in North Carolina and Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida. His professional duties included extensive undercover experience, at both the State and Federal levels, involving drug trafficking, organised crime, political corruption and domestic terrorism. Matt even received the Medal of Valor for his role in one such case. Throughout his career, he had involvement in Major Crime invesitgations, involving rape, human trafficking and homicide, in particular one case involving a suspected serial killer.

Matt medically retired from law enforcement in late 2022 and kindly now, shares his stories and experiences in a mission to help fellow First Responders, especially Law Enforcement Officers, recognise the mental health implications of careers in these kinds of professions and encourage others to seek assistance when they need it and not leave it until it's too late.

(If you haven't already listened to Part 1, Episodes 21 & 22, I encourage you to go back and listen, as this episode picks up exactly where the last episode left off).

In their conversation, (Part 2 of 2) Matt tells Erin in detail about his second deep undercover investigation, where he infiltrated an environmental anarchist group, that had members within their ranks with plans on domestic terrorism. Namely, to bomb the Democratic National Convention in 2011.

This was completely different to his previous operation and a very different personality to portray, as well as demographic of people to ingratiate himself with. He spent most of his time with a very dangerous, manipulative and unpredictable man named Billy, in an organisation that styled themselves on Al Qaeda.

As a result, he was able to provide information to his handler, which thwarted their efforts to conduct a catastrophic domestic terrorist attack. For his dedication to this investigation, Matt was awarded the Medal of Valor.

Suffice to say, two back to back undercover operations took their toll on Matt's mental health significantly, making acclimation back into his "real" life challenging at times.

Matt is really open and honest with Erin during this conversation, going in depth about the kind of psychological and physiological effects his career had on him. He has spoken often about his time as a police officer, but it's taken time for him to feel comfortable sharing the mental health aspects. But his desire to help others struggling and the catharsis he experiences sharing his story is all a part of his own healing process.

What a privilege it was for Erin to speak with Matt and hear about this aspect of his journey.

Matt is working on a book about his experiences and career and we think it will be an amazing read!

You can follow Matt on Instagram or TikTok with the handle @ret_det_mattpitcher

We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Matt Pitcher, a former police officer with over 22 years experience in law enforcement, with both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD in North Carolina and Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida. His professional duties included extensive undercover experience, at both the State and Federal levels, involving drug trafficking, organised crime, political corruption and domestic terrorism. Matt even received the Medal of Valor for his role in one such case. Throughout his career, he had involvement in Major Crime invesitgations, involving rape, human trafficking and homicide, in particular one case involving a suspected serial killer.

Matt medically retired from law enforcement in late 2022 and kindly now, shares his stories and experiences in a mission to help fellow First Responders, especially Law Enforcement Officers, recognise the mental health implications of careers in these kinds of professions and encourage others to seek assistance when they need it and not leave it until it's too late.

In their conversation, (Part 1 of 2) Matt tells Erin about his early years, where he was interested in acting, but how he'd always been fascinated with undercover work and after listening to his older brother's stories of his policing experiences, he decided to join too.

He talks about working in a busy part of Charlotte, NC and how his career trajectory was always focused towards working in an undercover capacity. That he worked hard and made his way to vice and narcotics, where he was able to pursue that aspiration.

Matt shares about one of the most tragic experiences of his career, in a personal and professional sense, the loss of two of his colleagues and good friends, Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton, in an ambush style Line of Duty Death. Erin and Matt discuss how a loss like that can truly haunt a police department.

He tells Erin about how generating Confidential Informants led to his first deep undercover, prolonged and protracted investigation, that ultimately began from an outlandish lie he told that spiraled into 18 months of drugs, strippers, nightclubs, fast cars, cash and organised crime. Matt shares that during this time, he had a wife and newborn baby at home, who he hardly got to see and how those factors impact an undercover investigator, as they very much live a double life. He even explains about the night he thought he was going to be killed, by the criminal he had befriended.

Matt and Erin ended up speaking for almost three hours together, so this episode is Part 1 of 2, ending just before Matt starts to discuss his second case involving deep undercover work, where he infiltrated an organisation with plans of domestic terrorism. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!

You can follow Matt on Instagram or TikTok with the handle @ret_det_mattpitcher

We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Matt Pitcher, a former police officer with over 22 years experience in law enforcement, with both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD in North Carolina and Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida. His professional duties included extensive undercover experience, at both the State and Federal levels, involving drug trafficking, organised crime, political corruption and domestic terrorism. Matt even received the Medal of Valor for his role in one such case. Throughout his career, he had involvement in Major Crime invesitgations, involving rape, human trafficking and homicide, in particular one case involving a suspected serial killer.

Matt medically retired from law enforcement in late 2022 and kindly now, shares his stories and experiences in a mission to help fellow First Responders, especially Law Enforcement Officers, recognise the mental health implications of careers in these kinds of professions and encourage others to seek assistance when they need it and not leave it until it's too late.

In their conversation, (Part 1 of 2) Matt tells Erin about his early years, where he was interested in acting, but how he'd always been fascinated with undercover work and after listening to his older brother's stories of his policing experiences, he decided to join too.

He talks about working in a busy part of Charlotte, NC and how his career trajectory was always focused towards working in an undercover capacity. That he worked hard and made his way to vice and narcotics, where he was able to pursue that aspiration.

Matt shares about one of the most tragic experiences of his career, in a personal and professional sense, the loss of two of his colleagues and good friends, Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton, in an ambush style Line of Duty Death. Erin and Matt discuss how a loss like that can truly haunt a police department.

He tells Erin about how generating Confidential Informants led to his first deep undercover, prolonged and protracted investigation, that ultimately began from an outlandish lie he told that spiraled into 18 months of drugs, strippers, nightclubs, fast cars, cash and organised crime. Matt shares that during this time, he had a wife and newborn baby at home, who he hardly got to see and how those factors impact an undercover investigator, as they very much live a double life. He even explains about the night he thought he was going to be killed, by the criminal he had befriended.

Matt and Erin ended up speaking for almost three hours together, so this episode is Part 1 of 2, ending just before Matt starts to discuss his second case involving deep undercover work, where he infiltrated an organisation with plans of domestic terrorism. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!

You can follow Matt on Instagram or TikTok with the handle @ret_det_mattpitcher

We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

What a fun conversation this was to have! In this episode, Erin speaks with James Boomhower, a Critical Care Transport Specialist - Paramedic, who has been involved with EMS for over 20 years, is the founder of Stay Fit 4 Duty, an organisation dedicated to bringing mental health wellness and awareness to the EMS and First Responder community, by promoting recognition, management and acceptance of acute stress in fellow frontline providers, he is a Graduate Intern in Clinical Psychology focusing on trauma and is the Lead Peer Support Director at Boston MedFlight.

James was kind enough to come join Erin in person, where they discussed his family background of First Responders and how, from a young age, he knew he wanted to help people and be one of the first on scene to be able to provide that initial, critical care.

He details becoming an EMS member in his teenage years and how showing any kind of emotion, was not encouraged. James explains his desire to continue to gain knowledge, experience and expertise in his field, leading him to his current position, as Critical Care Transport Specialist - Paramedic.

Erin and James talk about their shared interest in psychology and how his experiences in his profession eventually led him towards wanting to be a therapy provider for other First Responders. They discuss the power of holding space for someone to unburden themselves and know they are in a safe space, with someone who has a unique level of understanding. That peer support/CISM can actually offer a lot of benefits, especially when it's more focused on a proactive instead of reactive disposition. And how it's important for First Responders, at the beginning of their careers and as they progress through, to be educated on the kind of trauma they will inevitably be exposed to, how it can show up for them in their life and their body, what resources, assistance and tools are available for them and to encourage reaching out and accessing those resources when they're needed.

James also shares about the creation of Stay Fit 4 Duty, what the mission and purpose of the organisation is and how it's helping those in the First Responder community as a resource.

It was wonderful to speak with James and I'm so grateful for his time. He is a wealth of knowledge and resources in regards to mental health, peer support, CISM and everything First Responder related. You only have to speak with him for the briefest moment to hear and see how passionate he is about what he does, wearing many different hats in his various roles as paramedic, instructor, therapist, educator and all round great bloke.

Thanks for stopping by the "Rorschach Room" James!

Please check out his website and follow him on Instagram:

https://www.stayfit4duty.org/

@stay_fit4duty

We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this "Aussie Update", Erin Jane jumps on from her childhood backyard in Australia (where if you listen really closely, you can hear the birds and wildlife!) to check in and discuss her trip home.

She felt compelled to jump on for this quick episode, as there has been a lot of loss, sadness and tragedy in the First Responder and Emergency Services community of late. With multiple LODD and suicides in the USA, as well as three in Australia in the last week and a half, Erin just wanted to acknowledge these losses in our shared community and talk about the grief and despair felt when we lose on of our own.

She talks about catching up with many of her First Responder friends since she's been home in Australia, the conversations they've been having about the state of the job, the mental health situation and the burnout many are experiencing.

This episode is just a quick one, to share some thoughts in the moment, amongst the news of a significant number of losses. To say I hope you enjoy this episode doesn't really sound like the right way to phrase it....more I hope you can hear the genuine sadness I feel of losing more members to suicide, when there's so many of us in this community, trying to offer resources so that it doesn't happen anymore.

There is a wonderful kinship I feel to you, the listener, as I know you share in my grief at this kind of heartbreaking news and I always feel like I can share my thoughts, feelings and emotions and express authentic vulnerability amongst this "Darkness Community".

If you get to the end and feel the way I feel....thank you for listening. It's an honour to hold space for people's darkness and if you find yourself struggling, I am always a resource for you.

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this first solo episode for the year, Erin Jane jumps on to talk about how how everyone is travelling in 2024 as we approach the end of the first month of a brand new year!

She talks about the pressure a lot of people put on themselves, especially throughout the month of January, to live up to new habits, intentions and resolutions and how our mindset can have a significant effect on our levels of success. Erin talks about how we can set ourselves up for failure, leading us down the path of a Self Fulfilling Prophecy and how to avoid it.

She talks about how breaking down goals into small, incremental pieces, attaching new goals and intentions to already established habits to set yourself up for success and how celebrating small wins along the way is important.

Erin shares some wisdom her sister shared with her, about looking at a rhythm instead of a "routine", how changing your perspective on things and learning to have understanding and compassion can help you continue on when some days don't go to plan.

Erin shares a big win she's had in 2024 that means a lot to her and talks about an upcoming trip home to Australia. More importantly, she lives up to one of her own intentions for the year with doing more solo episodes!

Hope you enjoy this episode and tune in over the next few weeks for some more wonderful conversations with Erin Jane and her guests. (Maybe even some from Australia!)

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share! 

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Jen Lewis, a former Dispatcher, fellow First Responder Wellness Coach, who is also a Meditation Coach, Reiki Master Practitioner and owner of "Wellness In The Uniform".

Jen tells Erin about her journey from being a hairdresser to becoming interested in becoming a First Responder, namely a Dispatcher. As she was going through the application process, unfortunately Jen found her mother unresponsive. She performed CPR and called 911, but ultimately her mother passed away.

Jen talks about pushing down and blocking out all of her overwhelming emotions and just focusing on the Dispatcher process, getting hired and commencing her First Responder career. It wasn't until she began taking 911 calls that mimicked her own situation from that day, that it was evident to her how affected she was by her Mum's death and that there was significant trauma lingering just beneath the surface for her.

She tells Erin that just shy of the 12 month mark, her agency recognised she wasn't coping with the role of dispatcher and she left the job. But her experience as a First Responder helped Jen realise that there was a community and a population that really needed more support and it inspired her to begin a new journey and career.

After engaging in meditation and reiki as a way to cope with her trauma after the loss of her Mum, Jen became certified in both practices. Having an understanding of what First Responders go through on a daily basis, it fueled her to want to help them, provide them coping skills and to be a resource, which is where "Wellness In The Uniform" was born.

Jen and Erin discuss the overwhelming benefits of what they believe coaching can do for members of the First Responder community and talk about the different modalities and ultimately, their shared passion about it. They both love that they can bridge the gap between what peer support can offer and what clinical services can provide, given the vast array of different needs of Emergency Services Members and as Jen says, really just helping them get to where they want to be by shining a light on their true self that's trying to emerge.

They also discuss their affiliation with The Overwatch Collective, a wonderful organisation who funds therapy and coaching services for First Responders and Military Veterans, from donations alone. Both Jen and Erin are deeply privileged to be a resource for TOC and should anyone want to engage in their services but are financially struggling, you can reach out to The Overwatch Collective for assistance.

It was such a joy to speak with Jen and get to discuss all the wonderful aspects of coaching with her. We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! 

You can find Jen in the following ways:

Instagram: @wellnessintheuniform

Email: [email protected]

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695

You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share!