Our series with Dr. Jasmine Dean continues. Dr. Dean and I continue to raise awareness in regards to PTSD, Mental Health and the depth of conversation that is needed to promote personal growth.

On this episode we talk about how to unpack trauma, what are the different types of therapy and how do they work? The difference between prolonged exposure therapy and why it is good for avoidant behavioural patterns. We also discuss CPT and other treatments that are available.

In this episode we also start to begin to look at rebuilding and the identity issues that can form with First Responder work. We also discuss the importance of boundaries, community and giving back. This are all fundamental parts of growing beyond trauma and traumatic experiences.

Join us as the conversation continues.

Join us as I connect with Sgt. Kaleigh Paddon. Sgt. Paddon is in charge of the Surrey Police Wellness Unit and is a perfect fit for that unit. Sgt. Paddon understands the journey of Post Traumatic Stress and is no stranger to doing the hard work required to set yourself on a path of growth.

Sgt. Paddon is spearheading cultural change within this police force and is strengthening and promoting Police Officers' Mental Health (and overall health) as a result.

Join us as we talk about how Cops love their "Used To's" and the importance of "Attunement". Sgt. Paddon also opens up about the importance of being vulnerable with your children to let them know where you are in any moment as a parent. Juggling parenting and being a Police Officer is incredibly challenging, but when we approach the relationship we have with parenting differently than say that of Policing we tend to see a benefit.

We also uncover why it's important to, when we edged closer to Crisis, we lean into connection with others. Care and connection tend to be the only way out of our struggle at times and this lesson often times is learned the hard way.

Join us as the conversation continues!

Our series with Dr. Jasmine Dean continues. Dr. Dean and I continue to raise awareness in regards to PTSD, Mental Health and the depth of conversation that is needed to promote personal growth.

On this episode we talk about Subjective Units Of Distress and how this can be an important way to measure where your stress is at daily. Tracking our stress is actually incredibly important as it allows us to develop a plan to decrease our overall levels and promote better health.

We also discuss the impact that trauma and medication have on our sex life! Why this happens and how the body can struggle at times to connect during intimate moments. First Responders are at a higher risk of having a negatively impacted sex life as a result of experienced trauma.

In addition we talk about how a Us VS Them theme can arise in first responder work and how that contributes to driving us away from connection with others.

Dr. Dean does an excellent job in painting a picture about the reality of how to determine when you know you've found a good therapist.

Join us as the conversation continues!

I am joined by Sam King. Sam is a Clinical Social worker, Registered Nurse and a Pyscho Therapist at the Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Nova Scotia.

Many First Responders wonder if the Operational Stress Injury Clinic is the right fit for them and their occupational stress injury journey with work. Sam opens up and talks about some of the amazing aspects of therapy and supports they offer to our men and women who serve!

Sam paints an incredibly clear picture as to how supportive OSI really is and how it has helped many manage to move beyond PTSD and focus on growth. We discuss at length how the OSI clinic can help you and others!

We also discuss the importance of recognizing and understanding your childhood trauma. This is often times a large motivating factor for people to get into Law Enforcement or First Responder work.

Sam also experienced the very real impacts of the tragedy that struck Portapique, Nova Scotia in April of 2020. She recounts how much this impacted the community, its members and everyone invested in supporting one another not only during the event but afterwards as well.

Join us as the conversation continues!

Our series with Dr. Jasmine Dean continues. Dr. Dean and I continue to raise awareness in regards to PTSD, Mental Health and the depth of conversation that is needed to promote personal growth. 

On this episode we talk about why addiction happens. Why addiction really is a form of trying to cope with pain and suffering. And why it is important to understand addiction in order to understand your relationship with how you cope with your trauma.

We also discuss survivors guilt, intrusive thoughts and how social isolation all make contribute to PTSD.

Join us as the conversation continues!

Join me as I connect with Byron MacLean. Byron served with the Canadian Armed Forces from 1998 - 2008. He served three separate times in Afghanistan. He then went on to join the RCMP from 2009 - 2021 when he retired in April of 2021.

Byron approaches this episode with immense vulnerability and talks about his pain as a result from overexposure to traumatic incidents. Byron also shows how important it is to keep hope and believing in yourself even in your darkest hour. Byrons' recovery is due to the hard work he has put into himself and challenging himself to grow beyond his experience both with the Military and RCMP.

Byron is now an ambassador for CannaConnect which aims to further support our amazing men and women that serve our country and communities.

Join me as the conversation continues!

I am joined once more by Dr. Jasmine Dean. Dr. Dean and I continue a series aimed at PTSD, Mental Health and the depth of conversation that is needed to promote growth and awareness.

On this episode we talk about the impacts of cynicism, the physical changes that happen in the brain from Trauma and catastrophic thinking patterns.

When the body is unwell and stress or trauma is impacting the body negatively it can also promote an imbalance of hormones. We dive deeper and look at the relationship that may no longer be promoted to help the body to find ease to heal and recover as it normally would do.

Join us as the conversation continues!

Join me as we connect with Dr. Nicholas Carleton. He currently serves as principal investigator on the RCMP Longitudinal PTSD Study (www.rcmpstudy.ca), the associated extension study for Saskatchewan public safety personnel (www.saskptsistudy.ca), and co-principal investigator on the Federal Internet Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program for public safety personnel (www.PSPSNET.ca).. The study has gained much attention recently and signifiant funding.

Dr. Carleton and his team are making significant strides forward as they approach the complex questions that exist with PTSD. They are also innovating and challenging our approach to PTSD. The funding and advancements for a project this size are long overdue! I am incredibly proud that we are investing and strengthening our approach to First Responder Mental Health!

Join me for a truly fascinating moment of time where we connect with Dr. Carleton!

I am joined once more by Dr. Jasmine Dean. Dr. Dean and I talk about the complexities behind our Mental Health and how we can self assess ourselves to see how we are doing.

We also talk in depth about the warning signs that begin to show as we are walking towards a crisis.

Join us as the conversation continues!

Join me as I sit down with Anders Johnson of Johnson Management Consulting. Anders provides an invaluable support to first responders who suffer from PTSD. He has been in the space of helping first responders now for well over a decade apply for an get their Disability Tax Credit.

Canada Revenue Agency views Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as an eligible condition to apply for and be granted a Disability Tax Credit. Within this the applicant can get back money through reduced taxes per year and benefit directly from the challenges that can come from such a condition.

If you know of someone who suffers from PTSD please share this episode as the support behind it is incredibly important to those that are impacted by PTSD.

You can visit https://www.tenthirtythreeco.com/about-4 and complete the application to learn more!