Episode 20: James Boomhower - Critical Care Transport Specialist; Paramedic, Stay Fit 4 Duty Founder, Graduate Intern Clinical Psychology, EMS for 20+ Years.

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.

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