About This Book |
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Based on over 200 conversations and the trusted team behind the Responder Resilience podcast, Helping the Helpers gives you the tools to understand First Responders' world, speak their language, and earn their trust. It weaves together real stories, expert insights, and actionable strategies, making it both deeply human and highly usable. |
Vision |
| To transform how we support the mental health of first responders—by equipping the full circle of helpers (from clinicians to chaplains, peer supporters to spouses) with the insight, language, and tools needed to foster resilience, prevent burnout, and respond effectively to trauma and distress. |
| Who It's For | Contributes To | |
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Clinicians & Counselors | Cultural competence, trusted language, and up-to-date issues in responder mental health. |
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Coaches & Peer Supporters | Communication tools, dos and don’ts, and ways to identify red flags early. |
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Wellness Departments & EAPs | Models for integrated support, preventative programs, and long-term cultural change. |
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Chaplains & Spiritual Leaders | Trauma-informed spiritual care, moral injury insights, and navigating faith after crisis. |
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Agency & Union Leaders | Guidance for fostering a wellness-positive organizational culture and supporting members in crisis. |
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First Responders & Families | Validation, practical coping tools, stories from peers, and guidance for navigating family impacts. |
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| 6x Higher Risk | Standard Approaches Fail | Fills Critical Gap | Limited Training |
| First responders are 6 times more likely to experience PTSD compared to the general population. | Standard clinical approaches often fail to address the unique cultural aspects of emergency services. | This guide fills a critical gap in professional literature on first responder mental health. | Specialized training for clinicians working with this population has historically been limited. |
What's Inside |
| Introduction | — A 911 Call for Mental Health — Helping the Helpers |
| PART I: Inside the Responder Mindset | — Inside the Culture — The Box We’re Told to Live In |
| PART II: The Cost of Service | — Understanding Moral Injury — When the Badge Lets You Down — The Physiological Toll of the Job — Stress and Burnout in the First Responder Psyche — The Hidden Cost to First Responder Households — Navigating Family Fallout in Responder Relationships — What Suicide Psychological Autopsies Reveal |
| Part III: The Roles Within the Ranks | — Law Enforcement Officers — Firefighters — Emergency Medical Services — 911 Dispatchers — Federal Agents — Animal Control Officers — Undercover Operatives — Corrections Officers — Fire Marshal and Investigator — Veterans — Retirees |
| Part IV: What Help Looks Like | — Critical Incident Stress Debriefing in Action — EMDR and Healing from Trauma — Peer Support — Inpatient Care for First Responders — How Spirituality Sustains First Responders — The 22Zero Model for Trauma Recovery — The Power of Retreats — Grounding Strategies That Work for First Responders — Healing Trauma Through Art — Canine Companions in Crisis Response |
| Part V: Practical Realities of Treating First Responders | — Embedded Clinicians Part I — Embedded Clinicians Part II — Legal Considerations — Protecting Yourself While Helping Others — Structuring a Practice That Works — Building the Circle of Support |
Advance Praise |
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| — Ernie Stevens, Retired Police Officer Main Subject of Award-winning Documentary, Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops |
— Bryony Gilbey Director/Producer Honorable but Broken: EMS in Crisis |
—Barbara Rubel Author of the Books But I Didn’t Say Goodbye and Living Blue |
| "Helping the Helpers is a long-overdue and essential resource for first responders and their families. As a retired law enforcement officer with 30 years of service, I wish a resource like this had been available to me, as it offers valuable guidance for navigating the emotional challenges of retirement." | "A comprehensive guide for clinicians seeking to support responders through trauma-informed, culture-specific care. This must-read offers profound insights into the unique challenges faced by firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and dispatchers, along with practical tools to address issues like PTSD, moral injury, and chronic stress." | "With the combined expertise of Dr. Stacy Raymond, Bonnie C. Rumilly, and Lt. David Dachinger in psychology, emergency response, and leadership, Helping the Helpers is an essential contribution to First Responder mental health." |
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About the Authors |
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David Dachinger is a retired Fire Lieutenant with over two decades of service in fire and EMS. A stage 4 cancer survivor and mental health advocate, David brings lived experience to the conversation around resilience, wellness, leadership, and identity loss in retirement. As Executive Producer and Host of the Responder Resilience podcast, he has spent years facilitating honest, unfiltered dialogue among First Responders, Clinicians, and wellness leaders. His perspective bridges operational insight and public health advocacy, helping connect the dots between field realities and systemic solutions. | ||
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Bonnie C. Rumilly, LCSW, EMT-B, is a trauma therapist, educator, and embedded presence in the First Responder world. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with decades of field and clinical experience, she also serves as an EMT and leader in her EMS organization—giving her rare dual fluency in both therapeutic practice and operational culture. Bonnie co-leads the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team, Inc. and facilitates long-running peer support groups for First Responders across Connecticut and beyond. Her work is grounded in cultural immersion, trauma-informed care, and a commitment to showing up for those who show up for everyone else. | ||
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Dr. Stacy Raymond, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma, EMDR, and First Responder mental health. With extensive experience treating police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and veterans, she brings clinical precision shaped by deep relational credibility within the responder community. Dr. Raymond is also a trusted educator and departmental consultant, known for her direct, compassionate approach to care. She is co-leader the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team, Inc. and a core member of peer support teams, ensuring continuity of care from critical incident to clinical setting. |