The Resilience Academy
We partner with agencies that employ first responders,
immediate responders, and disaster relief workers.
What We Do
We are a 501(c)(3) organization that provides training and certification programs for First Responders, Immediate Responders, and Disaster Relief Workers. We originally formed to provide the crucial bridge between the two independent cultures of first responder agencies and mental health. Responding to the needs of the communities we serve, we have expanded our focus to include private and public businesses, civilian agencies, and school districts with peer-to-peer support groups.We offer agency support through training teams of peer support, critical incident response, and chaplains. If your agency delivers emergent care services to the community, The Resilience Academy is for you!The Resilience Academy was formed by a mental health professional who actively serves first responders. She identified a disconnect between the academic research which outlines the steps for building resilience, and the current treatment S.O.P.'s which are either outdated or simply no longer meeting the needs of modern firefighters and law enforcement officers. Most noticeable, are the demands on agencies to quickly become their own mental health experts, as they are required to navigate the new struggles presented by their personnel.Although many mental and behavioral health professionals want to offer treatments that build and maintain resilience, there are some significant barriers to producing well-intentioned outcomes. While the existing literature overwhelmingly suggests applying relationship-based interventions to promote increased resilience to trauma, most mental health interventions for first responders predominantly utilize cognitive and behavioral individual models of care (Carleton, Afifi, Turner, Taillieu, Duranceau, LeBouthillier, Sareen, Ricciardelli, MacPhee, Groll, Hozempa, Brunet, Weekes, Griffiths, Abrams, Jones, Beshai, Cramm, Dobson, Hatcher, Keane, Steward, Asmundson, 2018; Curtis & Cicchetti, 2007; Johnson & Campbell, 2021; Johnson & Johnson, 2004).Due to a variety of factors including the use of misapplied and/or outdated research and insurance preferences, most resilience-building programs for first responders are designed around behavioral health strategies. While behavioral health models work for physical health and occupational training (i.e., drills), emotional wellness needs to be addressed through a mental health model. This is particularly true when addressing the traumatic impact of critical incidents! Consider this, if the impact of trauma is experienced as an emotional disruption (which causes fear and a sense of hopelessness), wouldn't healing also occur when we address those emotions? The mental health difference is showcased throughout The Academy's training programs and certifications.Now perhaps more than any other time, agencies need a partner with trustworthy experience and expertise in the mental health services.The Resilience Academy will partner with your agency to help eliminate the five most frequently cited barriers to care: Stigmatization of mental health, dependence on first responder initiative, lack of accessibility to care, lack of attachment-based interventions, and scarcity of culturally competent mental health professionals (Haugen, McCrillis, Smid, & Nijdam, 2017; Horan, Marks, Ruiz, Bowers, Cunningham, 2021; Johnson et al., 2020; Pennington, 2021). We only use research-based models of care which have been proven to show long-term results for the first responder demographic. We only use culturally competent speakers and trainers in our programs.The Resilience Academy overlays all that we do with the understanding that in emergent care, staying down is not an option!
Programs
To first responder agencies, we offer culturally competent peer support training workshops and intensive Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Academies, formerly known as our Chaplain Academy. Our CIRT Academies are separated into two distinct programs for working with fire service and law enforcement personnel, each taught with an agency-specific lens.To civilian and corporate businesses, we offer peer-to-peer training workshops which will be tailored to accommodate your agency's needs. Whether you are in the beginning stages of forming an internal support team, or your mentors needs advanced training, The Resilience Academy has effective peer-to-peer training that is certain to bring your team to the next level.To licensed mental health counselors (LMHC, LMFT, and LICSW) and associate counselors, we offer intensive certification programs to properly equip and prepare you to work clinically with law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatch workers. No previous experience needed working with this unique demographic.
Here's what our participants have to say:
"This course was exactly what I needed to help hone in my skills to support my peers. It was practical, insightful, honest, and empowering. Dr. Sullivan and Russ Peters brought a well of knowledge and experience and made me feel ready to do work." - A.D.
"This training was incredible! Learning about the impact of trauma and how first responders build resilience was invaluable to me. I'm taking every bit back to my peer support team." - R.S.
"It was truly eye-opening to learn what an impact I can have." - F.J.
"Dr. Lea Sullivan is an excellent and knowledgable teacher. She is so sincere and open with these trainings." - R.P.
"The training with Lea and Russ was impactful on a personal and professional level. I feel better equipped to support my peers through crisis and traumatic experiences." - R.P.
"Immensely powerful and valuable training!" - A.K.
"The situation that our country and or institutions are experiencing is crisis-level and mental health needs to be addressed immediately. Although no easy remedy, The Resilience Academy is a clear path that addresses the situation. The program addresses the connections we require to be human in a seemingly non-human work environment." - M.S.
"Dr. Lea addresses trauma and resilience in a new way. Her compassion and easy-to-learn approach helps me believe in myself and have hope for our department!" - K.A.
Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)
We are currently updating our CIRT Academy, formerly known as our Chaplain Academy. Please come back to check for updates!
Peer Support Teams
Here at The Resilience Academy, we believe in the effectiveness of peer support teams! Current research indicates that peer-to-peer programs are shown to have an especially helpful impact on deeply personal topics; especially in workplaces with a history of mental health stigma (Horan et al, 2021; Lee, 2019). Peer mentors can parachute into the experience of their colleagues without facing the hurdles naturally experienced by a mental health provider. Due to the growing demands that communities are placing on first responder agencies, an internal mental health support system is necessary. Both peer support and MHP's are needed as a balanced part of a mental wellness program! Each 2-hour class has been designed a stand-alone workshop for integration into your organization's ongoing monthly, quarterly, or yearly training. Live and in-person, our peer support courses will equip your team with the skills needed for supporting their colleagues through personal and professional mental health challenges.
Coming soon...Peer Support streaming videos for your team trainings! Check back for updates!
Resilience for the First Responder (2-Hour Class)We offer three agency-specific classes (law enforcement, fire service, and dispatch center), each geared for first responder peer support teams. This 2-hour class is agency-specific and is led by resilience field expert, Dr. Lea Sullivan. Your teams will learn the science of how first responders build resilience to the impact of trauma. Participants will also learn how to create an MHP referral list with therapists who align with first responder resilience. Live demonstrations and breakout groups help cultivate team connections. Upon course completion, your peer support group will feel increasingly equipped to support others and grow as a cohesive team!
Grief and Loss for the First Responder (2-Hour Class)In this course, Dr. Lea Sullivan explores grief and subsequent losses which are uniquely experienced by first responders. Taught from a lens of culturally competent resilience, your peer support team will learn how to identify primary and secondary losses, interpret grief messages, and explore their own inner world so they can more quickly return to a baseline of functioning. This short 2-hour course is verified and structured from the latest research studies and real case examples provide a reliable backdrop. Packed full of rich practical application, Grief & Loss for the First Responder will benefit any frontline personnel working in emergent care.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Certification (1-Day Workshop)This 1-day traditional classroom course is led by CISM Certified Trainer, Russ Peters, LMHC. For over a decade, Russ has utilized the steps he teaches in emergent care settings, helping first responders and citizens alike. This course is a deep-dive into the CISM tool as an after-action response to a critical incident. Your peer support team will learn how to apply CISM in individual (one-on-one) and group settings, and walk away with ICISF Certifications. They will also develop their own comprehensive self-care regimen, to help mitigate their own impacts of trauma.
*Optional ICISF books for an additional cost and travel fees may apply.
If your agency is already working with an MHP, and you want to ensure their confidence to your membership, have them check out our Cultural Competency Certification courses. As an additional support, we offer a discounted rate for MHPs already working with an agency!
Professional Certifications
Our certifications are a combination of intensive training classes and effective field experience which prepare licensed therapists and associate counselors to work with and serve frontline personnel.
Cultural Competency CertificationThis course is tailored for licensed mental health practitioners seeking to understand first responder clients. This live-online class is comprised of 15 hours of instruction, over 8 weeks, includes real case examples, and encourages active participation. You will acquire a deeper comprehension of the common barriers to care, how therapists can inadvertently become ineffective (and harmful) and understand appropriate therapeutic models and treatment practices. For certification completion, participants are asked to engage in 6 hours of ride alongs with fire and law enforcement agencies (where you shadow frontline personnel) and conduct interviews with Chiefs from their respective departments. Much more than simple online learning, this certification process engages mental health clinicians in a new way, taking you behind the badge so that you can develop a panoramic view from the unique lens of frontline personnel.
Certification Checklist:• 15 hours class instruction. Focus is on first responder culture, the differences between law enforcement and fire service culture, discussion of the different attributes between LEO and Firefighter clients (they are not the same), how to provide mental health care to each of these unique individuals, and the top 5 barriers to mental health care and how to overcome them.• Chief interviews. Participants are required to conduct 2 interviews: one each with either the head Chief or Assistant Chief of their local city or county police and fire departments. This inquiry establishes relationships with the MHP and their local agencies. Additionally, the MHP learns firsthand the dilemmas existing within their departments and how therapy will impact the work environment.• 6 hours of ride alongs. Participants are required to attend 6 hours of ride along time, where they will shadow frontline personnel (either police or fire). Ideally, time will be split with 3 hours shadowing a law enforcement officer and 3 hours with a firefighter crew. Here they experience live calls, critical incident scenes, and have a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what first responders experience.When all requirements are completed and approved, participants can identify themselves as a Certified Culturally Competent Therapist for First Responders.
Cultural Competency Certification + Associate InternshipThis course is tailored for Associate Counselors who have completed their M.A. program and have been approved by the Department of Health to hold an associate license. In addition to the Certification Checklist (see above), you will receive weekly Washington State Approved Supervision. We will collaborate with you to secure an internship site at a first responder agency where you will earn clinical hours toward your licensure. This program requires a minimum one-year commitment and supervision fees apply.
Peer-to-Peer Mentor Teams
Here at The Resilience Academy, we believe in mental wellness for all! Due to the growing mental health crisis, civilian agencies in both the private and public sectors are forming peer-to-peer support teams. The National Emergency Number Association (n.d.) asserts that all peer-to-peer programs have the unifying goal of providing direct and relatable resources to care for the psychological and emotional wellbeing of those with personal and work-related stress. Current research indicates that peer-to-peer programs are shown to have an especially helpful impact on deeply personal topics; especially in workplaces with a history of mental health stigma (Horan et al, 2021; Lee, 2019). The bottom line is this: Peer mentors can make a difference! Our in-person classroom courses will equip your peer mentor team with the skills they will need when supporting their colleagues through mental health challenges.
Resilience for the Immediate Responder (2-Day Workshop)This 2-day traditional classroom workshop is led by resilience field expert, Dr. Lea Sullivan. Specifically geared for civilian peer-to-peer teams, this course is a practical and interactive workshop that develops mentors into immediate responders. Your teams will learn how to mitigate the impact of trauma following a critical incident, how to build resilience, and when to refer. Live demonstrations and breakout groups help cultivate team connections. Upon course completion, your peer group will feel equipped to support others as individuals and as a cohesive team!
Critical Incident Stress (CISM) Certification Course (1-Day Workshop)This 1-day traditional classroom course is led by CISM Certified Trainer, Russ Peters, LMHC. For over a decade, Russ has utilized the steps he teaches in emergent care settings, helping first responders and citizens alike. This course is a deep-dive into the CISM tool as an after-action response to a critical incident. Your peer team will learn how to apply CISM in individual (one-on-one) and group settings, and walk away with ICISF Certifications. They will also develop their own comprehensive self-care regimen, to help mitigate their own impacts of trauma.
Our workshops (Resilience for the Immediate Responder and CISM Certification) may be combined into one 3-day classroom training.
Grief & Loss for the Immediate Responder (2-Hour Workshop)In this course, Dr. Lea Sullivan explores grief and subsequent losses which are uniquely experienced by those working in helping professions. Taught from a lens of resilience, you will learn how to identify primary and secondary losses, interpret your grief messages, and explore your own inner world so that you can integrate your experiences faster, resulting in a return to baseline functioning. This short 2-hour course is verified and structured from the latest research studies and real case examples provide a credible backdrop. Packed full of rich practical application, Grief & Loss for the Immediate Responder will benefit anyone working in an environment involving critical incidents or end of life care.
Our Trainers
Lea Sullivan, Ph.D., NCC, LMHCLea Sullivan is the Founder of The Resilience Academy. She is a National Board Certified Counselor, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and a Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist (for both individuals and couples). She holds her Ph.D. concentration in trauma and crisis counseling and her doctoral dissertation was on the relationship between resilience and attachment for firefighters. Most recently, Dr. Sullivan served as the Director of Mental Wellness at North Mason Regional Fire Authority, where she provided mental health care to firefighters, chaplains, and administration staff from the unique setting of inside a firehouse. Rather than offering a clinical environment, Lea provides unrestricted support through informal personal contact with frontline personnel. Having served as a fire chaplain and director of a chaplaincy program, Dr. Sullivan is a frequent trainer and presenter for a variety of fire and law enforcement agencies. In addition to agency support, Lea continues to work in private practice and is dedicated to serving first responder clients in the areas of her specialties of resilience, attachment, and cultural competence. Her passion for first responder mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing fuels her efforts of advocating for firefighter and law enforcement families.
Russ Peters, D.Min., NCC, LMHCRuss Peters serves as a board member and CISM trainer for The Resilience Academy. He is a licensed mental health counselor and holds his professional doctorate in a Doctor of Ministry. Currently serving as the Staff Chaplain at Tacoma Fire Department, Dr. Peters serves his community as an on-scene chaplain, directs, and supervises TFD's volunteer chaplain program, as well as provides ongoing support for frontline personnel. Russ is a Certified Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Trainer and presenter at fire and law enforcement chaplain academies. In addition to chaplaincy and departmental support, Dr. Peters is an EMDR therapist, treating the impact of trauma while working in a private practice setting. His unique understanding of first responder agencies, unions, and administration motivates him into tenaciously promoting the wellbeing of frontline personnel.
Guest Speakers include Vern Porter, Janell Murry, & Cody Shea from The Call We Carry (2022)
Now seeking trainers and speakers! If you are interested in becoming a trainer or guest speaker with The Resilience Academy, please email us your resume along with a 15 minute clip of your recent public speaking engagement. If you are a first responder and are new to public speaking, our guest speaking opportunities are a great place to start! Please send your information to:
Contact Us
Thank you for visiting our website! We continue adding workshops and classes regularly, so please check back with us again soon. If you have a specific organizational need, please email us. We enjoy the creative process and challenge of developing new content to support those in emergent care services.
Above all else, be safe and be well!Alongside,
Lea