b"Spokane Valley Shop Talk Is Saving LivesThe first ever Spokane Valleyat Shop Talk stays there.Nokes, for one, is happyshe says. It's such a privilege 876 Shop Talk was held inAttendees can feel safe beingto see that and other lessonsthat I get to work with this the fall of 2021. It stemmedvulnerable with their feelingsbeing taught in the group,population because I knowfrom Spokane Valley Fireand even shedding tears. especially for newer recruits.the stakes.Department Captain JeffCaptain Sean Nokes saysIts nice to see the youngerShop Talk is now fully Fraser talking with mentalthats one of the biggestguys getting the help theyfunded by the union and has health therapist Stephaniebenefits of the group. Itsshould be getting right fromexpanded to four weekly Thoet about behavioral healthimportant to have a placethe get-go, he says. He addsmeetings: two in Spokane concerns he needed helpwhere we can talk about thethat the Shop Talk experienceValley and two hosted by the with. He knew others in theissues we share so everyonemakes it easier to open up withCheney Police Department department were strugglingknows theyre not goingfellow fire fighters outside ofand Cheney Fire Department. too, so he suggested they putthrough it by themselves.the group too. There also is a new Shop together a group in whichTheres someone to open up toEach meeting, ThoetTalk meeting in Richland, fire fighters could talk openlywho understands. comes prepared withWash., and first responders about their feelings and issues.Thoet focuses on teachinginformation on topics suchspousesof which Thoet is Thoet, whose background is insigns of PTSD and suicide riskas building resiliency oronehave their own Shop Talk working with first responders,for the fire fighters to watchsetting boundaries. But if thetwice a month. agreed to facilitate.for in themselvesand howcheck-in at the beginning ofSo far, about half of the There was no funding,to watch out for each other.the meeting steers the groupmembers of Spokane Valley so when Fraser suggestedShe also teaches that its OKon a different course, thats876 have attended Shop Talk, the group meet in a shop onto have feelings. So manyfine too, she says. She seesbut Thoet knows that others his property, Shop Talk wasfirst responders think theythe most change happeningin the station are benefiting born. That first meeting, 17either have to feel pain all thefrom what they learn from onetoo. Even though they haven't fire fighters showed up. Thetime, or never feel it. I teach aanother. More than once,come themselves, by proxy ground rules of Shop Talk arethird option: We can feel it forpeople at Shop Talk havethey're getting exposure simple. Theres no rank at Shopa bit, process it, then watch itadmitted to the entire groupto the cultural shift thats Talk, and whats discussedmove on. that it has saved their life,happening.Challenge negative thinking. We each have a daily internalVETTING CLINICIANSdialogue or self-talk that unconsciously impacts our mood,For fire fighters and paramedics experiencing post-traumatic functioning, social interaction and behavior. Especially duringstress, depression, anxiety or addiction, finding the right difficult times, we tend to think in overly negative, simplistic andindividual mental health clinician is an essential component of dysfunctional ways. While learning to just think positive may berecovery. When seeking a clinician, fire fighters should ask these unrealistic, you can learn to catch unhelpful thoughts and replacecritical questions:them with more balanced, rational ideas. Do you have experience working with fire fighters or other Know when to ask for help. Feeling persistently agitated,emergency responders, including EMS, police or military hopeless or apathetic toward daily life is not a normal partpopulations? Tell me about it.of working hard or getting older. These experiences may beWhat evidence-based practices do you use to treat post-symptoms of a treatable behavioral health problem that requirestraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and co-occurring attention. Know the warning signs and when its time to ask asubstance abuse? Do you assign homework?peer, loved one or healthcare provider for help. How many sessions does it typically take for you to complete (Adapted from Taking Care of You, IAFF 2018) your initial assessment? Do you offer appointments within 24 hours or access to an on-call clinician? If an individual has a psychiatric emergency and needs For more details andinpatient care, what facility or hospital do you refer to?suggestions on vettingDo you work closely with a prescriber for individuals who need medication?clinicians, please see theWould you be willing to participate in experiential training to IAFF guide Finding thegain a better understanding of the daily experiences of the fire Right Clinician. service professional?41"