Building Resilient First Responders: Dr. Stephanie Conn on Peer Support, Hope, and Mental Health

Building Resilient First Responders: Dr. Stephanie Conn on Peer Support, Hope, and Mental HealthFirst responders face unique challenges that test their minds, bodies, and relationships every single day. In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired Fire Chief and coach Arjuna George sits down with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a licensed psychologist, former police officer, and author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel. Together, they dive deep into the essential tools and strategies that help firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and public safety leaders stay strong, connected, and resilient.

Stephanie shares her incredible journey from dispatch to officer to psychologist, revealing how early exposure to trauma shaped her mission to build better peer support teams and transform mental health care for first responders. From lessons learned in the field to groundbreaking research on hope, resilience, and TRE (Tension and Trauma Release Exercises), this conversation uncovers what really works to protect those who protect us.

If you’re a firefighter, police officer, EMT, or leader in public safety, or if you support someone who is, this episode offers actionable insights that could change lives. Learn how to build a peer support team that truly serves, why hope is the secret ingredient for recovery, and how to maintain your identity and joy beyond the job.

Watch now to discover how to create lasting resilience in yourself, your team, and your organization. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

FREE DOWNLOAD: First Responder Family Handbook https://www.firstresponderfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/First-Responder-Family-Handbook_Online.pdf

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

01:22 – Meet Dr. Stephanie Conn: From Dispatch to Police Officer to Psychologist

04:00 – Early Lessons in Mental Health and Peer Support

06:00 – Maintaining Identity Outside the Job: Key Research Insights

10:00 – Stories of Family, Regret, and the Cost of Overcommitment

12:00 – Writing Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel

17:00 – What’s New in the 2025 Expanded Edition

20:00 – The Evolution of Peer Support in Public Safety

29:00 – Return-to-Work Strategies and the Critical Role of Peer Teams

32:00 – Building and Sustaining a Successful Peer Support Team

36:00 – Supporting Chiefs and Administrators: Filling the Leadership Gap

40:00 – Funding, Training, and Common Pitfalls in Peer Support Programs

45:00 – Listening Differently: A Unique Approach to Trauma Stories

53:00 – Discovering TRE (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises)

58:00 – Personal Insights: Control, Letting Go, and the Mind-Body Connection

01:02:00 – How to Connect with Dr. Stephanie Conn & Order Her Books

01:04:00 – Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

🔗 Connect with Dr. Stephanie Conn

Website: FirstResponderPsychology.com

📘 Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel (Expanded Edition – September 2025) – Pre-order on Amazon

Enter discount code ADC25 for the Publisher at https://www.routledge.com/Increasing-Resilience-in-Police-and-Emergency-Personnel-Strengthening-Your-Mental-Armor/Conn/p/book/9781032982137

Arjuna George - Fire Chief (ret)

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