RESPONDERS FIRST WELLNESS PROGRAM IS HERE!
RESPONDERS FIRST WELLNESS PROGRAM
Activating First Responders Post-Tramatic Growth
Responders First Wellness Program
First Responders are an inclusive group which includes Police Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics, Medical and Rescue Disaster Volunteers, and Military Personnel. An ever growing number of First Responders have served in the Military. First Responders are those who respond to critical incidents often with no regard to their own safety such as fires, accidents, shootings, and natural disasters. Our Military has enabled all of us to live our lives as Spoiled Americans. The challenges to First Responders have been well documented.
A hero is defined as one who shows great courage. Our First
Responders (to include Military) prove their heroism every time they say goodbye to their families and deploy to our streets responding to the many needs of their neighbors. Responders First, located one hour north of Tampa in scenic Spring Hill, FL, Hernando County will provide services free of cost to these heroes that have been long overdue.
Responders First primary goal is to help First Responders and Military Active Duty, Retired, and Veterans, change their Post-Traumatic Stress to Post-Traumatic Growth. Responders First will provide behavioral health care services to First Responders and their spouse/significant other who are facing life challenges that stem from emotional difficulties associated with their stressful work experiences. This includes challenges and difficulties with daily life functioning including but not limited to symptoms of Post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and substance use. The services provided (described below) would be provided individually and during a 4-day Wellness Program that would be administered at Responders First:
- Services are provided free-of-charge and are open to First Responders
- Services are open to spouses/significant others of First Responders
- Research-proven modalities are provided in a respectful, collective, and holistic manner
- All activities and results that occur are confidential and have no bearing on current medical diagnoses or disability ratings
Why Responders First
Responders First Wellness Program
Trauma has been defined as an event that has been so extremely upsetting that it at least temporarily overwhelms a person’s internal resources, and results in lasting psychological symptoms. Studies have shown that responding to these critical events may result in 5.9 to 22 % of these First Responders developing psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTS symptomology often includes avoidance, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, interrupted sleep, nightmares, flashbacks, reckless behavior, outbursts of anger, alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and substance use among others.
Proven Therapies
Responders First will use proven evidence based modalities which have been thoroughly researched with combat Veterans that have been deployed in Vietnam, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (Kip et al., 2015). Responders First will provide these modalities in a proven week long retreat-based program initiated by the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Program Evaluations conducted by University of South Florida Tampa, FL Dr. Kevin E. Kip, Ph.D, for Marcus Luttrell’s Lone Survivor Foundation have shown these modalities to be extremely effective.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
ART is a groundbreaking eye movement technique that is helpful for a variety of issues, such as symtpoms of PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Lack of Purpose, Addiction, and more. ART participants routinely experience positive results in 1-5 sessions.
Integrative Restoration
iRest, a full body relaxation protocol has been shown to effectively alleviate triggers related to combat, insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety and depression through regulation of the body's nervous system.
Yoga
Yoga, has been increasingly accepted and used as an alternative intervention by Veterans seeking PTSD treatment. In its different variations such as gentle, and Ashtanga (traditional power practice), yoga has been proven to have improved stress response, reduced the sensation of chronic pain, improved quality of sleep, created a sense of calm in body and mind, and decreased symptoms associated with PTSD.
Therapeutic Music Group Experience
Drumming reduces tension, anxiety, and stress; helps control chronic pain; boosts the immune system; produces deeper self-awareness by inducing synchronous brain activity as it accesses the entire brain; creates a sense of connectedness with self and others; releases negative feelings, blockages, and emotional trauma; places in in the present moment.
It's Your Turn!
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Responders First goal will be to provide all services at no cost along with lodging accommodations, all meals, and transportation
Family
Our Mission
Our Mission
Secondary trauma to family members has been proven through research, thus the need to provide services to spouses/significant others
U.S.A.
Our Mission
U.S.A.
Responders First will actively pursue partnerships with other organizations that would provide free air fare to First Responders and their spouse/significant others from across the United States to Tampa International Airport, giving Responders First a nationwide impact.
Our Partners
