First Responders: How to Respond to Burnout

Join us as we discuss and explore the burnout and compassion fatigue that is currently plaguing our first responders. You will learn more about what burnout is, how to recognize it and how to manage open ended conversations that will lead to help and resources to combat it. We will also be providing some resilience skills to assist you in dealing with these challenging issues.  

Panelists:

Hayden A. Duggan, Ed.D. is the President and Founder of the On-Site Academy in Gardner, Massachusetts, a residential trauma treatment and training program for Public Safety Personnel. He is the Team Clinician for the Boston Police Stress Support Unit CISM Team and is the Chief Psychologist for the Boston EMS Peer Support Team. He is the Chief Clinician for the Fitchburg Police Department Peer Support Team. He is the author of two books on crisis intervention and empathy. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (earning his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1977) and a Designated Forensic Psychologist (inactive) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is the former statewide co-coordinator, Mass Fire Academy, program in Hazardous Materials Awareness/Personal Protective Equipment Training, Counter-Terrorism Division. He is an Emergency Medical Technician—Intermediate. He is an Instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and an Adjunct Professor at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts.

Chris Poe (First Sergeant, ret) is a decorated Combat Infantryman with over 27 years of service to the U.S. Army. His career has included combat, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Cuba, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Hercegovina, and E. Africa. For almost a decade, Chris has been successfully delivering research focused, well-being and resilience skills in- and out- of uniform. As a resilience skills trainer and a former Drill Sergeant, Chris brings a truly unique and authentic experience to his audiences. His training comes from the heart.

Candice Alizio MA, LMFT

Candice Alizio LMFT, Executive Clinical Director of Forge VFR, has worked in behavioral health for over 10 years. She graduated from Antioch New England Graduate School and has achieved her License in Marriage and Family Therapy. Candice's history includes being within community mental health as an Emergency Services Clinician. Candice worked closely with EMS, PD, FD, nurses and doctors within her capacity in the local Emergency Department and it was through this work that she realized the need for increased support for those who support us and keep us safe day in and day out. Candice has a strong background in training and program development so when VFR was in its beginning stages, she knew she could combine her program development experience with her behavioral health training to support a great cause. Today Candice is the lead in developing VFR's mindfulness-based stress management, trauma informed, co-occurring mental health and substance abuse Intensive Outpatient Program and is finally able to give back to those first responders and veterans that sacrifice for us each day.