Angela Martin, MS, MA, LPC

04/02/2026

😅

03/27/2026

Alright. It's decided. I'm getting a therapy llama...them teefs are a therapeutic approach all on their own 😄❤️

03/26/2026

🚑🚒🚓 First Responders: Your therapist isn’t making it up—writing things down can actually help your brain process stress.

Putting thoughts and emotions into words does more than just help you reflect. Brain imaging research shows that naming and writing about emotions can change how the brain processes stress.

The amygdala acts as the brain’s threat detector. It helps you react quickly during high-risk situations—something first responders rely on every day. But after repeated exposure to intense calls, that system can stay activated longer than it should.

Research has found that labeling emotions—even briefly—can reduce activity in the amygdala while increasing activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

In simple terms, writing about what you’re feeling can help the brain shift from automatic emotional reactions to more controlled processing.

Studies on expressive writing, including randomized controlled trials, suggest that structured writing about experiences can:
🧠 Reduce rumination and repetitive thoughts
🧠 Improve emotional processing
🧠 Support overall psychological well-being over time

For first responders, journaling doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as:
✔ Writing a few sentences after a tough call
✔ Getting thoughts out of your head after shift
✔ Reflecting on what went well or what stuck with you

Writing doesn’t erase stress or trauma—but putting experiences into words helps the brain organize them, making them easier to process rather than carrying them around unstructured.

Even short writing sessions have been linked to measurable changes in how the brain handles emotional information.

You spend your career documenting calls and reports. Sometimes it helps to document your own thoughts too. 🧠✍️

Source: Frontiers in Psychology; Mindfulness (Springer)

03/20/2026

IntroductionFirst responders may face significant challenges impacting their mental well-being, yet mental health services are historically underutilized due...

03/15/2026

😂 I'm gonna start doing therapy field trips for therapeutic funzies 👌🏻

03/11/2026

🚒 FRCE is Looking for First Responder Stories

We’re developing a Stress First Aid course for our Learning Management System and are looking for first responders willing to share short stories or experiences that can help educate and support others in the field.

If you’ve experienced the impact of job stress, resilience, or moments that changed how you view the job, your story could help others.

📩 Interested in sharing?
Please reach out to Chief Dena Ali at dali@frcmail.org

Your story could help support fellow first responders. 🚒💙

03/11/2026

🤷🏼‍♀️

What if?

03/05/2026

The news no one likes to hear has just hit the Casper Firefighters, hard. One of our own, Captain Brian Dixon has been diagnosed with stage 3, possibly stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma. Brian is one of the bravest and strongest among us; loved for his wit, fun loving personality, and his energetic “nothing can stop me” mentality. Brian has always been the one we can lean on, and now it’s time to repay to debt. Brian faces a daunting road of treatment and hopefully recovery, down which we will follow and support him to our last breath. We don’t often ask for anything from the public, but in times like these we can use all the help we can get. Below is a link to a fundraising site that gives 100% of the donated money directly to the family, and adds 3.43% of their own money on top. Brian could use all the help we can manage at the moment so we’re asking YOU to lend a hand (only if you can) to help out one of your local heroes. Thank you for all your everlasting support and God bless you all! https://www.theyardfoundation.org/mayday/dixon

03/05/2026

Six American heroes have now been identified after losing their lives during Operation Epic Fury. 🇺🇸
These brave service members stood strong in the face of danger and made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Their courage, dedication, and commitment to duty will never be forgotten.

🇺🇸 Spc. Declan J. Coady
🇺🇸 Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor
🇺🇸 Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens
🇺🇸 Capt. Cody A. Khork
🇺🇸 Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien
🇺🇸 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan

03/05/2026

We cannot talk about public safety without talking about mental health.

Operational stress is cumulative. Call after call. Shift after shift. Exposure after exposure. Without recovery, that stress does not just disappear. It becomes injury.

The research is clear:

Repeated exposure changes the brain.
Culture impacts help-seeking.
Burnout is not just exhaustion.
Protective factors truly matter.

This is not about individual weakness.
This is about systems, leadership, and recovery.

For responders:
Rest is operational readiness. Support is strength.

For leaders:
Wellness must be built into policy, not left to individuals to figure out alone.

For communities:
If we want healthy services, we must have healthy responders.

Mental health injury is real. It deserves the same response as a physical injury.

We are stronger when we acknowledge that and build systems that reflect it. 💙

source: https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0001013

03/05/2026

In times of global uncertainty, many people may experience feelings of stress, anxiety, or concern about what the future may hold.

For Veterans, Active Service Members, and Military Families, these moments can carry additional weight — especially when loved ones may be affected by world events or called to serve.

If you or someone you care about is feeling overwhelmed, support is available.

The NAMI HelpLine provides free information, resources, and support:
Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Text NAMI to 62640
Visit nami.org/helpline

Anyone experiencing a crisis can call or text 988. Veterans experiencing a crisis can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.

You are not alone.