How to get Fully Involved! Toronto Fire Services Employee Assistance Counsellor

How to Get FULLY INVOLVED!

Toronto Fire Services Employee Assistance Counsellor

BY KEN DE JONG, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 445-A

INTRODUCTION

This series usually presents a Q&A article on a Toronto Fire related organization that offers a way to get more involved in the firefighting community. With the “Mental Wellness” theme, we have made a small departure from that approach and invited Chris Rodrigues, Toronto Fire Services Employee Assistance Counsellor to participate, in order to get more information on what he does and how it helps. I hope you enjoy the article and can benefit from its content.

KEN: What is your job at the Toronto Fire Services? CHRIS: My job with Toronto Fire Services has three aspects: (i) I provide consultation on policy development regarding mental health concerns; (ii) I provide consultation, training and education to the Fire Services Peer Support Team; and (iii) I provide short-term counselling to members of the Fire Service. KEN: What is your background in this field? CHRIS: I am a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. My area of practice includes adults and couples. I have been in practice for 22 years and have worked with Toronto Fire Services since 2003. KEN: Structurally, how is your role related to the Peer Support Group? CHRIS: I work with the Peer Support Team to provide training, consultation and assistance with referral to appropriate resources and community-based clinicians. The Peer Support Team has many dedicated members who are very passionate about assisting members of the service. The Peer Support Team members have a wealth of knowledge and experience in supporting the psychological wellness of TFS staff. Several members of the team have been providing peer support for more than 20 years. The team is fortunate to have members who are certified by the I.A.F.F. to provide training in behavioral health, and who are approved by the Department of National Defence to provide training in the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR).

KEN: What would you say is special about how firefighters are exposed to, and deal with, mental health challenges? CHRIS: I would say that the incidents that firefighters are exposed to can be quite traumatic. Firefighters deal with very tragic circumstances. Some incidents are very gruesome. In Operations, firefighters go into dangerous and risky situations (collapsing structures, flashovers, chemical exposures) to suppress fires and rescue members of the public. In Fire Investigations, firefighters may be repeatedly exposed to traumatic images. These exposures can lead to a range of issues including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and post-traumatic stress. One of the protective factors in the fire service is the fact that you are family. You have each other to turn to and to process things, especially over “kitchen table talk”. There is enormous mutual support and a reliance on each other that is a big part of promoting resilience. I believe the service as a whole is working towards reducing stigma and supporting people to seek out the supports they need through proactive strategies like the mandatory training in R2MR modules and the behavioural health initiatives. I know that the Peer Support Team has been working very hard and diligently to encourage members to access help early on, before they run into more significant problems.

KEN: How do most members reach out to you? CHRIS: A lot of members initiate contact with me directly by phone or email. Some members reach out to me through referrals from the union, the Peer Support Team, management staff, and fellow members. KEN: What is usually the first step in the process once someone has made contact with you about a problem they are having? CHRIS: The first step is to set up a meeting to discuss what is going on for the member, what their concerns and needs are, and what some of the options available to them are. We will set up a time to meet over the phone, or over encrypted video, and talk about what the person has been dealing with. Based on this information, I am often able to provide them with some short-term counselling. If it is an issue that requires longer-term or specialized treatment, I will provide them with referrals and ongoing support until they find a community-based provider that they feel comfortable working with. KEN: When we hear that the road to recovery is “hard” (but worth it), what are some of the “hard” things that one goes through in the healing process? CHRIS: One of the hardest things about healing is facing the things that make us most anxious. One of the first rules of counselling is to “avoid avoiding,” which is easier said than done. Counselling and therapy often involve looking at, and sometimes re-experiencing those things we find painful, so that we can sort through them and take the emotional pain away from them. But this initially may require opening up old wounds. In addition, psychological treatment involves putting yourself in a vulnerable situation, which many of us find difficult. It includes sharing our inner concerns, fears, and sorrows with someone we don’t know very well (this can also be advantageous). Vulnerability is not something most firefighters find easy to show, or to sit with, but I believe it is often an important part of the healing process. KEN: Where do the initial sessions usually occur? An office? A coffee shop? Someone’s home? CHRIS: COVID has changed the service delivery model. Presently, initial sessions are done over the telephone or through encrypted videoconferencing. In non-COVID times, I have professional office space where I can meet people faceto-face. Interestingly, a lot of members seem to appreciate the flexibility offered through phone and video options and I expect to be offering more of it post-COVID. KEN: We have certain benefits coverages. Do you start the process and then apply to the benefits, or apply to the benefits and then seek out the help? CHRIS: Psychological services/Psychotherapy services are eligible for reimbursement through members’ Green Shield benefits. Members of local 3888 are entitled to $3500 per person, per calendar year. These services can be provided by: Psychologists/Psychological Associates (C.Psych. or C. Psych. Assoc.), Masters of Social Work (M.S.W.) and Registered Psychotherapists (R.P.). I recommend that members contact Green Shield before setting appointments to confirm that the provider is covered before starting treatment. KEN: What are some of the more subtle signs we should look for in ourselves? Things like nightmares and flashbacks would be obvious. What have people shared that are less obvious to encourage you to reach out for help? CHRIS: Everyone’s psychological health has been impacted by COVID. Many of us are finding it difficult to cope with lockdown, disruption to our normal activities, routines, and outlets like sports, home schedule, and remote learning for kids. In addition, many of the usual coping strategies are unavailable. If you find yourself struggling, it is worthwhile to seek out some professional consultation. Subtle things to look for include: increased levels of stress and anxiety, lower mood, less energy, difficulty concentrating, and lost interest in the things that you once enjoyed. Many people may not realize that loss of interest can be a symptom of depression. KEN: If I were concerned about privacy (from my co-workers and even family members) about contacting you for help, describe how I can “test the waters” to see if I am comfortable with the process before I go any further. CHRIS: As a member of the College of Psychologists, I’m required to uphold the highest standards of professional practice including maintaining client confidentiality. I cannot and will not disclose any information about clients without their prior consent, except in situations where I’m required by the law (e.g. where there is a mandatory reporting obligation to contact a Children’s Aid Society regarding a child who may be at risk of harm or neglect) or in situations where someone poses a serious risk of physical harm to themselves or another person. Members can reach out to me and I can provide them with community resources if they have concerns regarding privacy. My role is to assist members in accessing the assistance they need and to facilitate that in the way they feel most comfortable.

KEN: Without breaking any privacy rules, can you share a “success story” with us? CHRIS: I would say that some of my success stories are supporting members to receive the treatment they need by demystifying the process, providing them with some understanding of what they’re going through and what they can expect from the process, as well as supporting them while they transition to a community-based provider. I think one of my success stories was working with an individual who was going through a “contentious” separation. Divorce is one of the most significant life stressors we can experience as what was, what is, and what was supposed to be, are all changed. There are many “costs” to separation, both emotional and financial. Many find the adjustment to having less time with their children quite painful. I often work with clients to help them to support their children through the separation. We often explore their relational history and how that may have influenced their choices. Ultimately, we work towards creating new directions in their life, their relationships with their children, and with new intimate partners. KEN: Any final thoughts? CHRIS: I would like to emphasize that reaching out sooner than later regarding personal concerns helps us to address things faster and leads to better outcomes. In addition, I want members to know that there is help and assistance available for the concerns that they struggle with. Members have choices regarding who they connect with, both within, and outside the organization, to facilitate their psychological wellness. I also suggest that people create a relationship with a mental health provider before they enter the orange or red zone. It can be really difficult when you’re in those zones to find help and start the treatment process. You can think about it like a periodic health check up with your physician. By developing a relationship with a treatment provider, the clinician is better able to develop a sense of who you are, what your “baseline” is, assess how you are doing currently, how to help you to get back on track, and even become more resilient to stressors in the future.

CONTACT INFORMATION All TFS staff are welcome to contact me anytime. Please feel free to leave me a confidential message at: Tel: 416.338.9557 Email: chris.rodrigues@toronto.ca