by Lt. David Dachinger (Ret.), Bonnie Rumilly, LCSW/EMT, Dr. Stacy Raymond, PsyD

An essential guide for anyone supporting the mental health of first responders.

Helping the Helpers bridges the gap between clinical training and the lived experience of firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers, and others on the front lines. It offers a trauma-informed, culturally competent roadmap for professionals working with this uniquely high-stress population.

Whether you're a therapist, peer team lead, agency leader, chaplain, or family member, this book helps you understand what first responders are navigating—and how to walk beside them with skill, compassion, and respect.

Inside, you’ll find practical tools to:

• Build trust and cultural rapport with first responders
• Address PTSD/I, cumulative trauma, and burnout with targeted interventions
• Navigate family dynamics and organizational pressure with real-world strategies
• Foster long-term resilience and recovery
• Integrate EMDR, peer support, and evidence-based care tailored to first responder culture

Based on the acclaimed Responder Resilience podcast and co-authored by a retired fire lieutenant, an EMDR trauma therapist, and a clinical psychologist, this is more than a clinical manual—it’s a call to action.

Read it. Use it. Share it.

Because when you support the helpers, you strengthen entire communities.