Date & Time: 19/09/23 15.40 – 16.10

Location: Health & Wellbeing Theatre

Speaker(s): Alexis Powell-Howard

Title: Resilience in the face of crisis: Unveiling key themes from counselling emergency services personnel

Work can be beneficial for mental health, but it's common to see emergency service personnel taking leaves of absence due to struggles with their mental health. "Resilience" is a crucial component in the emergency services framework, but what does it really mean? And how can those in the Emergency Services continuously respond to one crisis after another and still maintain their wellbeing?

Alexis, a seasoned therapist for ESP and a TEDx speaker, has significant insights on this. In her talk, she will delve into the prominent themes from her therapy sessions with ESP. She will also address the complex needs of these individuals, who often have to juggle managing their own vicarious trauma - a secondary traumatic stress they can develop from helping or wanting to help a traumatised or suffering person - while recovering from it themselves.