top of page
Search

Rewriting the Mental Health Playbook for First Responders



Some leaders are forged in fire, others walk into it willingly. Fire Lieutenant and Licensed Professional Counselor Taylor Montey has done both.


In this powerful episode of The Leadership Crucible Podcast, Chief Randy Bruegman sits down with Lt. Montey to explore the essential, often-missed intersection of mental health, physical fitness, and public safety leadership. This conversation offers a new blueprint for building genuine, lasting resilience in high-pressure callings.


Lt. Montey brings a rare, dual-perspective: she has lived the realities of frontline service and the deep work of clinical mental health. From overcoming self-doubt and failing her first physical ability test to founding her pioneering program, Mindset Reps, Taylor’s story is a testament to the power of merging physical strength with emotional intelligence.


The Mind-Body Connection: Introducing Mindset Reps

Where does the strength to serve truly come from? Lt. Montey shares that her path to becoming a firefighter, which involved a challenging three-year climb after failing her first physical test, taught her a fundamental truth: fitness builds confidence and helps us overcome things.


This realization was the spark that ignited Mindset Reps.


The program blends movement, psychoeducation, and mentorship based on the simple but profound concept that repetition is the motor of learning—a concept as true for throwing a ladder as it is for cultivating a positive mindset.


Mindset Reps leverages the power of shared physical effort to break down emotional barriers:

  • Vulnerability After a Workout: Taylor found that people—from teenagers to veteran first responders—were more willing to open up after a workout than at any other time. The camaraderie achieved in the gym builds trust, allowing difficult conversations to happen naturally.

  • Lessons in Control: By linking concepts like what is in your control (effort, showing up) and what is not (the workout programming), participants can apply these same lessons to managing high-stress situations in their personal and professional lives.


A New Tool for Trauma: EMDR Explained

For first responders, dealing with critical incidents and cumulative trauma is a harsh reality. Lt. Montey, who also sees patients on an individual basis, is trained in a highly effective technique for processing these difficult memories: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).


How EMDR Helps First Responders Process Trauma


EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (left-to-right movement, often through eye movement or tactile buzzers) to activate both sides of the brain, allowing traumatic events that are "stuck" to be processed and stored in the correct category.


  • Doesn't Erase, Just Separates: As Taylor explains, EMDR doesn't erase the memory, but it creates a separation so that when the incident is recalled, it no longer elicits the same intense emotional response.

  • Minimal Talking Required: A key benefit for first responders is that much of the work is done internally. Clients do not have to talk about exactly everything that's going through their mind, making it less daunting than traditional talk therapy.

  • The 30-Day Window: Lt. Montey stresses that if an incident is bothering you, seeking to process it quickly—within the first 30 days—can be highly beneficial in preventing it from developing into a more hardened, chronic post-traumatic stress injury.


Building Resilient Leaders Through Accountability

True resilience requires more than self-care; it demands accountability and peer support. This is the driving force behind the Shift Coaching Program.


Shift is an online education and small-group coaching platform built to foster personal and professional development in leaders. The program combats the common issue of acquiring great information but failing to apply it.


  • The Power of Peer Groups: Participants meet weekly to cover content and keep each other accountable to their goals. Sharing goals with a peer group increases the likelihood of keeping them with 95% accuracy.

  • The "Hot Seat" Model: Each participant has the chance to be in the "hot seat," where the entire group focuses on their specific needs—whether it’s a relationship issue, a goal for a promotion, or simply navigating a challenging period. This collective brainstorming offers new perspectives, proving that relational influence matters.


Key Takeaways for Navigating Your High-Pressure Calling

Lt. Montey’s conversation is filled with practical advice for anyone in a demanding role, whether in uniform or corporate leadership.


Practical Steps to Build Balance and Resilience:


  • Transition from Work Mode to Family Mode: Develop a clear, intentional practice to help you transition from work-self to home-self upon leaving the station or office. This might be a specific routine, a short workout, or simply a mental check-out ritual.

  • Leadership at Any Rank: You don't need a formal title to be a leader. Relational influence and self-awareness are what truly matter.

  • Serve Underserved Youth: Lt. Montey emphasizes the importance of extending the principles of mental and physical wellness to the next generation, helping underserved youth find purpose and confidence.


To hear the full story of Taylor's journey, her advice for young adults who feel lost, and her insights on how to balance the roles of firefighter, counselor, wife, and mom, listen to the full episode.


Podcast Episode Resources



Transcript:


 
 
 

© 2024 by The Leadership Crucible Foundation. Powered and secured by Wix

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
bottom of page