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Preserving the Professional
The Emergency and Medical Services are unique, as are the individuals
who provide such services on a volunteer or full-time basis.
It was once believed that if one couldn’t handle the stress of
these jobs one should "get out." Being affected by stress was
considered a sign of weakness. The success rate of these providers’
silence spoke for itself. The high suicide, divorce, and burnout rates
(often leading to early retirement or disability leave), were possibly
the unfortunate eye-openers these professionals and their employers
needed to consider counseling as an option. Some common difficulties
that emergency and medical providers encounter are:
 | Relationship Problems |
| Difficulty Sleeping, Eating, and/or Concentrating |
| Alcohol and/or Drug Use |
| Flashbacks, Nightmares, and/or the reliving of an event |
| Guilt |
Benefits of counseling for emergency and medical providers include
the following:
| Finding healthy ways to deal with stress |
| Strengthening communication skills |
| Improving relationships |
| Recovering from a critical and/or traumatic event |
| Returning to independent functioning |
Dione has a strong appreciation for these professionals and for their
silent battles. She worked as a volunteer EMT, full-time paramedic for
over 10 years, and has been trained in basic and advanced Critical
Incident Stress Management. She also established a county-wide CISM
team, serving as a paramedic peer-support member.
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