Occupational Awareness Training Therapists©

Understanding Emergency Worker Trauma

Enhance your clinical skills with Firefighters

This course includes lectures from top subject matter experts such as: Dr. Duncan Shields, Constable Art Wlodyka, Dr. Ross Laird, Dr. Mark Davies, Dr. David Kuhl, Dr. Megan McElerhan and Dr. Jennifer Melamed. It has been designed for any healthcare professional interested in expanding their skill set in working with emergency workers.

This course has been designed with all emergency workers in mind.

Purchase Course

Important Information

Please Read Before Purchasing

  • Time to Complete

    It should take you 8 hours to complete this course and you have 28 days to complete it.


    After 28 days it will no longer be available unless you re-purchase it.

  • Education Credits

    By completing this course, you will receive 10 hours of continuing education credits.


    Certification will be provided upon successful completion of the course within 28 days.

  • Class Workbook

    This course consists of 10 lessons, each consists of a video and class workbook.


    We recommend downloading the workbook for notes and future reference.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Course Instructions

    • How to successfully complete this course

    • Course Walkthrough
  • 2

    Learning Objectives & Curriculum

    • Learning Objectives

    • Course Curriculum
  • 3

    Class Workbook

    • Class Workbook

    • Complete Class Workbook (Optional to Download)
  • 4

    Lesson 1: Current Landscape of First Responder Mental Health

    • Instructor for this lesson: Matt Johnston

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 5

    Lesson 2: Enhancing Therapeutic Engagement with First Responders

    • Instructor for this lesson: Dr. Duncan Shields

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 6

    Lesson 3: Reclaiming Self- When Social and Organizational Systems Compromise Individuality

    • Instructor for this lesson: Constable Art Wlodyka

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 7

    Lesson 4: Finding Wisdom in the Wound

    • Instructor for this lesson: Dr. Ross Laird

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 8

    Lesson 5: Providing Competent Care Across First Responder Groups

    • Instructor for this lesson: Dr. Mark Davies

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 9

    Lesson 6: The Impact of Grief and Shame in Working with First Responders

    • Instructor for this lesson: Dr. David Kuhl

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 10

    Lesson 7: Inspiring Ways to Foster Post-Traumatic Growth and Healing

    • Instructor for this lesson: Dr. Megan McElerhan

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 11

    Lesson 8: Identifying Substance Abuse in Safety Critical Individuals

    • Instructor for this lesson: Dr. Jennifer Melamed

    • Class Workbook (Optional to Download)

    • Video Lesson
  • 12

    Course Recap

    • Learning Objectives (Recap)

    • Learning Objectives (Survey)
  • 13

    Bonus Material: Panel Discussion #1

    • Panel Discussion
  • 14

    Bonus Material: Panel Discussion #2

    • Panel Discussion #2

Bonus Material

Included in this course is this incredible additional content.

Enjoy two panel discussions between our distinguished educators.

  • Panel Discussion #1

    Moderated by Matt Johnston, the panelists include:
    Constable Art Wlodyka, Dr. Duncan Shields and Rebecca Scott.

  • Panel Discussion #2

    Moderated by Matt Johnston, the panelists include:
    Dr. David Kuhl, Dr. Jennifer Melamed, Dr. Mark Davies and Dr. Ross Laird.

Instructor(s)

Matt Johnston

Senior Instructor

Matt Johnston is the co-founder of First Responder Health, an organization dedicated to enhancing the behavioural health and well-being of first responders through online counselling, training for healthcare professionals and organizational support services. A registered mental health professional and full-time firefighter, Matt has mastered the art of closing the gap between service providers and first responders. Matt’s skill set is grounded by twenty years of study in the field of psychology and over ten years in clinical practice. His unique approach to conceptualizing trauma is an introspective blend of academic training, clinical practice and direct experience of attending over 2,500 emergency calls as a firefighter in Metro Vancouver. Through his proactive, strengths-based approach, Matt’s ultimate goal is to alleviate the mental health crisis gripping public safety personnel across North America.