team alpha acknowledges That in the 1st Responder Community:
There Is a Stigma about SELF CARE
The Culture of the First Response Community is a tough one. If a bad call impacts you and you need to talk, you are considered weak and unfit. You are then chastised, blackballed and pushed out of the family which adds more stress. All because you are human.
The Need is a Need For Rapid Access To Appropriate Mental Health Care
By being the first on the scene with the client, our clinicians get a better picture of what the problem is. We also fast track past the entire setting an appointment, intake interview process and can start appropriate treatment immediately. They need help now, not in three months
Most Clinicians Don't Understand What First Responders Truly Need.
EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) were not meant for long term psychological treatment are not NFPA 1500 compliant and are certainly not designed or equipped to manage the complexity of the psychological trauma experienced by a first responder. Medication is not THE answer.
The General Psychological Community Does NOT Meet The Need
Yes, Psychologist generally deal with individuals who experience traumas in their life. However, First Responders experience Multiple Traumas every day and are expected to carry on like nothing has happened. That is what the General Psychological Community does not understand nor are they equipped to.
That Psychological Trauma is Cumulative
There Is The Belief "That I will Never Be Normal Again"
There are multiple ways trauma can impact us as humans, Everyone is effected differently by the same trauma and that impact doesn't go away, but it can be managed. That is what we are focused on. We can Help you Put a Purpose to The Pain and decrease the impact of that traumatic event.
There Is The Belief "That I will Never Be Normal Again"
There Is The Belief "That I will Never Be Normal Again"
Many responders are living their lives as though there is no hope for a return to normal life. That the thought of peace and being a regular person is not a reality. First, Understand that you area regular person and you need to feel and process what has happened. Team Alpha will help you do that.
Team Alpha Rapid Deployment Units
Our approach is simple, Two words. " Rapid Intervention". Once our services are requested, our team will be on site within 90 minutes to provide support to those First Responders who are impacted by the Sentinel Event. Team Alpha will provide a secure environment in which to debrief and diffuse the traumatic events impact on the client. Every person is different, therefore our tool box is multifaceted to meet those diverse needs.
our approach
Our goal is to be as unobtrusive as possible. Many things are happening very rapidly on emergency scenes and the last thing an Incident Commander needs is to worry about finding a room to house another resource. Therefore Team Alpha will bring one of our own self contained Rapid Deployment Units (RDU) to you. All we need is a parking space and we can be operational within minutes of arrival.
With area for clinical space at the head and the rear of the unit, we will be able to maintain privacy and confidentiality for all parties.
for those not seeking support
Our Rehab area will be a welcome site for many
Not everyone will need a private place to talk. Some just need some water or a place so sit and cool down. Our rehab area will provide a location to regroup and get some water or a bite to eat. This will also allow the clinical staff, that are manning the rehab area, to survey the group for those that may need a little more assistance than they want to let on. Participation is voluntary but a trained eye and some compassion goes a long way.
Here is what people in the field are saying about Team Alpha
I think this is awesome! The benefit of it being on scene is that the option would be available in the time of need. I thing you would be breaking a lot of barriers that need to be broken. The approach, statistically speaking is closer to the actual help that fire fighters need instead of a 1-800 line they are given outside of PEER Support.
V.S. Fire Fighter
I think this program will be perceived very positively, It sounds like a Great Product.
N.S. Police Training Officer
This is very novel from my perspective. Once you get a few agencies to engage, this will spread very quickly.
M.Q. Emergency Room Physician
I totally see and understand the value of a program like this. Most people don't know what ugly looks like and staff who see it every day need to talk to people who understand what a bad day really is to us.
H.M Hospital Director of Nursing / Flight Nurse
I think this is a Great resource. Cops don't like to ask for help, THAT's the problem. Most just suck it up until overload and then they feel trapped. PTSD is real among First Responders. Breaking that Stigma is going to be a challenge, but this is a great first step.
G. B. Retired Sheriff Deputy
Who we are and who we serve
Who We Are
Team Alpha is made up of a group of Mental Health Professionals with a background in the Response Community. We believe that one can not help if one doesn't understand the complexity of the responders pain. Therefore All of our staff have been in the field as a responder in one form or another. We Walk the Walk and understand when others might not.
We are the Leaders of Team Alpha Critical Incident Diffusion Unit
James Starlin - Board Certified Christ Centered Mental Health Coach
Dr. Christopher Edwards. PhD. MD.
Cheryl Lawson NCC, LCMHC, LPC,CCTP, CIMHP,CFRC
Our Clinical staff is made up of Licensed Clinical Social Workers, PhDs, Mental Health MA's with background in Emergency services.
We understand, respect and value you and the work that you do.
Our goal is to interrupt the trauma that the trauma causes in your lives. We know that it is perceived that you can't ask for help. We are here to work around that problem and get you the help you deserve but don't think you can ask for.
Who We Serve
Our focus is on First Responders, however we believe that designation reaches beyond Police, Fire, EMS and 911. Our medical staff in Emergency rooms, Correctional Staff at our detention facilities and even those leaders in institutions of higher education are impacted by the events that are becoming all to frequent in our society. We strive to service many diverse groups to help as many as possible.
Administration often gets overlooked. The white hats are under a different type of stress and require support as well. Because everyone handles trauma differently and all trauma is different, we need to acknowledge that you may not see your co worker struggling however that doesn't mean that they aren't. We don't know what is going on inside. We can help.
Active Duty or Veterans
Thank you for what you have done to keep our Country Free!
Many of our Brave Military Service Members return to civilian life and seek employment as a First Responder. We value you and are proud to offer our services to you as well. No matter if you are Active Duty or you have put in your time and have moved on, your service is still valued and the "stuff" is still there. WE hear you and can assist you with managing the "Stuff". You DON"T have to just live with it and believe it will never go away.
Service area Guide
Team Alpha and Geography
Just like any other deployable asset, we are limited by roadways and geography. Based out of Mebane and a location just south of Goldsboro NC, our deployment radius for the two MCUs (Mobile Clinic Units) are dictated by routes and traffic. Using a 60 mile radius from each base, the units can be to you in 60 minutes. When activated at the onset of the incident, the timing of our arrival will coincide with the demobilization of units and the de- escalation of the incident. This is when the reality of the events are usually realized and the intervention is most effective. A positive work culture that promotes self care and understanding is key to helping these responders accept the humanness of their job and allow them to reach out when they need to.
Basic Information We Need to Deploy
Click the button below to be taken to the Deployment Data Form with the basic information necessary to get us on the road to you.
Mental Health Coaching Option
Through the trauma comes chaos.
Trying to maintain that Work/Life balance is difficult when the chaos that is part of life rears its ugly head. Sometimes we just need someone from the outside to help put that chaos into a manageable box. Help setting priories, goals and objectives to reach that thing that we remember as normal is how a Coach can help you get back on track. Team Alpha provides levels of coaching life and faith. Click on the button to learn how we can provide the tools to get you back on track.
The White Elephant at the party
Mental Health is not everyone's cup of tea
Mental health has a stereotype because very few understand it and even fewer know how to address it effectively. The opportunity to receive quality education on Mental Health could benefit your professional and personal life. Therefore, Team Alpha will offer quarterly CEU's for licensed providers and contact hours for those who are not, but still are required ongoing training. These topics will be customizable according to the specific needs of the department / organization requesting the presentation. The goal here is to provide education and understanding of how to recognize when a co worker is suffering from the impact of a traumatic event and how to build a robust internal Wellness program.