Our Team is always seeking methods, programs, and other resources to improve our ability to provide quality behavioral health care to our firefighters, EMS personnel, 911 Dispatchers, and their families. Today, Lee Hopkins, Laura Stephenson, and I joined Matt Bernacchi of the Grand Strand Region’s F.A.S.T. Team to put some time on the road to meet with the clinicians and administrative staff of the Wellspring Psychology Group in Florence. Our purpose was to reaffirm our relationship with them as an amazing resource for our emergency services personnel and their families needing clinical care. Special thanks to them for taking the time to meet with us and thanks to our brother Matt for putting it together.
In the afternoon, Lee, Laura, and I ventured over to Bishopville to visit Palmetto Counseling of Hartsville at their equine center where they have eleven horses that are used in providing therapy to our emergency services personnel. Additionally, Palmetto is staffed with four clinicians providing a full range of clinical services in addition to their equine therapy. While touring their facility, we met many of their horses and a great little Australian Red Heeler pup named appropriately, “Red Dog”. If this little rascal is not a therapy dog, he probably should be, as he kept us entertained the entire time. Thanks to Debby Lynn for sharing their information with us.
Some may ask why we were so far from home visiting these folks. The answer is simple. Many of those we help work in the Lowcountry but live in other parts of the state. When we offer and provide clinical care to them, it helps them to be able to see someone close to home without driving back to the Lowcountry for their appointments. Thanks to Wellspring and Palmetto for helping us fill that need.
We capped off the day by traveling to Lake City where we met with many of the Fire Wives from the Pee Dee region and the team from the Center for Firefighter Behavioral Health to gain their input for the development of a new online spousal/family support module to be made available early next year. Thanks to all the wives who attended for your part in making this project become reality.
Gerald