Prioritizing Firefighter Emotional Wellness: Jada Hudson's Therapy Practice and Contributions
Jada Hudson to Present on Firefighter Emotional Wellness at Upcoming FDIC International Conference and Women in Fire Conference April 15-20, 2024
WHEATON–Being a firefighter or first responder is not an easy job. The nature of their work exposes them to traumatic events and high-stress situations every day, which takes a toll on their emotional well-being. But many firefighters either ignore or overlook their emotional health, mainly because they believe it's not as important as their physical health. This is where Jada Hudson's book, Firefighter Emotional Wellness: Reconnecting with Yourself and Others, comes in. Jada Hudson, M.S., LCPC, CADC, RYT-200, TIYT is a first responder therapist based in Wheaton, Illinois, who has dedicated her career to helping firefighters and first responders prioritize their emotional health.
Jada Hudson, LCPC, CADC, RYT-200, TIYT, is a counselor and therapist working exclusively with first responders. Her book, Firefighter Emotional Wellness: Reconnecting with Yourself and Others, is an essential guide examining the most important issues facing firefighters on the front lines. It covers a myriad of topics, from understanding the emotional impact of firefighting and dealing with stress, to building resiliency and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. What sets this book apart is that it offers practical exercises and activities to help firefighters apply what they've learned in their everyday lives.
Through Hudson Clinical Counseling, in-person appearances, and innovative wellness and first responder programs and publications, Jada helps people in uniquely demanding jobs heal, grow, and thrive. Jada has been chosen to present at the upcoming FDIC International, North America's Leading Firefighter Conference. The event will offer thousands of Fire & Rescue professionals from around the world quality world-class instructors, classrooms, workshops, H.O.T. Evolutions, and the most innovative products and services on display from 800+ exhibiting companies. Jada Hudson will be presenting on Leadership & PTSD, to educate first responder leaders about the ways their actions and leadership style can contribute to an individual’s propensity toward developing or not developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This training will explore the factors that contribute to how an individual assesses a potentially traumatic event (PTE) and what leaders can do to develop subordinates who are prepared, hardy, socially supported, and able to process the PTE afterward. The goal of this training is to teach first responder leaders how to engage a leadership style that empowers their fellow first responders to be open, honest, and emotionally well despite the potentially traumatic and life-threatening experiences they may face on a daily basis.
ABOUT JADA’S PRACTICE
Jada Hudson's therapy practice focuses on providing therapeutic support and treatment to first responders who are struggling with emotional wellness issues relating to their jobs. Jada is a veteran therapist who has spent over 30 years in the field, counseling frontline workers in various emergency services. She understands the unique challenges that firefighters and first responders face, and she's committed to helping them lead a fulfilled life by prioritizing their emotional well-being. She works with firefighters, ER doctors, dispatchers, nurses, teachers, members of the military and more.
Jada's approach to therapy is rooted in evidence-based methods, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques. Her goal is to help her clients understand their thoughts and emotions, develop coping strategies, and learn how to respond to stressful situations more effectively. Jada works with firefighters on an individual basis or in groups, depending on their needs.
Jada Hudson's work has been featured in Glancer, Fire Engineering Magazine and Fire Rescue Magazine. She's helped numerous firefighters and first responders over the years, and her practice is recognized as one of the leading therapy practices in Illinois. Jada's main mission is to help firefighters and first responders recognize the importance of prioritizing their emotional well-being.
Firefighting is a challenging job that requires physical and emotional strength. While firefighters are trained to handle physical emergencies, they sometimes struggle to deal with the emotional aftermath of the job. It's crucial to recognize that emotional wellness is just as important as physical wellness, and Jada Hudson's book and therapy practice are here to help firefighters prioritize their emotional health. Jada's evidence-based therapy techniques, coupled with practical exercises in her book, can help firefighters build resilience, cope with stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. It's time to prioritize your emotional wellness, and Jada Hudson is here to help.
ABOUT THE BOOK Firefighter Emotional Wellness: Reconnecting with Yourself and Others is a boots-on-the-ground self-help book showcasing interviews and wisdom from firefighters and first responder wellness expert Jada Hudson, M.S., LCPC, CADC, RYT-200, TIYT. Firefighter Emotional Wellness is written specifically for firefighters and those who love them, covering topics like:
Suicide
PTSD
Addictions
Importance of Self-Care
Resiliency
Moral Injury
What it Means to be Emotionally Well
Planning for Your Retirement
Keys to Emotional Wellness in the Face of a Cancer Diagnosis
Pediatric Death in a First Responder Incident
ABOUT JADA HUDSON
Author of the book Firefighter Emotional Wellness: How to Reconnect with Yourself and Others, Jada is a regular contributor to Fire Engineering Magazine and Fire Rescue Magazine and a popular speaker at FDIC (Fire Department International Conference), The Women in Fire Conference, The National Fire Academy, and other industry gatherings. Jada was raised in a first responder family and is proud to support public safety professionals. Due to her experiences sharing her life and home with first responders, she has a strong passion for understanding what they experience in their jobs, minds, and hearts, and within their families
