Utilizing Yoga to Manage the Impacts of Trauma

Estimated watch time: 1 hr 29 minutes

Presentation Materials:

Hannah Elmore, MSW

Community Outreach Coordinator for the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery through Advanced Recovery Systems

Hannah Elmore, MSW works as Community Outreach Coordinator for the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery through Advanced Recovery Systems. She is an experienced leader in the social services and healthcare industry with a blended experience of direct client services and community outreach.

MSW, Amanda Weathers-Meyer, PhD

Amanda J. Weathers-Meyer is the Director of Wellness for St. George Fire Protection District, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her area of focus involves improving the mental fitness of firefighters through bodily movement, mindfulness, and facilitating a greater mind-body connection. Dr. Weathers-Meyer has conducted several studies with fire departments located throughout Louisiana. Her studies have investigated the effects of mindfulness-based physical activity on mental health outcomes in firefighters. She has also piloted mind-body tactical training programs for firefighters to promote psychological resilience and improved stress management. Her clinical work focuses on culturally competent counseling practices with fire service personnel. Dr. Weathers-Meyer holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise counseling, and a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Louisiana State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Louisiana and a National Certified Counselor.

Brandon Dreiman, Local 416 Indianapolis

Brandon Dreiman is a captain and 22-year veteran of the Indianapolis Fire Department, where he serves as the Coordinator of Firefighter Wellness & Support. He is an International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Peer Support & Resilience Master Instructor and serves on the IAFF’s Peer Support Response Team. Dreiman is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia clinician, a Certified Sleep Coach, a Certified Addiction Peer Recovery Coach, and a yoga teacher. He is the founder of Naptown Yogawalla. Prior to joining the fire service, he practiced law and served as a deputy prosecuting attorney in southern Indiana.

Objectives and Summary:

Practicing yoga can be an effective tool to process and cope with trauma, chronic stress, and other behavioral health challenges. Attendees will learn from two leaders in the first responder and yoga communities on their experiences utilizing yoga as an approach for first responders coping with trauma. Attendees will gain insight and learn strategies on how to use the practice of yoga to assist in their own mental wellbeing.

Presentation Materials:

About the Presenters

Molly Jones, LSW is a Clinical Education Coordinator for Advanced Recovery Systems. In this role, Molly is responsible for providing clinical education and training to various client populations, treatment providers, and other behavioral health stakeholders across the country. Molly provides in-person, virtual, and on-demand behavioral health education and is able to cover a wide variety of topics under the behavioral healthcare umbrella.

Molly is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Colorado and based out of Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining the ARS Community Outreach Team in August 2019, Molly worked in a variety of social work settings. She has worked in direct practice, counseling older adults, adolescents, high acuity clients, and other populations struggling with various mental health and substance abuse related issues, as well as a Permanency Planning Worker for the Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Division in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Molly has worked in the field of Social Work since 2013, and holds the philosophy that all individuals, with proper support and awareness, possess the ability to learn, change, and grow to achieve the highest quality of life and sense of self possible.

Molly earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Family Life Education with a focus on Gerontology from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. In her time with Advanced Recovery Systems, Molly has primarily worked with first responders and their families, as well as the International Association of Fire Fighters and various municipalities across North America. Molly is the Peer Team Clinician for the IAFF’s 9th District Peer Support Team, has been featured in news publications and mental health podcasts, and provided clinical oversight to local non-profits in Colorado.