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Mind Over Madness-Part 2: With Sean McCallum
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Alright, folks—we’re back with Part 2 of our powerhouse conversation with Sean McCallum, and if you thought last week’s episode was a game-changer, just wait.
If you missed Part 1, go back and listen because we laid the groundwork for this one—identity shifts, trauma integration, and why first responders get stuck in old patterns. Now, we’re diving straight into the COPE Stress Management Model, aka the CPR for Stress. Sean and his colleague, Johnny Ward, developed COPE as a simple but powerful tool for first responders to manage stress before, during, and after a critical incident—because let’s be real, nobody is handing firefighters, medics, or cops a playbook on how to process what they see on the job.
Sean breaks down what COPE actually stands for—Control, Orientation, Processing, and Emotions—and how responders can use it in real time to avoid getting stuck in the mental loops that lead to burnout and PTSD. He also drops some serious truth bombs on why we need to stop teaching avoidance in therapy, the difference between distraction and repression, and how empowering first responders with the right tools could actually change the way we handle trauma in the field.
We also get into a wild discussion on metapsychology, trauma integration, and why therapy shouldn’t be about “mastering” someone else’s experience. Oh, and somewhere in there, Sean teaches us new British slang, we geek out over A Course in Miracles, and Erin & Cinnamon once again prove they are the firehouse’s long-lost crew members.
Why You Need to Listen
- Learn how the COPE Model can help you stay grounded before, during, and after critical incidents
- Why trauma isn’t a life sentence—and why getting through it is the only way out
- The biggest mistakes we make when treating first responders—and how we can fix them
- Why nodding, reacting, and “being supportive” might actually make trauma worse (Yeah, we had to sit with that one for a minute.)
- Firefighter banter, accidental British slang lessons, and a side quest about Save a Warr
🚨 4th Annual Tactical Tools for Thriving Symposium 🚨
Join us May 5th at St. Elizabeth Training Center, Erlanger, KY, for a day dedicated to first responder mental health. Hosted by Kentucky First Responder Peer Support Team and After the Tones Drop Podcast, this event delivers real talk, resources, and resilience. Mark your calendar and Register HERE!
DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.
ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):
- https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
- https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
- https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
- https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
- https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
- https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR - https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE
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