Living Forward for First Responders
By Heidi L. Snyder & Lisa S. Zoll, LCSW
If the traumatic events you’ve experienced as a first responder have become too much to manage, know that you’re not alone. Perhaps the trauma has made it difficult to do your job, impacted your relationships, or caused self-doubts to creep in and cripple confidence. The problem is not you. Approximately 85% of first responders experience mental health issues throughout their careers.
Lisa S. Zoll, a firefighter and EMT of six years turned licensed clinical social worker, and Heidi L. Snyder share powerful stories told by paramedics, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and corrections officers, diving deep into the trauma they experienced. These first responders questioned their career and struggled when traumatic memories impacted their daily lives both on the job and off. Many questioned if it was feasible for them to grasp the normalcy of life they’d once enjoyed or if their future would be shackled by the scarring trauma their role as a first responder exposed them to.
Using the stories that these first responders’ willingly shared to help others, Snyder and Zoll teach you what the first responders experienced and why through the lens of therapy. They draw on proven principles of psychology in an easy-to-understand way and provide actionable exercises that will help you live forward instead of dwelling on the past.
Drew & The Grief Thief
By: Lisa Zoll, Jason Schwartzman, & Lynn Shiner
This is a story about a young boy named Drew. He has a pet hamster named Sprinkles. One weekend, Drew takes Sprinkle to visit his cousins. When Drew and his cousins come back from a day of riding bikes and playing baseball at the park, Drew discovers that Sprinkles has died. This story is for children and adults who have experienced death and grief in their lives.
It explains some of the common reactions that may occur when this loss occurs. The Grief Thief is introduced in this story. A Grief Thief is someone who squishes your feelings when you lose someone or something that you love. The moral of the story is, “Don’t let a Grief Thief steal what you feel.” Tips for parents and caregivers are included.
Grief: The Event, The Work, The Forever
By: Lisa Zoll & Lynn Shiner
This is the black & white version of the book. Grief is complex, and everyone’s journey is unique. It is our hope that this book lays a foundation to help grievers understand common reactions to their loss(es), validate their grief responses, encourage the telling of their story, and provide supportive advice to family and friends. This self-help book is divided into four unique parts: 1) An Introduction to Grief, 2) A Grief Trajectory, 3) The “R” Words, & 4) Supporting the Griever.
To find other publications by Lisa Zoll or if you want to explore featured media content for Grief Relief, check out our In the Press page.