The player is loading ...
Get weekly episode news delivered to your inbox
Responder Resilience welcomes Acting Fire Chief David Motes and Command Counseling founder Marie Gumá, sharing insights on their groundbreaking mental health program for Clay County Fire Rescue. They shed light on the critical need and their collaborative efforts, emphasizing the program's impact on recruitment, retention, and the overall safety and wellness of firefighters.
In this enlightening episode of the Responder Resilience, we dive deep into the heart of mental health within the fire service, featuring a captivating dialogue with Acting Fire Chief David Motes of Clay County Fire Rescue (CCFR), Florida, and Marie Guma, the visionary founder of Command Counseling Center. Together, they shed light on the critical need and their collaborative efforts in establishing a groundbreaking mental health program specifically tailored for fire departments. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of emergency services and mental health support.
Our guests start by sharing the compelling observations in the fire service that ignited the initiative for a mental health program. They delve into the intricacies of how the CCFR/Command Counseling mental health services program operates, including how members can access these vital services and the mechanism for clinician notification and activation in the event of a critical incident, ensuring 24/7 coverage. The conversation provides a transparent look at the structure and execution of a program designed to be as accessible as it is effective.
Further enriching the discussion, Chief Motes and Ms. Guma address the feedback received from the department members, highlighting the importance of buy-in for the program's success. They also explore the diversity and cultural competence of the participating therapists, the various therapeutic approaches offered, and the logistics of in-station versus one-on-one sessions. Additionally, the episode covers the critical aspects of compliance, billing, insurance, and service tracking, concluding with an insightful analysis of how such a mental health initiative positively impacts recruitment and retention within the fire service. This episode celebrates the strides made towards prioritizing mental health in one of the most demanding professions.
Acting Fire Chief
Acting Fire Chief David Motes has served over 33 years with Clay County. He was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to a Navy family that lived in many areas from Washington to California, finally settling in Florida. Initially, Chief Motes lived on the west side of Jacksonville, but his family quickly sought a safer life in Clay County, growing up in Lake Asbury in the early 70s. Chief Motes became a State Certified Firefighter in 10th grade while attending Middleburg High School after becoming a Volunteer Firefighter in Lake Asbury. Chief Motes attained an Associate's Degree in Fire and EMS, a bachelor's Degree in Public Administration from Flagler College, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Barry University. Chief Motes has several certifications in Fire Rescue Service, including Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, and Company Officer. Other areas of expertise are Technical Rescue, Haz-Mat, advanced emergency medical programs and instruction, terrorist intervention, tactical medicine, and emergency management. Chief Motes is also a Florida Certified General Contractor with extensive training in building construction.
After graduation, Chief Motes began his career at Ambulance Service Inc., where he gained experience while attaining his paramedic license in 1988. St. Johns County hired him and continued to gain experience in a fast passed progressive emergency medical system before Clay County hired him in June of 1988 to service in Keystone Heights. This was not his first landing in Clay County. He served as a Volunteer Firefighter in La…
Read More
Founder Command Counseling | Mental Health Clinician | Educator | Speaker
Marie holds a master’s in clinical psychology from Carlos Albizu University and has substantially completed doctoral coursework in the same field.
After over a decade in practice, she transitioned into the realm of marketing. Marie then served as a Marketing Executive for eight years in the inpatient substance use disorder industry.
With an avid interest in addressing the psychological needs of first responders, Marie attended and later contributed to the Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative's Clinician Training and Management between 2017 and 2020. Her dedication was underscored by her role in the Clinician Response Team for Coral Springs Parkland Fire Rescue during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy.
In October 2019, the untimely passing of Alvis Fernandez, a revered firefighter from Boynton Beach, sent shockwaves through all who had the privilege to know him. During a series of station visits spearheaded by an IAFF peer support team from Orlando Fire, Scott Weeks, the Fire Union President of Boynton Beach, recognized the need for dedicated mental health services. He turned to Marie and said, "We need you here."
This call to action prompted Marie to introduce the Command Counseling Center (CCC) to Boynton Beach, a venture she was inspired to create after observing the third-party counseling collaborations at the Orange County Fire Authority in California and understanding exactly what these industries needed to move from a reactive culture to a preventative one. The following year, the HR Man… Read More
