Podcast Interview with Dr. Heather Williams, Psychologist with Premier First Responder Psychological Services

"Enhance your emotional intelligence. Say what it is you’re thinking. Acknowledge how you’re feeling. And I call feeling the 'F' word of public safety because nobody likes to talk about it." - Dr. Heather Williams

NEP Media's Jim Aleski talks with Dr. Heather Williams, a Psychologist from Southern California's Premier First Responder Psychological Services, at the 2023 NEP "We Need to Talk" mental and behavioral health conference in Las Vegas. Dr. Williams discusses her decades of experience working as and alongside first responders.

Dr. Williams' journey included 20 years of working in crisis and and trauma before formally becoming a Psychologist. She spent many years working in law enforcement and fire service victim assistance programs, crisis response teams,and peer support groups. Dr. Williams and her team can be found at: https://premier1stresponder.com.

Jim Aleski is a more than 25-year fire service veteran and career engine company Lieutenant in the Philadelphia metro area. Jim serves as a Branding and Content Specialist at NEP Services and formerly served as the Communications/Social Media Director for the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), the state affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Prior to becoming a career firefighter, Jim responded as a volunteer while working for more than a decade as a media producer. Jim was involved in the production of hundreds of national TV commercials, network branding campaigns, music videos, and corporate communication projects. Jim holds a BS in Mass Communications from Emerson College and earned a MS in Fire and Emergency Management Administration from Oklahoma State University.