Episode 28: Chrissy (Part 1) - First Responder Spouse, Police Wife Coach

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones. In this episode, Erin speaks with Chrissy Stewart McKeen, a fellow First Responder Spouse, with her husband being a Law Enforcement Officer, based in the lovely country of Canada. She is a dedicated Police Wife Coach, helping fellow spouses navigate some of the challenges that can accompany being the wife of a police officer and has a background in psychology and the wellness industry. She is about the launch a program called "Police Wife Academy", which aims at teaching essential skills, stress management and building resilience in an often forgotten part of the First Responder community. Erin and Chrissy have a wonderful conversation, in what is Chrissy's first ever podcast appearance! She talks how she met her husband Cam 17 yers ago in university and that while he was very upfront about his intentions to join the police force, she really didn't know or understand what it meant at the time to pledge her support and encouragement to his career aspirations. They talk about what it's like being on the other side of the public First Responder experience, how everything their husband's experience invariably bleeds back into their relationship and family life and the different strategies they use to help maintain a healthy dynamic and relationship balance. So much is now spoken about in regards to the mental health and wellness of the first responder population, they both think that spouses are an under-utilised resource, as they are the ones that will often notice subtle changes in behaviour and demeanour of their partners. Education on what to look out for in regards to mental and behavioural health conditions could help facilitate some of the proactive approaches and could improve the nature of these important relationships. Erin and Chrissy mention the fact they are talking/filming during National Police Week in the United States and about how it's never been so challenging to be the spouse of a police officer. They discuss how crucial communication is to ensuring you and your partner are on the same page, that there isn't any one-size-fits-all tool to help each individual couple dynamic, but that if things go left unsaid, it can cause resentment, which poisons a relationship. They are both firm believers in sharing our stories, so that others don't feel so alone and creating a camaraderie and community, whether it be as a first responder, emergency services member or a spouse, is incredibly important. Obviously Erin and Chrissy found they have a lot in common and ended up speaking for over two hours about what the life of a First Responder spouse can entail and how important it is, to not only support your partner in the way that they need, but to make yourself a priority as well. This is Part 1 of their conversation, tune in next week for Part 2! It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Chrissy and we both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! You can follow Chrissy on Instagram: @police.wifelife and her website is https://www.policewifelife.ca/ to learn more about Chrissy and the kind of coaching she offers. Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane. Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠ Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695 You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠ Feel free to watch, listen, share and subscribe!