Episode 7: Hayley - Former Senior Sergeant with Australian Police Force, Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor

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 Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones. In this episode, Erin speaks with Hayley, a former Senior Sergeant with a State Police Force in Australia and current trauma informed yoga instructor. They discuss what lead Hayley to want to join a law enforcement organization, the different positions she held throughout her career and the heavy burden that is placed on people in a leadership role, knowing they have to send their troops out to face trauma on a daily basis. Erin and Hayley discuss some of the challenges faced in policing, being a female in a male dominated profession, the impact that workplace occupational trauma can have and what made her walk away from the career that she loved. Hayley is remarkably and courageously honest in sharing the negative experiences she endured, the maladaptive coping skills she practiced for so long to the point of complete burnout and her PTSD diagnosis. They talk about what happens when you ask for help and it isn't there, how mental health was and is addressed and what could be done better. Hayley also shares how she's found her way since leaving her policing career and how finding yoga and becoming an instructor, has changed her life for the better. It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Hayley and we hope you enjoy listening to this episode! Hayley is the co-founder of Frontline Wellness (Along with Elise from Episode 4) and you can find their Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/frontline_wellness_aus/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== 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, subscribe and share!