Stronger on the Inside: Mental Toughness in the Trades

When your dad works the lines, your childhood looks different. For Hayley Booker, it meant growing up with a superhero — until she realized even heroes struggle when the job gets heavy.Now a Registered Clinical Counsellor who works with trades and frontline professionals across Canada, Hayley helps normalize mental health conversations in the trades — from line crews to leadership teams — by blending science, empathy, and real-world experience.In this conversation, Kevin and Hayley dive into: Why men in the trades often stay silent about mental health. The moment Hayley realized her dad’s stress on the job had changed their relationship. How to listen — not fix — when a crew member is struggling. How to support coworkers through burnout, addiction, or grief after a suicide. The “stress bucket” exercise every crew should try. The 3 mental health triage tools: Eat. Sleep. Move. Why breathing, micro-breaks, and simple “clock-out rituals” are proven stress resets.Whether you’re a foreman, a new apprentice, or a parent trying to stay connected — this episode is for anyone who’s felt the weight of responsibility and silence.Connect with Hayley Booker:LinkedInSomaClinicalCounselling.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Connect with Dr. Kevin Rindal⁠⁠⁠WorkReady Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Field Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resources MentionedWhat Happened to You? – Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry (https://amzn.to/49ck8ct)The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk, MD (https://amzn.to/4hUvdRJ) Atlas of the Heart – Brené Brown (https://amzn.to/4oyDxt7) When the Body Says No – Dr. Gabor Maté (https://amzn.to/43nX2vX)Sponsored by Vimocity & WorkReady Community Vimocity helps utility, construction, and energy teams stay strong, safe, and ready for life — on and off the job. Join more than 45,000 workforce athletes already using Vimocity tools to prevent injuries, recover faster, and perform better.Vimocity.comJoin the WorkReady CommunityAbout the WorkReady Podcast: We bring you stories and tools from top performers and experts to help you stay strong, lead well, and retire strong.#WorkReadyPodcast #MentalHealth #Leadership #WorkforceAthlete #Vimocity #WorkReadyCommunity #KevinRindal #Tradespeople #Burnout