08/14/2026
What is GB CISM? Reflections from My Recent Presentation
This week I had the honor to do a presentation to the Greater Boston Critical Incident Stress Management Team, hosted by the MIT Police Department in Cambridge. This team is a diverse group of law enforcement officers, clinicians, and spiritual leaders with varied skill sets and years of experience who come together from 43 cities and towns. They respond to critical incidents, such as line-of-duty deaths or serious work-related injuries, to provide confidential support behind the scenes.
The core of my presentation focused on physical movement drills and breathing techniques that are practical and valuable for maintaining well-being on and off duty.
During my talk, I shared my personal experience of living with clinical depression and the difficulty of saying those three words, "I need help." I opened up about the time I was on the receiving end of first-responder care during a difficult period with untreated clinical depression. They made me feel safe and cared for. As a first responder, I’ve been on the opposite end, and I know how vital it is to give that same feeling. By sharing that, I did feel vulnerable, but I wanted to help break the stigma around asking for help and show that seeking support is a true sign of strength.
To close my presentation, I shared a quote from Maya Angelou that serves as a powerful reminder: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
To learn more about the vital work of GB CISM, please visit their website. ➡️ https://www.greaterbostoncism.com
Thank you to the entire team and to all of our public safety and first responders for your continued service and dedication to our community!
