I'm Holly Nemec, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I have been working in the mental health field for over 20 years. In that time, I learned that often mental health and substance use concerns are a result of trauma. As someone who believes in healing the wound, not slapping a bandaid on it, I became fascinated to learn about how traumatic experiences shape our emotional, social, and physical wellness. I began working directly with First Responders five years ago when I became involved in the CIT programs in the Eastern Region of Missouri. The more I worked with First Responders, the more I learned about the particular challenges and professional demands made on them and their families. It is in understanding this that I found a passion in giving back to them and to their families. We understand so much better how our brains and bodies are impacted by our experiences than we used to. Understanding these experiences and potential brain and body changes can teach us how to heal the brain and body.