Burnout Behind the Headset at CAPCOG

The workshop is a blend of education and interactive group participation in the forms of practical application of coping skills and peer support. Participants will be able to define burnout, identify its common signs and symptoms and learn its connection to mental health and well-being. Facilitated group discussion will afford participants the opportunity to identify personal signs of burnout, and learn applicable coping mechanisms to address and/or prevent symptoms of burnout. Participants will be guided through practical applications of coping mechanisms for stress management/burnout and emotion regulation. Participants will receive hand outs of coping skills and grounding exercises; and complimentary fidgets for self-soothing and stress management.

Instructors:

Laura P. Boudreaux, LPC, NCC and Tammy Jo Boudreaux, LCSW, MBA with Boudreaux 2.0 Counseling & Consulting

Laura P. Boudreaux, LPC, NCC

Laura is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas with more than 22 years of clinical experience, specializing in the mental health and wellness of 911 dispatchers and other first responders. She is a former CIT clinician that was paired with Houston Police Department police officers and Harris County Sheriff Office deputies, taking 911 calls for mental health crisis calls in the community.  She is a co-founder of Boudreaux 2.0 Counseling & Consulting, a private practice specializing in psychotherapy and EMDR trauma work for critical incidents with tele-communicators, law enforcement, firefighters, CSU,veterans, EMS, and military helping them manage cumulative stress, trauma exposure, and work-life impact.

Since 2013, Laura has served as a Mental Health Practitioner and Clinical Director with the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) Post Critical Incident Seminar program, integrating EMDR and trauma-informed care to support recovery after critical incidents. She has contributed to more than 60 seminars In Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Louisiana and frequently works with dispatchers attending PCIS.

Laura partners directly with agencies to build dispatcher-specific support, including on-site debriefings, individual counseling, and skills-based workshops such as Managing Emotions and Coping Skills for Tele-Communicators. She has worked with departments across Texas — including Greater Harris County- 911, Houston Police Department, The City of Sugar Land, Fort Bend County Behavioral Health and multiple regional CISM teams — and has provided behavioral-health support during major incidents such as Santa Fe (2018) and Uvalde (2022).

Her work centers on one core belief: dispatchers deserve the same access to care, training, and resilience resources as every other first responder.

Tammy Jo Boudreaux, LCSW, MBA

Tammy is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 26 years of experience and a deep commitment to those who serve on the front lines. She is the co-founder of Boudreaux 2.0 Counseling & Consulting, a private practice specializing in trauma-informed psychotherapy, including EMDR and emotion-focused therapy, for emergency responders, military personnel, and their families impacted by critical incidents and PTSD.

Tammy Jo serves as an EMDR therapist on the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams for the City of Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT). She has been deployed to numerous debriefs throughout the state to provide clinical support to first responders post critical incidents, including the major incidents in Santa Fe (2018) and Uvalde (2022). Additionally, she partners with these agencies to provide mental health wellness programs, individual counseling and on site dispatcher-specific support.

She has been a member of the LEMIT Post-Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS) team since 2013 and serves as Clinical Director for PCIS Texas. She has also contributed to the development of Louisiana PCIS. She has participated in more than 55 PCIS seminars since 2013.

Tammy Jo facilitates mental health wellness and resilience workshops for Greater Harris County- 911 tele-communicators.  Known for her down-to-earth approach, she is passionate about helping first responders reconnect with resilience, purpose, and life beyond the call.  Her workshops reflect this belief: offering a supportive space for growth, resilience, and lasting well-being.

Together Laura and Tammy Jo bring 48 years of combined experience, and they are strong proponents of helping first responders recognize that they deserve more than just survival – they deserve a life full of joy.

Special Instructions:

Dress Code: To promote a professional training environment, CAPCOG requires proper attire.  Attendee must provide their PID # to receive TCOLE credit for courses taken through CAPCOG. CAPCOG provides training for the Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) in our region at no cost to 9-1-1 telecommunicators and their departments. When space is reserved for a 9-1-1 training class offered by CAPCOG, students or the supervisor who made the reservation must cancel such reservation at least two business days prior to start of the class.

For Questions

Contact Chanita Castilla, CAPCOG. 9-1-1 Training & Public Education Specialist.