Building Resiliency Through Somatics
Somatic awareness—tuning into the body’s signals of tension, fatigue, and stress—is a vital foundation for mental and emotional resiliency among wildland firefighters. By recognizing early physical cues, firefighters can intervene before stress escalates, preserving sharp decision‑making, coordination, and safety on the fireline. Coupled with intentional practices that increase mental/emotional stamina, this holistic self‑monitoring empowers individuals and crews to sustain peak performance during prolonged, high‑risk operations while safeguarding long‑term health and well‑being.
I have spent the last three years on a mental health team working directly with federal wildland crews. We develop curriculum that focuses on the unique mental health challenges specific to wildland firefighting (e.g., potential exposure to trauma, sleep deprivation, cumulative stress, moral injury). We teach tress management techniques, including mindfulness, breathing exercises, cognitive reframing, and somatic exercises. We focus on strategies to build team resilience and peer support networks.
