Today we’d like to introduce you to Fuzzy Lake.
Hi Fuzzy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started teaching CISM in Indiana 30 years ago while I was running a full time business, volunteering as a chaplain multiple places, and pastoring one sometimes 2 churches. I also was instrumental in starting the East Central Critical Incident Management Team that now covers 7 counties and had 53 members. I moved to South Carolina in 2015, took a job with a Hospice Company. I was the Spiritual Care Coordinator for the Embrace Hospice House for almost 7 years. I fully retired from that 2 years ago to put my time and efforts into what I love to train and teach. Critical Incident Stress Management. I now teach full time and have taught people all over the US, including Nevada Highway Patrol, West Virginian EMT’s, Kansas City Police Dept., Oklahoma PD, and have also taught virtually to those in need recently in Guam. I have also taught in the Philippines.
I have a Masters Degree in Addiction Intervention and Grief Counseling. I have certifications in Religious Trauma, Acute Stress Related Protocol (ASAP), International Grief Worker, International Certified Professional Chaplain, and various others.
I am certified to train in Assisting Individuals in Crisis, Group Crisis Intervention, The combination of those two, called (GRIN), Pastoral Crisis Intervention, Advanced Individual Crisis Intervention, Trauma Informed Peer Para-Counseling, and School Crisis Intervention from Theory to Application.
I have currently designed a stand alone intervention called H.E.L.P.S in Crisis. (Helping Everyone Learn Practical Solutions in Crisis. This is to offset cumulative ongoing stress in the workplace.
I took on a business partner a little over 1.5 years ago, and we have developed a one day course called; “Crisis and Grief in the Community.” How to talk and help others going through crisis and grief.
I just recently designed a 9 hour program called; “Crisis Intervention in the Recovery World.” It is an intervention that we are going to be using in the recovery world to help those in recovery learn how to take care of themselves and others so as not to relapse. We are working with The Center out on Hwy 90 to introduce this the first of the year. It has been BETA tested twice with a lot of success.
My business partner and I are both are dedicating our full time lives to helping other who help others. Mostly first responders to last responders.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have spent 30 years building the program and business up. Most of the struggles are getting a buy in from leadership to understand the cost of mental health in the workforce and how to use this to stop burnout, cumulative stress, and compassion fatigue.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Myself and my business partner train those who work with others in the Critical Incident Stress Management program.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I work a lot in the Addictions would. Finding a mentor for any business, and or life in general is more about finding someone with like goals in life. I like to have a mentor that will hold me accountable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lakecism.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FuzzyLake/reviews/?ref=page_internal
- Other: https://g.page/r/CQ9ruNZab-gUEAg/review
