Cover My Six: A Comprehensive Guide to Firefighter Care is not just another book on mental health—it’s a breakthrough playbook for mastering the full system of care that every firefighter deserves.
Built for the Fire Service.For too long, mental health care in the fire service has relied on civilian models that miss the mark—offering surface-level strategies that don’t reflect the realities of the job. When those tools fail, firefighters are left blaming themselves. But what if the real issue isn’t you? What if the strategies were misapplied, incomplete, or never designed for lasting impact?
Cover My Six changes that.
Written by Dr. Lea Sullivan, a mental health expert who understands the fire service from the inside out, this cutting-edge book bridges the gap between clinical care and firefighter culture. Backed by scientific research and real stories from the line, it delivers practical, no-fluff strategies that actually fit the fire service.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
- Understand the mental health continuum—beyond buzzwords and broken models
- Evaluate different types of care and interventions before you commit to them
- Identify what works, what doesn’t, and why
- Strategize your own mental health preplan with clarity and purpose
- Build a peer support program rooted in research and tailored to fire service culture—not clinical jargon.
Become the expert of your own wellness.This isn’t about becoming a therapist—it’s about owning your care with clarity and confidence. Whether you're navigating stress, supporting your crew, or just staying sharp, Cover My Six gives you the tools to make informed, effective decisions.
This is mental fitness, built for firefighters.Take charge. Stay sharp. Cover your six.
DR. LEA SULLIVAN is a nationally recognized fire service mental health expert, first responder therapist, founder of The Resilience Academy, and retired volunteer first responder chaplain. With a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies and dissertation research on firefighter attachment and resilience, she brings both academic insight and boots-on-the-ground experience to her work.A former Director of Mental Wellness for a fire district, Dr. Sullivan developed the nation's first attachment-based mental health program for firefighters. She trains peer support teams, chaplains, and fire families with a focus on resilience, cultural competence, and trauma-informed care. Through speaking, training, and agency consultation, she equips fire service professionals and their families with tools to protect their mental health-so they can keep showing up strong, on the fireground and at home.
