BOS- Military Members

Before Operational
Stress (BOS)

Designed for Military Members

Before Operational
Stress Program (BOS)

Proudly Partnered With
Wounded Warriors Canada

Be the BOS of Your Mental Health

Military personnel are exposed to operational stress every day, but the effects of operational stress don’t have to last a lifetime.

BOS is about empowering military personnel to be in charge of the effects of operational stress, versus the effects of operational stress being in charge of them.

This program has been designed to serve and protect military personnel as they serve and protect us all.

Contact us for bulk pricing: Contact Us

Buy ($210 CAD)

Why BOS?

Decrease the Effects of Operational Stress

Evidenced Based

BOS uniquely combines theoretical and experiential learning procedures to decrease the effects of operational stress. Our evidence tells us we can mitigate the impact of public safety personnel’s work so that they can do their jobs without tragic consequences.
Impacting Lives

While public safety employees will continue to be exposed to operational stress, they are not destined to have their lives ruined by the psychological effects of their work. BOS empowers public safety employees to take charge of their mental health.
BOS Objectives

We know these employees need information to protect themselves from the effects of operational stress. Further, we know they need practice and support to incorporate this knowledge & these experiences into their operational roles.

Course Curriculum

1. How to Successfully Complete this Course:
2. Course Player Instructions
3. Download Instructions
1. Mental Health Support and Crisis Lines
2. Mental Health Resources - Find a Psychologist Right For You
1. Education Disclaimer
2. Intellectual Property and Copyright- TM Before Operational Stress Inc.
1. BOS Learning Objectives
2. BOS References
1. BOS Military Manual
1. Welcome to Before Operational Stress
2. Introduction and Orientation
3. Realities of War and Public Service
4. Career Stages
1. Dr Megan McElheran
2. Alanna Caldwell
3. Dr Lawrence Deck
4. Lucia Antonucci
5. Dr Andrew Carlquist
1. Meet the Military Guests
1. Learning Objectives
2. BOS Terms of Engagement
3. Common Terminology: Operational Stress
4. Common Terminology: Organizational Stress
5. Common Terminology: Compassion Fatigue
6. Common Terminology: Moral Injury and Vicarious Trauma
7. Module One Quiz - Let's Recap Those Terms!
8. Introduction to Stoicism
9. Translating Stoic Origins to Modern Times
10. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Combat Research Facts
11. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Too Stoic
12. Stoic Stories
13. Journaling
14. Summary
15. Guided Exercise: A View From Above
16. Reflection Exercise
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction to the Physiology of Operational Stress
3. Evolution of Brain Structures
4. Module 2 Quiz - Let's Recap the Brain!
5. Fight, Flight & Freeze Response
6. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: False Alarms
7. Circuitry Breakdown
8. Connecting the Dots and the Importance of Processing
9. Completing the Stress Cycle
10. Summary
11. Guided Exercise: Tips to Help Your Brain Rest and Digest
12. Reflection Exercise
13. The Voice of Experience: Major Jeremy Smith
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction to the Markers of Operational Stress
3. The Yerkes-Dodson Curve
4. The Arousal Continuum and the Window of Tolerance
5. Hyper and Hypo Arousal
6. The Freeze Response
7. The Optimal Zone
8. Module 3 Quiz - Let's Recap the Window of Tolerance
9. The Window of Tolerance and Operational Stress
10. Recognition and Strategies
11. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Taking the Dog for a Walk
12. Summary
13. Guided Exercise: Muscle Relaxation
14. Module 3 Reflection Exercise
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction to Cognitive Impacts
3. Automatic Thoughts
4. Examples of Cognitive Interpretations
5. Thinking Traps Part 1
6. Thinking Traps Part 2
7. Module 4 Quiz - Let's Recap Thinking Traps!
8. Challenging Thought Distortions
9. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Should Statements
10. Summary
11. Guided Exercise: De-Catastrophize Your Thinking
12. Module 4 - Reflection Exercise
13. The Voice of Experience: Retired Master Corporal, Sheridan Taylor
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction to Emotions
3. Influences on Emotion
4. Evolutionary Relevance of Emotion
5. Module 5 Quiz - Recapping Emotional Ideas
6. Sadness
7. Fear & Anxiety
8. Anger
9. Shame
10. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Handling Emotions with Dr. Andrew
11. Summary
12. Guided Exercise: Self Compassion
13. Module 5 Reflection Exercise
1. Introduction to Emotions & Stoicism
2. Emotions & Stoicism: King Arthur
3. Emotions & Stoicism: President Eisenhower
4. Emotions & Stoicism: Tolkien
5. Emotions & Stoicism: The Odyssey
6. Emotions & Stoicism: President Washington
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction to Behaviour Change
3. Types of Avoidance Behaviour
4. Learning and Conditioning
5. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Dog Phobia
6. Emotional and Memory Avoidance
7. Module 6 Quiz - Let's Recap Avoidance
8. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Grandma's Bees
9. Introduction to Exposure
10. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Imaginal Exposure
11. Unconcious Stoicism
12. Adversity and Stress: Ingredients for Transformation
13. Summary
14. Guided Exercise: Negative Visualization
15. Module 6 Reflection Exercise
16. The Voice of Experience: Dr. Franklin Annis
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction to Communication
3. Communication Styles: Passive
4. Communication Styles: Aggressive
5. Communication Styles: Assertive
6. Communication Skills
7. Module 7 Quiz - Let's Recap Communication Styles
8. Communication and The Window of Tolerance
9. Tips for Effective Communication
10. The D.E.S.C. Model
11. Orientation to the Context of Communication: Personal vs. Work
12. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: D.E.S.C. scripting
13. Summary
14. Guided Exercise: Voluntary Discomfort
15. Reflection Exercise
1. Learning Objectives
2. Empathy in a Military Context
3. The Transition Model
4. Functional Disconnection Strategies
5. Functional Reconnection Strategies
6. Making a Project of Doing Good
7. Dr. Andrew's Anecdotes: Empathy as a mission
8. Summary
9. Module Eight - One Last Quiz!
10. Guided Exercise: Guided Breathing
11. Module 8 Reflection Exercise
1. Mental Health Culture in the Military
2. Stoicism Misinterpreted
3. Approaching Adversity and Pain
4. Disorder vs. Injury
5. Applying The Window of Tolerance
6. Your Capacity for Empathy
7. Avoidance as a Coping Strategy
8. What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
1. Learning Objectives Rating
1. Thank you to the participants
1. Thank You to Wounded Warriors Canada
2. Thank you to the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment

About this course

$210.00
149 lessons
5.5 hours of video content

BOS Leadership Team

Dr. Megan McElheran

CEO and Clinical Psychologist

My name is Dr. Megan McElheran and I am a clinical psychologist and CEO of Wayfound. For the past 16 years, I have had the privilege to work almost exclusively with uniformed service personnel and have witnessed the devastating psychological effects operational stress can have on those who serve and protect our communities.

I was motivated several years ago to develop the Before Operational Stress (BOS) program out of a desire to provide public safety personnel with an intervention that could support greater psychological protection relative to their occupational roles. I am steadfast in my commitment to finding proactive ways to support public safety personnel and will continue to disseminate and evaluate BOS to ensure its effectiveness and utility for the members it serves.

Dr. Milena Spasojevic

Senior Clinical Lead

My name is Dr. Milena Spasojevic and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the Senior Clinical Lead of BOS. I have had the privilege of being involved with BOS since co-facilitating the pilot group in August of 2018, and have since joined Dr. McElheran in training clinicians across Canada in its delivery. Developing and disseminating this cutting-edge and empirically-supported program has become my passion and it is an honour to serve in this role.

Dr. Andrew Carlquist

BOS Clinical Lead

My name is Dr. Andrew Carlquist and I am a clinical psychologist in Ontario. I moved to Canada to join the BOS team in November 2018 after completing my clinical training in the US Veteran Affairs system. I am passionate about working with uniformed service personnel and other front-line workers, as I believe it is vital to provide the absolute best support to folks who serve, support, heal, and defend our communities. The BOS program is a culmination of research, clinical experience, cultural competence, and feedback from the "front-lines" and I am honoured and excited for the opportunity to provide it to our members.

Before Operational
Stress (BOS)

Before Operational
Stress Program (BOS)

Why BOS?

Evidenced Based

Impacting Lives

BOS Objectives

Course Curriculum

Course Instructions

Resources

BOS Terms and Conditions

Learning Objectives & Course Curriculum

BOS Manual

Welcome and Orientation

Meet Your Instructors

Special Guests

Module 1: Stoic Service Culture

Module 2: The Physiology of Operational Stress

Module 3: Markers of Operational Stress

Module 4: Cognitive Impacts

Module 5: Emotions

Emotions & Stoicism

Module 6: Behaviour Change

Module 7: Communication

Module 8: Empathy & Functional Disconnection/Reconnection

A Panel Discussion with our Military Guests

Completion Survey

Thank you

Acknowledgements