Dr. Janette McMurtrie is here with me in this new episode of the Colleague Down the Hall podcast. Janette discusses the unique challenges and nuances involved in providing mental health support to individuals in high-stress, highly regulated professions such as aviation, law enforcement, and the military. She talks about the need for mental health professionals to understand the specific cultural and professional environments of these populations to offer effective and non-detrimental care. She stresses the importance of appropriate documentation and the delicate balance required to ensure that clients receive the help they need without jeopardizing their careers. She also discusses the barriers posed by insurance and documentation requirements.

“You have to realize you’re dealing with a very unique personality type when you’re dealing with that group. So in that group, if you don’t have any understanding of what that job is like, there are times in that job when you’re on the line and you’ve got to make a split second decision, life or death, and you don’t get to make a mistake, you don’t get to second guess, you don’t get to analyze, you get to just react. And that’s what all their training is about, is to react and do it correctly. Well, the problem happens when they go home, that personality type does not switch off as you and I both know It stays there.”- Dr. Janetter McMurtrie

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

***Mental Health in Aviation: The episode focuses on mental health in aviation, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by pilots and other professionals in high-stress jobs like law enforcement and the military.

***Cultural Understanding: Therapists need to understand the specific cultures and stressors associated with these professions to provide effective mental health support.

***Career Vulnerability: Pilots face significant career risks when seeking mental health treatment. Historically, seeking counseling could lead to being removed from flight status without eligibility for unemployment or disability payments. These same risks occur with military service members and law enforcement officers.

***Regulatory Barriers: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stringent regulations regarding pilots’ mental health. The FAA has full access to counseling records, and HIPAA does not apply, creating additional barriers for pilots seeking help.

***Pilot and Clinician Challenges: Clinicians must navigate complex documentation requirements and the risk of unintentionally grounding their pilot clients due to specific diagnoses. The process for pilots to be cleared to fly again can be lengthy and complicated.

***Personality Types: Understanding the typical personality types of pilots (mostly ESTPs for men and ESTJs for women) and how these types influence their behavior is crucial for effective therapy.

***Support Systems: Pilots and law enforcement often have internal peer support systems, but professional help is crucial for addressing deeper issues effectively.

About Dr. Janette McMurtrie:

Dr. Janette McMurtrie is known by most as a “Jill of all Trades,” a retired Captain from American Airlines with nearly 50 years of flying experience. She is currently an instructor pilot at American Airlines Flight Academy. She has been a Chief Pilot and Check Airman in leadership airline. She is also retired as a deputy sheriff from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and an ordained pastor.

She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with a master’s in counseling psychology, & pastoral counseling. She is an expert in aviation issues, trauma, & marriage, with over 20+ years in clinical practice. She has owned and consulted in multiple businesses – including her flight school, brewery, and the family furniture manufacturing businesses.

Dr. J’s goal is to help others by helping them cope with aviation-related issues and develop into effective leaders. When she’s not flying or teaching, Dr. J volunteers with Women in Aviation International (WAI), ALPA, ISA-21, and Amelia Earhart’s the Ninety Nine’s. She provides education in mental health, leadership, business development, and aviation-related issues. She has hosted multiple public and private seminars in these areas as well as published articles in magazines.  She is currently writing two books that hope to be published soon.

Connect with Janette:

Website: www.Drjanettem.com;

Facebook: DJM Innovative Solutions