The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken Huey
Join Dr. Ken Huey on The Voice of Hope, where real stories and expert insights meet to inspire healing and transformation. With decades of experience in behavioral health and trauma therapy, Dr. Huey draws from his personal journey and professional expertise to offer practical advice for families, adoptees, and anyone seeking growth. Discover strategies to navigate trauma, build stronger relationships, and embrace hope in every episode. Tune in for thoughtful conversations that uplift and empower.
The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken Huey
Amy Morgan: Why First Responders Deserve Culturally Competent Mental Health Care
In this powerful episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Amy Morgan, MSC - a mental health educator, author, and founder of the Center of Training. Amy shares what led her to launch and later sell Academy Hour, why she returned to working with first responders, and the surprising reason traditional therapy often fails them.
Together, they explore:
- The burnout that comes from carrying hundreds of suicide interventions
- Why most therapists aren’t ready to hear what first responders need to say
- The difference between trauma in the field and stress in the boardroom
- How post-traumatic growth fuels her mission
- A powerful reflection on hope, healing, and staying in the fight
This conversation is for anyone who works in mental health, public service, or simply believes in the power of purpose.
00:14
Ken Huey: Today's guest is Amy Morgan, MSC, founder and CEO of Center of Training, where she delivers practical mental health training for individuals and organizations. With a background in trauma recovery and first responder wellness, she also serves as deputy director at Warriors Rest Foundation and supports COPS, C-O-P-S, chapters nationwide. Amy's work blends no-nonsense leadership with deep compassion, empowering professionals to heal, build resilience, and create meaningful change. Amy, thank you so much for being with us.
Amy Morgan: Absolutely, thanks for having me.
00:45
Ken Huey: So, you built Academy Hour from the ground up. Why? What motivated you to sell it and then shift focus to Center of Training?
Amy Morgan: What motivated me to sell it was burnout, honestly. I started it in 2017 while I was working... [continues full detailed story about trauma exposure, founding Academy Hour, suicide interventions, and burnout].
(She concludes by explaining how she returned to first responder work after a brief retirement.)
05:26
Ken Huey: In this process, you've developed a number of certifications for mental health advocacy. What's the gap you're trying to fill there?
Amy Morgan: I started the certification process with the Certified First Responder Counselor because... [continues by sharing her discovery of the cultural disconnect between counselors and first responders, her training structure, and the importance of vetting clinicians who can handle real trauma].
09:04
Ken Huey: Talk to me about the difference between working with first responders and working in the corporate world.
Amy Morgan: Yeah, so first responders... well, it's kind of hard to say it without it sounding wrong. But I had originally wanted to work with kids... [continues with a humorous and honest explanation of why she pivoted to trauma and suicide work, how she found her calling with first responders, and the contrast with corporate audiences].
12:03
Ken Huey: Tell us a little about the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and how that shaped your career.
Amy Morgan: I think it was really the catalyst. I was hearing stories from officers... [continues describing how her time at OSBI and her counseling education intersected, and how it opened her eyes to the trauma faced by law enforcement].
13:57
Ken Huey: If you could wave a magic wand and change behavioral healthcare or mental health training, what would that look like?
Amy Morgan: First, I would make it interesting. I hate boring training... [continues with her vision for culturally relevant, engaging, and hope-oriented mental health training that truly supports healing and growth].
15:33
Ken Huey: Can you share a story that reminds you why the work matters so much?
Amy Morgan: All the stories. But I think about the suicide interventions... [shares deeply moving reflections on the calls she's taken from first responders in crisis, their vulnerability, and the importance of someone simply listening and staying with them through the darkness].
18:09
Ken Huey: What brings you hope — personally or professionally?
Amy Morgan: Everything. I am someone who looks for hope... [describes her tattoo, her love of dandelions, and her belief that even in trauma, hope can be found if you surround yourself with support and positivity. Includes references to The Princess Bride as a metaphor for climbing out of darkness].
21:02
Ken Huey: Thank you for spending a moment with us, Amy.
Amy Morgan: Absolutely, thanks.
