EMS professionals are trained to move quickly from one call to the next. Assess. Respond. Stabilize. Transport. Reset.

But what happens when the call ends and the experience does not?

In emergency medical services, exposure to stress is often discussed through the lens of major traumatic events. Yet the cumulative impact of the work can be much quieter. A difficult pediatric call. A patient who reminds you of someone you love. The family member whose reaction stays with you. A call that did not seem significant at the time, but somehow follows you home.

The body and brain do not automatically process an experience simply because the call is over.

For Candice Van Dertholen, this work also carries a deeply personal connection. Her late spouse lived with PTSD until the final day of his life, giving Candice firsthand experience with the lasting impact that traumatic and unprocessed experiences can have on an individual and the people who love them. That experience has shaped her commitment to helping others better understand what happens beneath the surface and why recognizing the signs earlier matters.

In this interactive session, Candice explores the hidden impact of unprocessed experiences and what happens within the nervous system during and after repeated exposure to high-intensity situations. Using accessible nervous system education, relatable examples, and practical exercises, participants will learn why certain experiences stay with us, how accumulated stress can begin showing up mentally, emotionally, and physically, and how to recognize their own signals earlier.

Participants will also explore the role of processing in resilience. Using the analogy of open tabs on a computer, the session demonstrates how experiences can continue consuming internal capacity when the system has not had an opportunity to make sense of what happened, release the emotional charge, and return toward regulation.

Rather than asking EMS professionals to eliminate stress from an inherently stressful profession, this session focuses on building greater awareness and giving providers realistic tools they can use between calls, after a shift, and in everyday life.

Previous Presentation Experience

The concepts and practices within The Hidden Impact of Unprocessed Experiences have been presented to professional and community audiences, including the 2026 NHEDA Conference in New Hampshire and NAMI Charlotte.