For employers, HR & managers
Riverside County & the Inland Empire
When your workplace goes through a traumatic incident, your people are shaken and you need to know what to do next. We come to your workplace, help your team talk through what happened, and help you look after them in the days that follow.
In an emergency, call 911. If someone is in crisis, call or text 988.
Who we help
You don’t have to be a first responder to go through something terrible at work. We support private businesses and organizations of every size, and the employees who were there.
Front-desk, store, and on-site staff after a traumatic incident involving a guest, customer, or tenant.
Crews and supervisors after a traumatic incident on the job.
Teams shaken by a traumatic incident involving a colleague or their workplace.
Teachers, staff, and care teams after a traumatic incident involving a student, patient, or coworker.
Usually it’s an owner, HR lead, or manager who calls. You don’t need to have the answers. That’s why we’re here.
When to call
If something happened at your workplace that left your people shaken, that’s a traumatic incident, and that’s when to call. It doesn’t have to fit a certain list.
Not sure if it’s “bad enough” to call? Call anyway at (951) 468-5202. We’ll talk it through with you.
Services
Our approach follows the ICISF model of critical incident stress management, used widely after traumatic events. It helps employees understand that what they’re feeling is a normal reaction to an abnormal event, and makes sure anyone who needs more gets connected to it.
A short, small-group conversation with the employees most affected, soon after the incident, to lower immediate stress, share practical information, and spot anyone who may need more support.
A structured group crisis intervention that helps a team talk through what happened, understand their reactions, and plan what comes next together.
Private conversations with a trained peer for any employee who would rather talk one-on-one.
Check-ins after the initial response, plus referrals to your EAP, counselors, or clinical care when someone needs more than peer support.
Support after the suicide of an employee or customer: helping staff grieve safely, guiding managers on what to say and how to communicate, watching for others who may be at risk, and connecting people to care.
Call or send a request. Tell us what happened and who was affected.
We talk through what your team needs, who should be included, and when and where to meet.
We meet with your employees on site, then check back in and point anyone who needs more toward the right resources.
Why Michael
Michael Hendrix spent 26 years with CAL FIRE, where traumatic incidents were part of the job and peer support was how crews got through them. He served on the peer support team while on the job, and after retiring he stepped up to co-lead CAL FIRE Riverside County’s team. Golden Axe Alliance brings that same training and calm to private workplaces, so your employees get the kind of support first responders rely on.
He also works part-time as a registered alcohol and drug technician at a treatment center in Palm Springs. That work keeps him hands-on with people in crisis today, and practiced at knowing when someone needs more than peer support and how to connect them to clinical care. Golden Axe Alliance itself provides peer support only, not treatment.
“I know what it feels like to bring the job home, to struggle silently, and to wonder where to turn.”Michael Hendrix, founder
Books by Michael Hendrix
Two eBooks drawn from 26 years in the fire service and his own road back to balance.
A Firefighter’s Guide to Taking Command of Your Mind and Body
Run your mind the way a good leader runs an organization: with clarity, discipline, and purpose. Drawing on real struggles and lessons from the fire service, Michael shows how to spot stress early, build resilience, create a crew culture of support, and lead yourself toward balance.
Apple Books, Kobo, hoopla, and more
Mental Strength and Wellness Beyond the Badge and Helmet
What happens when the calls stop? For retired firefighters, police officers, and first responders, retirement can bring restless nights, family changes, and the quiet weight of memories that don’t fade. Michael shares his own journey and practical tools for protecting your mental health, rebuilding relationships, and finding new purpose.
Apple Books, Kobo, hoopla, and more
Request support
If your workplace has been through a traumatic incident, call or send a request. The sooner we talk, the sooner we can plan the right support for your employees.
