We understand the unique challenges that First Responders and Military face.
Whether you are active or retired in your career as a police officer, member of the military, firefighter, or paramedic/EMT, we honor and appreciate your dedication to serving and protecting others. We also know that these occupations often come with significant physical, mental, and emotional demands. The same health issues can also be experienced by many second responders and front-line workers including nurses, physicians, dispatchers, victim support workers, social workers and child protections workers. The occupational stress can take its toll over time and negatively impact your relationships, quality of life, and overall wellness.
Our team offers specialized evidence-based services tailored to meet your needs. We are dedicated to helping you build resilience, recover from trauma or moral injury, and reduce stress related symptoms, while improving your relationships and overall well-being.
We believe all first responders, military, front-line workers and second responders should have the option to access and receive evidence-based treatment and support provided by experienced experts.
Understanding the Needs of First Responders and Military
The pressures of being on the front line or deployed can lead to high levels of stress, exposure to disturbing or traumatic experiences, moral injury and the pressures of life-or-death decisions and responsibilities. These experiences can lead to or aggravate common mental health challenges such as:
- Post-Trauma Symptoms: Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder or post-trauma symptoms can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms can include unwanted thoughts, intrusive memories or flashbacks, strong emotional or physiological reactions to reminders, the urge to avoid reminders, negative changes in mood or thinking patterns, and heightened arousal such as feeling on guard, irritability and sleep problems
- Anxiety and Panic: Common symptoms include excessive fear, worry, physical symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks and Anxiety Disorders (e.g., Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias) or related disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
- Depression and Mood: Problems can include sadness, irritability, emptiness, tearfulness, difficulty feeling pleasure, loss of motivation, changes in appetite/weight, fatigue, sleep problems, difficulties in thinking, feeling hopeless about the future and feeling suicidal.
- Substance Use and Unhelpful Coping Patterns: Occupational stress can lead to turning to the use of alcohol, drugs, gambling, risky behaviours, and other unhealthy or unhelpful ways of trying to reduce stress and suffering.
- Stress, Burnout and Moral Distress: Mental and physical exhaustion, moral injury, increased reactivity to stress, and difficulties staying engaged in self-care or other valuable life domains are common due to coping with the high demands, stressors and traumas often faced in the service of protecting others in the line of duty, during military service and being on the front or second line.
Specialized Evidence- Based Treatment Options
Our team includes psychologists who specialize in working with first responders and military. We provide evidence-based treatments to address the unique health issues, challenges, stressors, and traumas faced in these lines of work and service.
Our main approach utilizes specialized forms of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) including some that have been developed specifically for First responders and Military. Our team has in-depth training and experience in these approaches which include Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE).
Your plan will be tailored specifically to your wellness needs to help you reduce your symptoms, enhance your wellness, improve your relationships, and align your life to your own values and goals. We can help you maximize your ability to honor yourself and reconnect with a sense of purpose, meaning and a rewarding life.
For more information about the different types of treatment we offer, see the link below:
Confidential & Collaborative Care with Health Benefits Coverage
We also understand that the work culture of first responders and military can sometimes make it difficult to seek help.
We are committed to creating a safe, supportive, and confidential environment where first responders and military feel comfortable sharing your experiences and can access the treatment and support you need. For those affiliated with organizations like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), or Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC), our approved providers are often able to bill directly to your health coverage and benefits programs including Medavie Blue Cross.
