Counseling for First Responders
First Responders are amongst the first to arrive on a scene of an emergency. This group of people can include– paramedics, military, law enforcement, EMT, fire fighters, physicians, or nurses. I have a deep passion for helping first responders cope with symptoms of trauma, compassion fatigue, and burn out. Often times, First Responders do not recognize they are experiencing an internal trauma reaction to an external emergency. First Responders pile on trauma after trauma over the duration of their career. I have experience in working in healthcare and law enforcement. I believe my experience in working with first responders helps to understand the true dynamic of being a first responder and the culture that overlooks the need for counsel.
While First Responders cannot evade and escape responding to traumatic events and emergencies, the goal is to help First Responders cope with their reaction to the trauma in a healthy and positive way.
I work with first responders who are active duty and retired. I believe my skill set at helping first responders cope with the traumatic events that cause a decline in day-to-day functioning is of great help with establishing a healthy and positive outcome through therapy. Some of the signs that a first responder needs professional counseling is:
- Irritability
- Unable to perform job task as usual
- Feeling hyper vigilant at all times
- Sadness/depression
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Recurring thoughts of a traumatic event
- Insomnia
- Fatigued all of the time
- Substance use
- Conflicts with your family
- Isolating when off duty
- Having ongoing thoughts that consume your down time
- Not participating in enjoyable activities with loved ones