

The following therapists are able to provide counseling to first responders. First Responders include those serving in the military, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors, counselors, therapists, veterans, teachers and other professionals who provide or have provided immediate assistance to those affected by a disturbing event. Because of the situations they encounter on a daily basis, first responders often get posttraumatic stress (PTSD), anxiety, depression, injury, burnout, compassion fatigue, and/or depression. Others might experience fear, physical tension or agitation, emotional numbness, a desire to avoid talking or thinking about the traumatic event or resort to substance abuse. The support of a mental health professional can help. Cognitive behavioral therapy and other trauma interventions such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting can be particularly useful for first responders. Therapy can also he helpful to first responders by helping you deal with the mental strain caused by your employment, promoting self-care and by providing you with both the support of a compassionate and trained counselor and a safe space to process your emotions.