First responders
Have you ever tried talking to a therapist and felt like they did not understand your line of work and seemed shocked by what you were sharing?
Yeah, me too. This experience is part of what drew me to the counseling profession. I’ve been there. I get it. There is nothing you can say that will surprise me.
*I offer 10% off for police, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections, nurses and doctors.
My law enforcement experience
I have experience in university and municipal law enforcement. I spent the majority of my time working patrol on evening shift. I hold an active advanced TCOLE license. I am certified in the following: background investigations, mental health officer, crisis negotiations, basic instructor, critical incident stress management, threat liaison officer & field training officer. I have worked critical incidents and I know what it’s like.
Will my job find out ?
Absolutely not. Everything we talk about is confidential. There are only three reasons I would have to break confidentiality: if you are a danger to yourself or others, if your actions or inactions place a child, elder, or at-risk individual in harm’s way, or if I receive a subpoena.
Will I receive a diagnosis?
I recall having this exact question and concern. This is one of the perks of private pay. Insurance requires a diagnosis, while private pay does not. There is less of a “paper trail” when you don’t utilize insurance for services.
Suicide stats
First responders complete suicide at a higher rate than most professions. Here are the numbers from 2023:
Police: 119
Fire: 25
EMS: 6
Dispatch: 4
Corrections: 10
- Sadness, depression, or apathy
- Easily frustrated
Blaming of others, irritability - Lacking feelings, indifferent
- Isolation or disconnection from others
- Poor self-care (hygiene)
- Tired, exhausted, or overwhelmed
- Feeling like:
Nothing you can do will help
You are not doing your job well
You need alcohol/other drugs to cope
Signs of secondary traumatic stress
- Excessively worry or fear about something bad happening
- Easily startled, or “on guard” all of the time
- Physical signs of stress (e.g. racing heart)
- Nightmares or recurrent thoughts about the traumatic situation
- The feeling that others’ trauma is yours
https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/responders.asp
Cardiovascular risks for first responders
- Avg. age of civilian heart attack: 65
- Avg. age of 1st responder heart attack: 46
- Civilian life expectancy: 79
- Officer life expectancy: 57
- Civilian heart attacks under age 45: 7%
- Officer heart attacks under 45: 45%
First responder risk factors
- high stress levels
- irregular shift work
- physical demands
- challenging to prioritize health habits
Divorce rates
National divorce rate: 50%
First responder divorce rate: 60-75%
Contact me for couples counseling if your relationship is strained.
First responder spouses encouraged to contact for individual counseling.
- Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms)
- Avoiding things that remind you of the event.
- Having more negative thoughts and feelings than before the event.
- Feeling on edge (also called hyperarousal).
- 15% of paramedics
- 13% of rescue teams
- 7% of firefighters
- 5% of police officers
An estimated 400,000 first responders in America have at least some symptoms of PTSD.
Civilians: 1 in 5
First responders: 1 in 3
