Specialized Areas for Treatment

I come from a family of military and first responders. I strive in my work as a mental health provider to serve those who serve us all so when things happen they are at their best to continue to do their difficult and important work.

 

Military, Veteran, and Emergency Responder work is incredibly stressful, unpredictable, and requires those in these fields to cope with many factors. In therapy we look at not only the situation that occurred but also at the public's perceptions, victims’ families, the media, and how critical incidents affect co-workers. Not to mention how it all impacts your home and social experiences outside of the workplace. 

 

Throughout all of this, you are expected to perform in a professional manner, in spite of the ever-present threat of psychological and physical injury. And now we have the coronavirus pandemic on top of it all!

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Critical incidents, work stress, cumulative stress throughout one's life, and Emergency Responder Exhaustion Syndrome (ERES) are common phenomenons to happen in police work, fire fighting, trauma/emergency medicine, paramedic, and emergency dispatch work. Additionally, compassion fatigue and moral injury also can be risk factors for developing traumatic stress reactions which can include a tendency to isolate, irritability, low motivation, sleep disturbances, finding little pleasure in life, intrusive thoughts, and having ongoing negative beliefs about oneself.

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Critical incidents and chronic stress can influence not only the First Responder and Military/Veterans, but also families, friendships, and caring for and connecting to children. The effects of chronic stress and/or traumatic stress often affect the individual's ability to effectively cope with daily life and work.

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Typical events that may cause stress include:

• Any event where one’s personal safety is at risk

• Line of duty deaths and line of duty injuries 

• Injury or death of a child

• Skewed media attention

• Multiple injuries or fatality accidents

• Suicide of a First Responder co-worker

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I am here to help, and you are not alone. Together we can work through what has happened. I cannot change what you have experienced, but hopefully therapy will help you change how you feel about the experiences and will strive to make things better in your life.