Being a First Responder is a mixed bag. Your job can be fun, fulfilling, challenging, frustrating and sometimes devastating. Changing shifts, interdepartmental politics, sleep issues etc. are just some of the stressors inherent in the work that you do. In addition, there is secondary (vicarious) trauma that comes with dealing with accident victims (and their families), victims of violence, and even high risk situations where your own safety can be threatened.
The time has come for First Responders and Mental Health Care Providers to form a community alliance. For a long time, there has been a stigma attached to seeking psychological services. More and more we are recognizing the detrimental affects that chronic stress, sleep deprivation, hyper-vigilance and social isolation has on the body and the mind. The good news is we have various and effective evidenced- based treatment strategies that work with depression, anxiety, addiction, post-traumatic stress injury and suicide prevention. Your job can be hard on you and hard on your family. The stress that you carry comes home with you and isolating, or being avoidant is only a short term fix with long term consequences.
Many of the Mental Health Providers at Creekside Counseling have worked diligently to become culturally competent in treating First Responders. We participate in ride-alongs, read various books and research articles on treatment for First Responders, take specialized training, conduct Critical Incident Debriefs, and present to your population on topics like: professional burnout; PTSD; Mindfulness; stress management and other relevant subjects. We take you and the work you do very seriously. We are also serious about being here for you. Our main goal in working with you is to get you where you need to be to meet the increasing demands of your job. The safety and well-being of our community relies heavily on the safety and well-being of our First Responders.
We provide counseling services to promote the mental health and emotional resilience for Law Enforcement and Fire/ EMS.
This is what you need to know if/when the need arises
Call our office. Share with the front desk staff that you are a First Responder and the department you work for. They will do their best to schedule you as soon as possible. We make First Responders a priority. If you prefer to work with a certain provider, please just say so. Read about our staff.
Counseling is confidential. There are only a few exceptions to confidentiality (such as: your safety or the safety of someone else). We will not report back to your administration that you are seeking services- no one will know from us. Our professional license is on the line. We value your privacy and understand that privacy is imperative for trust to build.
We will diagnose you when appropriate. A diagnosis is necessary if you want us to access your health insurance or submit to Workman’s Compensation. However, if you do not want to access your health insurance, you will have to pay out of pocket. Your department may already have an agreement with us regarding payment for your counseling services. You should ask your administration about any arrangements that may already be in place, or you can ask us.
Again, we do not inform your department that you are seeking or receiving counseling services.
Counseling is a supportive experience that can also be taxing. It’s hard work. In general, we focus on making life-style changes, learning new thinking strategies, developing emotion regulation skills, and so much more. Counseling is really a trust-based relationship that allows a person to unpack their life’s backpack and start dealing what the load they are carrying. It is both hard and gratifying to do the work that ultimately helps to liberate you. We want your body to be strong; your mind to be clear; your relationships to be fulfilling; and your heart to be whole.