
Therapy for Military & First Responders
A Therapist Who Understands the Weight of the Uniform
Jody formerly worked in Public Safety for over a decade, serving in Provincial Corrections as a Correctional Peace Officer. During this time, she worked closely with Police, Paramedics, RCMP, Registered Nurses, Emergency Medical Services, and Sheriffs. Many of her colleagues and closest friends are veterans and active military members- communities that hold Jody’s utmost respect.
These careers are far from ordinary. First responders, correctional officers, and military members often face a higher level of trauma and stress than most professions. The culture within these environments is unique and, for many, it becomes part of daily life. Add in the impact of shift work and unpredictable schedules, and it’s easy to see how stress, burnout, and mental health challenges can build- physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Sadly, stigma still makes it hard for many who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting others to acknowledge when they need support themselves. If you’ve ever wondered whether counselling or therapy could help, but worry what it might look like- or if, like Jody, you’ve had a poor counselling experience in the past, know that you’re not alone.
Jody offers therapy that respects first responder culture, military experiences, and the unique challenges of these professions. You won’t have to waste time explaining the politics, hierarchy, or dark humour that are often part of the job. In fact, you can expect a space where swearing casually or using humour as a coping tool isn’t judged. If you’re curious about what working with her might look like, reach out to book a free consultation. She’ll walk you through what you can expect, so you feel informed and supported before making any decisions about therapy.
What’s Included
Understanding
Culture within these professions is a world of it’s own, and still varies between careers- military, police, sheriffs, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, corrections officers, and emergency dispatch operators. Having a therapist who understands process, hierarchy, and culture will ensure the session is focused on what matters, without wasting time learning about the process or the system.
Evidence Based Treatment
EMDR is an evidence based treatment that can be used to treat PTSD, as well as other Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) that our heroes incur throughout their careers. Processing the trauma helps clients create new associations and learning, decrease/eliminate emotional distress, and develop insights that will improve daily life.
Tools and Resilience Building
Working in collaboration with your therapist to build a treatment plan that works for you is integral. This means considering and addressing factors such as shift work, sleep hygiene, anxiety, depression, addictions and other coping strategies, anger management, burnout, grief and loss, trauma, and even workplace “politics” and stigma.
