Therapy for Military & First Responders
A Therapist Who Understands the Weight of the Uniform
Jody formerly worked in Public Safety for over a decade, operating in Provincial Corrections as a Correctional Peace Officer. During this time, she worked alongside Police, Paramedics, RCMP, Registered Nurses, Emergency Medical Services, and Sheriffs. Many of her colleagues and close friends are veterans, and current military members, all of whom have Jody’s utmost respect.
These are atypical careers, that involve a higher level of trauma than other professions. If you’ve served in these environments, you know the culture is unique and it often shapes every part of daily life. Throw in the shift work, and it can really create a recipe for stress (both physically and mentally).
Sadly, stigma can still make it uncomfortable for those who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting others, to acknowledge they may need some support themselves. If you are on the fence, and are worried about what therapy looks like, or even if you are like Jody and had a previous poor experience with counselling yourself, reach out and book a free consultation. She can outline what you can expect from therapy with her, and you won’t have to waste time explaining politics, and hierarchy. Rest assured she will not be offended if you swear casually in conversation, and use dark humour.
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.
