Therapy for First Responders & High Impact Roles
For the people who run toward what others run away from
This space is for first responders and people in high impact roles whose nervous systems have seen too much. You might be the one who shows up to the worst moments in other people’s lives, then goes home and is expected to act like it is a normal day.
You may not call it trauma. You might just say you are tired, on edge, numb, snappy, or not like yourself. Maybe you are having trouble sleeping, feeling nothing until you suddenly feel everything, or noticing more conflict at home. Maybe you are good at staying calm on the job and less good at turning it off.
Therapy here is not about judging how you cope. It is about giving your nervous system a place to unload what it has been holding so you can keep your humanity in the middle of work that asks you to shut it down.
Who this work is for
Firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, dispatchers, corrections officers, emergency and ICU staff, crisis workers, military, and others in high impact roles who are carrying the weight of what they see and hear.
People who feel pressure to stay strong, stoic, or “fine” because everyone else is leaning on them. People who have learned to shut down emotions on the job and now find it hard to turn them back on at home.
If you have started to notice changes in your mood, sleep, relationships, drinking, or patience and you do not like where it is heading, this work is for you.
What we work on together
We look at how the job has shaped your nervous system. That can include hypervigilance, irritability, shutdown, emotional numbness, flashbacks, guilt, or feeling like you are always waiting for something bad to happen even when you are off duty.
We also pay attention to the impact on your relationships. Many first responders describe feeling distant from loved ones, having a short fuse at home, or struggling to explain why they are different now without dumping everything on people who cannot unsee it.
Together we build ways for your nervous system to come down from red alert, protect what matters most to you, and stay human in a job that often demands you act like a machine.
What sessions feel like
Sessions are direct, grounded, and to the point. You do not have to give graphic details for this work to help. You can talk like a regular person, use dark humor, and be honest about how this work has affected you without worrying you are too much.
We focus on sleep, anger, stress, relationships, and the mental load of what you have seen. Some days we stay practical and focus on getting you through the next shift. Other days we work on the deeper events and patterns that keep replaying in the background.
You set the line for what you want to share. My job is to help your system come down from constant alert, not to force you to relive the worst calls of your career.
Tools we might use
We may use EMDR, Brainspotting, or Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to process specific calls, scenes, losses, or critical incidents that will not leave you alone. These approaches work with the brain and body, not just the story, so you can stop reliving the same moments on repeat.
We also use nervous system education, grounding skills, and simple strategies you can carry onto the job and back home. The goal is not to make you soft. The goal is to help you stay present, safer, and more connected to the people you care about.
You are always in control of what we work on and how fast we move. This is your space, not an evaluation.
All sessions are held online through secure telehealth so you can meet between shifts, from home, or from whatever space feels safer than the station or the unit.
I currently see clients who live in Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, and South Carolina, based on my clinical licenses.
You are allowed to get help without giving up your edge
You do not have to wait until everything falls apart at home or on the job. If any part of this sounds familiar, that is enough to reach out. We can talk about what you are carrying and what support could actually look like for your life.
I review every message myself and will let you know if I am a good fit or help you find next steps.