How much has being a first responder changed you and your relationships?
It’s time to talk about it, and take control back.
Therapy for First Responders and First Responder Spouses
Do you ever catch yourself thinking -
‘I feel so overwhelmed and overstretched at work. I don’t think I’m doing a good job at home or work lately.’
- or -
‘I’m angry with my partner and my kids so much. We’re all exhausted - none of us ever get a break.’
It has only been recently that mental health in first responders has become more widely discussed and on some levels, accepted. There’s often a stigma associated with seeing a therapist and admitting you’re struggling. Finding a therapist who can understand or empathize with the first responder lifestyle can be really tough. Additionally, there are the spouses of first responders dealing with their own experiences.
You might be thinking, as a first responder - ‘I get home and I’m exhausted. I feel like I just need a day to recover and it’s really hard being a parent after I’ve been on duty.’
Or, as a first responder spouse - ‘I feel so lonely being married to a first responder. I feel like no one understands this life.’
‘Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.’
— Anonymous
Most often, first responders come to therapy to address something in their personal life (relationship issues, substance abuse, anger management) that has a direct link to the chronic stress or trauma they’ve experienced on the job. This can also impact first responder spouses, leaving them feeling burdened, abandoned, overwhelmed, and isolated.
Being the wife of a firefighter myself, I understand firsthand how - over time - we just start to think this is what ‘normal’ feels like.
But what if it didn’t have to be that way?
It’s easy to fall into the trap of being angry, feeling resentful that the dream of being a first responder turned into a very different kind of reality than you imagined, all while feeling trapped in the loneliness, exhaustion, and overwhelm of the job.
I provide a safe and nonjudgemental space both for First Responders and First Responder spouses to help you identify barriers to moving forward. No matter how overwhelming it may seem, we’ll work together to help you create a life beyond the burdens of your trauma and chronic stress.
Post-traumatic growth and resilience are absolutely real, and possible.