Message Jim for a Free Consultation at (760) 212‑0444
Message Jim for a Free Consultation at (760) 212‑0444
There are very few “street experienced” mental wellness therapists available for our law enforcement, fire service, paramedic, 9-1-1 communications, and emergency responder professionals.
As a former Police Officer POST Senior Master Advanced FTO, Ocean Lifeguard Supervisor, and EMT, I specialize in providing counseling for our emergency responder community.
1: “Therapists are outsiders looking in.”
2: “Talking to a therapist will end my career.”
With unique insights not typically found in other therapy offices, having actual “street credibility” gives me a deeper understanding into the emergency responder world—and allows me to build a trusting and therapeutic relationship very quickly.
Do you remember the hiring process you went through to become employed for your agency?
It was front-loaded with mental health evaluations to make sure you were fit for duty. But what happened in-between your first day on the job and where you are now?
Encountering unexpected physical exertion, acute and chronic psychological stressors, and exposure to trauma can outmatch and outmaneuver our coping skills, erode our relationships, deteriorate our work standards, and weaken our impulse controls. The negative demands of the emergency responder work climate can lead to “vital exhaustion”—a state of excessive fatigue, increased irritability, and demoralization.1
Furthermore, brain scan imagery reveals that continual exposure to another person’s physical, mental, and emotional pain causes “mirror neurons” to release—and this “empathy overload” leaves us feeling fatigued, anxious, depressed, restless, and exhausted.2
Mental health care is vital—not just during the hiring process—but throughout our careers.
I am honored to have clients who are local to me—and those far away in the rural areas of California. It would be a privilege to hear from you!
Notes:
1. Vicini Jr., James M. “Officer Stress Linked to CVD: What We Know.” Federal Probation, June 2013, Vol.77 Issue 1, p1-4, 4p.
2. Orloff MD, Judy. “Empathy Overload?” Emotional Freedom, February 2011
Message Jim for a Free Consultation at
(760) 212-0444