This may be a fit if...
- The job stays with you long after your shift ends
- Your sleep, patience, or ability to relax has changed
- You feel on edge, numb, isolated, or overwhelmed
- You want support from someone who understands first responder culture
Whether you are currently working as a firefighter, EMT, paramedic, law enforcement officer, dispatcher, or another first responder, or you've since retired or left the profession, the effects of the job don't necessarily end when your shift does.
The demands of first responder work can accumulate over time. Long shifts, interrupted sleep, constant vigilance, high-stakes decision-making, repeated exposure to trauma, mandatory trainings, callbacks, staffing shortages, time away from family, and the pressure to remain composed in difficult situations can take a significant toll on your mental and physical health.
Sometimes the toll shows up gradually
You may notice that you're constantly overwhelmed, having difficulty sleeping, feeling emotionally numb or disconnected, becoming more irritable, less patient with your kids, friends, family, or people you love, or struggling to relax when you're finally home. You may experience anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, avoidance, or symptoms of complex trauma and PTSD.
First responder culture often emphasizes toughness, reliability, and the ability to keep going regardless of what you've experienced. Those qualities can be essential on the job, but they aren't always helpful when you're trying to recover from what the job has asked of you.
Support from someone who understands the culture
I understand this because I have lived it. Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a firefighter and EMT. I understand the culture, the demands, the dark humor, the responsibility, and the difficulty of explaining to people outside the profession what the job can actually do to you.
You shouldn't have to spend your career protecting and caring for other people while quietly falling apart yourself.
A grounded path forward
At Root & River Counseling in Boise, I work with first responders experiencing PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, burnout, sleep difficulties, relationship difficulties, emotional disconnection, and chronic stress. My approach is trauma-informed and incorporates somatic therapy and nervous-system-informed interventions alongside approaches such as IFS, CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and DBT.
You don't have to convince me that what you're experiencing is real. We can start wherever you are and work toward feeling more grounded, connected, and present in your life, both on and off the clock.