Psychotherapy and Psychology for First Responders

Who are First Responders?

Psychotherapy and Psychology for first responders is a new service that Holistic Medical Clinic has to offer. A first responder is somebody who has specialized training that enables him or her to quickly arrive at the scenes of the emergency and offer emergency assistance, including medical treatment to victims.  First responders usually include emergency medical technicians, EMTs, paramedics, law enforcement officers and firefighters. A first responder has an important role to play in keeping our communities safe. They are trained to deal with all types of emergencies. First responders often deal with emotionally stressful situations that involve trauma, fear, panic, anger, sorrow, and helplessness. These situations require quick thinking, quick decisions, and a strong emotional reaction. Many first responders have undergone training to become effective mental health professionals, but sometimes first responders should take care of their own mental well-being and focus on their own mental health.

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is an increasingly popular area of mental health care. It is used by many psychologists, counsellors and therapists. Psychotherapy helps to treat emotional, behavioural, social, psychological and neurological aspects of human behaviour. Also called talk therapy, psychotherapy seeks to help a person know their thoughts and arm them with the skills to face new stresses, both in the here and the future, affecting their mental health. Some psychologists prefer a hands-on approach by working with the individual in person, while others prefer to use a combination of in-person and online counselling. Online counselling is very popular today due in large part to the accessibility of internet technology to people who previously had no access to such services. During psychotherapy sessions, the therapist will help you understand and confront your negative thoughts and feelings. You’ll also learn how to manage these thoughts and feelings, so they do not become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Psychotherapy for First Responders

Psychotherapy can be very helpful for first responders who experience trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services study, 41.11% of police officers during one year of experiencing a traumatic event were classified at a high risk of PTSD. Psychotherapy and psychology can assist you in gaining a feeling of self-control. If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, you may feel nervous and overwhelmed. You may be afraid of going out in public or afraid of talking to others. This is a common feeling that many people have, and it is usually caused by the experience of trauma. Triggers for this condition can be anything, from accidents on duty, to the death of a loved one, to natural disasters. The key to treating PTSD is learning to identify triggers that make you experience these symptoms and then learning how to overcome them. It is worth noting that psychotherapy is really useful in releasing tension and distress while expressing and sharing the feeling with a professional.

If you are a first responder and you feel like this article is closely related to you, come and see us! You can view the information on how to contact us by clicking the link below.

You can also read more about the importance of psychotherapy during the pandemic by clicking the button below.