Often, First Responders experience repetitive stressful and life changing events that are difficult for others to imagine.
Multiple exposure to traumatic human events may disrupt your ability to experience pleasure from activities that you typically enjoy.
First Responders families could also be directly or indirectly exposed to these type of events, which may cause sadness and worry.
The First Responder and their family may encounter the effects of these events at home, work, school or in the community.
Author Archive: info
First Therapy Session
Michael is a first responder who is recently divorced and infrequently seeing his kids. He’s taken on a second job as a process server. He has been struggling to get adequate sleep and has started drinking to cope.
In Michael’s first session, he reports having rapid thoughts and he continuously replays events from work. He talks about situations that remind him of his own family.
Zach’s Story Episode 2
After a difficult day at work, Officer Dan, Zach’s dad, returns home to learn of his son’s struggles in school since the shooting.
Zach’s Story Ep 3 Part 1
Mom (Pam) problem solves Zach’s alienation from his friends…
Zach’s Story Episode 3 Part 2
Talking and listening leads to understanding. Talking about fears and listening to our families could help.
Officers Dan and Ronnie
Neighbors and friends have been negatively impacted by a recent shooting in our community. The reach of this impact has gone beyond anyone’s imagination and has affected families, the children, and relationships with each other.
The Aching Red: Firefighters Often Silently Suffer from Trauma and Job-related Stress

Matthew was exposed to unimaginable scenes of pain and suffering in his job over more than a decade as a firefighter. The last straw came when he witnessed the death of a teenager – who was the same age as his son – from an overdose.
“The worst part is when you see an infant or a child die,” he told me during a visit. “Exposure to their family’s pain – and that you could not save that life – is very heartbreaking.” Matthew, for whom I’m using a pseudonym to protect his privacy, was being treated at my clinic for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
The Aching Blue: Trauma, Stress and Invisible Wounds of Those in Law Enforcement

Steve has served as a police officer for 24 years, including being a SWAT team member for years. He and I have worked together on his traumatic experiences. He has told me that in a given day a police officer might have to deal with two to three overdoses and do CPR.
Making Sense of Events
Mark Wellhausen- Video 3 In Their Own Words
Fire Fighters: Trained to Respond
Mark Wellhausen- Video 2 In Their Own Words