MY SPECIALTIES
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
Traditional Talk Therapy - "where the work gets done" therapy - is person centered, meets your specific needs and goals and can last for as long or as short as is necessary to develop skills for improved management of symptoms.
DEPRESSION
Depression is often a side effect of vicarious traumatic events. A feeling of 'how can this world be this evil' and 'do I really want to keep living and working in it.' Treatment of these symptoms helps reduces the likelihood of them growing in suicidal thoughts or feelings.
COUPLES THERAPY
The trauma of the job doesn't just effect us -- it effects our relationships with our significant others. Sometimes we can work through this alone but sometimes we aren't able. Don't lose the biggest support you have through inaction. The love is still there -- the trauma is just acting as a wall.
ADDICTION
For many of us a really bad day on the job results in a drink at the end of the day that can turn into another and another until we stop hearing and seeing the days events. Sometimes we can just stop this behavior when we realize its happening. Other times, it grows to be an addiction and we struggle to quit alone. Don't be alone with this and know help is available.
MOOD CHANGES
Trauma presents in many ways but one of the most common areas it presents is changes in mood. People that were once jokers, the life of the party and had friends everywhere will begin to have changes in their mood. This can present in angry outbursts, lost off friends and committed relationships.
STRESS & TRAUMA
Stress and trauma is why Responder's Refuge was created in the first place. What we see and experience causes damage seen and unseen. Gone are the days where you should just "man up" and "push through it". When you treat the experienced traumas you reduce all the other things on this page. These other things are symptoms, the cause is the stress and trauma of the work.
PARENTING DIFFICULTIES
Trauma can make use feel like we aren't connecting the way we should. It makes us isolate from those we love in an attempt to shield them from what is happening to us.This frequently results in strained relationships with our children as they notice us distancing and immediately blame themselves learning the tools to talk about why your doing these things. Improves communication and heals the parenting rifts that often occur as a side effect of the job.
ANXIETY
When you go out do you have to have sight lines on all the means of egress? Do you have trouble sleeping? Find yourself more like to act impulsively than you once did? Long term exposure to traumatic events is linked to higher levels of the chemicals that cause anxiety symptoms. Leaning the tools to manage anxiety and its intrusive nature can improve both you home life but also your work life as well.
Additional Services
Training/Consultation services are available on request.