First Responder Therapist Network: 
Ensuring Availability to our Local Emergency Responders

(Launching September 2021)

We are looking to create a network of counselling professionals throughout the Okanagan Valley, who are able to keep 1 to 2 session times available each week for emergency responders. 
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As occupationally aware clinicians, we believe it is of critical importance to care for those who are often putting their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing at risk in order to serve our communities. We know from the research that timely access to treatment can be effective in reducing the cumulative impacts of trauma, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing a post-traumatic stress injury related to critical incidents.  

The current problem is that many clinicians have full caseloads, making that timely access to treatment an impossibility. 

​Our Intention:

We would like to create a network of occupationally aware clinicians who can open up 1 to 2 sessions each week for our local first responders. ​​The focus during these time limited sessions (1 to 3) will be on the recent trauma, utilizing EMDR Recent Traumatic Events Protocol (R-TEP) or other psychological first aid if you are not trained in EMDR. 

By enabling timely access to treatment, we can help our first responders debrief and emotionally decontaminate after critical incidents. 
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If you are interested in joining this network, please complete the online form located below.  Please note, you will need to be registered with at least one EAP for First Responders.  

​We will strive to have the referral list available for our local first responders (police, fire, paramedics), and we will strive to keep an online version of the list regularly updated.

     Susan Guttridge, BA, MC, CCC (Live Happy Counselling)
     Megan DeSimone, BSW, MSW, RSW (The Life Balance)
     Laura Hartell, MA, RCC, CPC (Laura Hartell Counselling)

If you want to join this network but presently feel you need to learn more about occupational awareness and working with first responders, please check out these training opportunities:

​https://education.firstresponderhealth.org/

http://www.echurley-phd.com/onlinecourses.html

https://www.sfrankelgroup.com/a-conversation-with-lt-ken-gardner-listening-for-line-of-duty-trauma-and-obstacles-to-processing-in-provision-of-emdr-therapy-for-law-enforcement-officers.html
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Thank you for considering joining the referral network!