First Responder
Trauma Counseling
near Irvine
Command Post Wellness offers effective counseling treatments to help first responders in Orange County deal with trauma and build resilience.

Table of contents

How We Can Help
First responders are often the first to the scene of medical emergencies, disasters, and dangerous situations. Although distress and work-related pressure are part of their job, being repeatedly exposed to traumatic and stressful events can weigh heavily on their mental health.
Left untreated, the trauma can lead to PTSI (Post Traumatic Stress Injury) and other debilitating mental disorders. Working with a certified first responder counselor or treatment professionals with a background in treating first responders is essential for healing. Our trauma counseling program is specifically designed to support first responders and their family members.
Benefits of Trauma Counseling for First Responders
Counseling is all about learning about a specific condition impacting a person. It helps the individual learn more about themselves and acquire new skills needed to tackle the problem. Counseling can help first responders manage their feelings around experiences encountered in the line of duty.
The following are potential benefits of trauma counseling for first responders:
Provides life-long coping skills
Coping skills help patients through difficult times. Therapists are trained to foster the natural coping skills of patients. Counseling sessions can help clients develop positive and healthy coping mechanisms so they manage stressors better and begin their journey to full recovery.
Provides support and validation
Support is the first step that a first responder needs. Therapists provide a safe, non-judgmental, and caring environment where clients feel comfortable enough to disclose their personal matters. It is an ideal place where one doesn't have to worry about being judged, ridiculed, or undermined. This gives patients the support and assurance they need to deal with their condition.
Enhances self-esteem and self-acceptance
Bad habits worsen the conditions of those living with mental disorders. Many patients experience some insecurity regarding appearance, abilities, and personal traits. By focusing on negative aspects, they become blind to their positive traits. Counseling helps patients accept their flaws and imperfections as part of being human. With acceptance comes self-compassion, self-love, and a stronger sense of self-confidence.
Trauma Signs in First Responders
Recent studies reveal approximately 22% of first responders end up with psychological trauma. There is a need to encourage loved ones to seek trauma counseling as soon as they experience symptoms of mental health conditions.
Trauma is an ongoing emotional response resulting from living through a distressing situation such as a car crash or natural disaster. Due to the nature of their job, first responders typically experience terrible events that can harm their sense of self and ability to regulate emotions. Long-term reactions to traumatic events include:

How Our Trauma Treatment Helps
Experiences from traumatic events can affect physical, mental, or behavioral health. Generally, trauma can make one more vulnerable to several mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, suicide, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Trauma, if not managed, can also impact one's physical health several years down the line.
First responders are often placed in critical incidents in their line of work. As a result, first responders face exposure to trauma as a part of their job. Emergency responders may struggle with a variety of issues related to substance abuse and mental health as a result of traumatic experiences. The following are some of the ways trauma affects first responders:
Health problems
Relationship problems
Self-esteem issues
When to Get Help for Trauma
In most patients, the symptoms of trauma start within one month of a traumatic event. However, sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after. As mentioned earlier, these symptoms can interfere with one's ability to perform routine daily tasks. It can also cause significant problems in social and work situations.
One should seek help if they are experiencing the following symptoms of intrusive memories:
First Responders, Find Peace of Mind:
Trauma Counseling We Offer
Our trauma counselors can help first responders determine which course of treatment will be most appropriate for their needs. We also understand that peer support and counseling with other first responders can be very beneficial for helping emergency responders heal their trauma. Command Post Wellness works with patients to improve first responders' mental and behavioral health.
The following are some of the common types of evidence-based therapies often used for first responders who have experienced trauma:
Find Help for Your Trauma in Costa Mesa
Command Post Wellness offers evidence-based treatment programs for people battling various mental health issues such as trauma. We treat first responders and offer residential and outpatient treatment programs for mental health. Our treatment professionals administer trauma-informed care to ensure that our first responder clients feel supported during their treatment experience.
First Responders
Our Modern-Day Heroes
First responders and public safety employees are our modern-day heroes, which can come at a significant psychological price. The first responder regularly experiences on-the-job trauma in which risking their lives daily is just part of the job.
We have a team which assists first responders on a path to healing through innovative therapeutic modalities. Command Post Wellness prioritizes the mental health of our first responders and public safety employees.
Contact Info
To learn more about if Command Post Wellness is right for you,
and what to expect, contact us Today!