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.

Call 949-919-7879
Woman therapist talking with male patient whose writing down notes
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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:

Unpredictable emotions
Strained relationships
Flashbacks
Physical symptoms such as headaches or nausea
First responder nervous to find trauma counseling in his area.

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

As mentioned earlier, trauma can impact physical and mental health. Studies reveal trauma increases an individual's risk of both mental and chronic diseases such as depression, suicide, coronary heart disease, asthma, and diabetes.
Chronic trauma can impact one's ability to form and sustain authentic relationships with others. It creates confusion, shame, and inability to communicate with others, ultimately straining existing relationships with friends, colleagues, romantic partners, and even authority figures.
Self-esteem is often lower among persons who have experienced trauma. First responders who have experienced trauma are often tormented by negative thoughts that project their negative core beliefs related to self.

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:

Recurrent memories of the traumatic event
Unexplained irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior
Upsetting nightmares about a past traumatic event
Being easily startled or frightened
Severe emotional distress
Self-destructive behaviors such as drinking too much
Problems with stress management
Extreme feelings of guilt or shame

First Responders, Find Peace of Mind:

Command Post Wellness Supports Your Emotional Well-Being. Contact us today!
Call 949-822-8741

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:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

EMDR Therapy

Experiential Therapy

CBT is a type of talk therapy that examines a patient's thought patterns and how they influence their behaviors and choices. CBT helps one identify how some of their thoughts and behaviors have been incorrect, unhelpful, and harmful. The therapy helps clients develop more helpful, accurate thinking and coping behaviors that alleviate symptoms and enhances their quality of life.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR) is aimed to help patients process and release their traumatic memories via eye movement. During the treatment session, the therapist asks the patient to hold a specific aspect of a traumatic event in their mind while focusing on rhythmic tapping created by the movement of their hands. This process helps their brain reprocess memory through a process called bilateral stimulation. The therapy releases memories, ultimately relieving triggers, flashbacks, and nightmares.
Experiential therapy is a type of therapy that involves hands-on activities, movement, and other non-traditional techniques to help clients process and express their emotions. For first responders, this can be especially beneficial because it allows them to tap into their bodies and emotions, which are often ignored or repressed due to the demands of their jobs. Our experiential therapy sessions are tailored specifically to the needs of first responders.

Find Help for Your Trauma in Costa Mesa

The first responder job is full of risks related to daily exposure to severe incidents. Since they often face challenging and dangerous events, first responders are at a higher risk of developing trauma. First responder counseling gives these heroes the tools they need to process and cope with their trauma. 

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.

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To learn more about if Command Post Wellness is right for you, 
and what to expect, contact us Today!

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