You know that going to the gym regularly to sharpen your physical self makes sense -
dropping down with your therapist regularly to sharpen your emotional and mental self
makes even more sense!
Mental health is exactly like physical health - regular sessions increase clarity and focus that translates into the mental wealth you need!
Did you know: regular debriefing has a significant impact on your experience of post trauma stress, post traumatic stress disorder and vicarious trauma (hearing about calls, writing notes etc). It can not only reduce and treat symptoms, but also prevent them!
Furthermore when professionals have regular sessions they have decreased liability for burn out and compassion fatigue.
Anxiety and stress related to an upcoming shift can be a normal, natural response – and often easily treated with a few sessions. Sessions can also support your mindset when preparing for your next position or when wanting to sharpen your performance and mental game.
Together with your mental health “personal trainer” we can use tools such as EMDR, CBT and more to keep you and your loved ones at the top of their game!
Front line and helping professionals are not immune to vicarious trauma.
Vicarious or secondary trauma is the experience of trauma while helping someone else through their trauma.
A perfect example is of a paramedic who is helping someone in an emergency situation. The paramedic themself is experiencing the trauma of seeing, smelling, hearing the entire situation of the traumatic experience AS WELL as the patient they are helping.
Vicarious trauma can also be impacted by your own personal life experiences especially when concurrent with the experience you are helping in. For example - a therapist doing counselling with someone about COVID while caring for a close family member with COVID.
See how that list can go on and on?
This is why professional helpers should be first in line to help themselves first before helping others.
Regular sessions for you are imperative. I would argue that these sessions to you are just as important as a firefighter's suit when they go into a blazing house.
What does post traumatic stress or vicarious trauma look like?
Post traumatic stress and vicarious trauma are often the undesired precursor to burn out and burnout fatigue.
Some people think of PTSD as what you see in the movies - jolting nightmares, big flashes of scenes in your mind.
And for some it is.
For most it's not.
It's more like you find your mind wandering back to an incident.
You feel like you're "thinking" or trying to figure it out.
It may be a subconsious avoidant behavior - ask your partner or spouse if they notice anything.
It may be a distinct smell - stuck in your nose and brain - and anything similar that comes your way makes you feel nauseous.
As a professional trauma therapist I have spent decades researching and learning about the impacts of trauma on my clients and on how to help them.
Countless times the answer comes back as EMDR, embodiment yoga and mindfulness. Not sure what that is or where to start?
We're here for you just reach out!
Our team of professional mental health therapists is here for you. We specialize in EMDR and treating post traumatic stress. First responders and health professionals are amongst our specialty because we know the sacrifices you make to have our backs - so we've got yours! Book your free meet and greet HERE