An Open Letter to Our First Responders:
As someone who holds a deep respect for first responders and the work they do, I want to speak directly to the challenge of accessing therapy.
For the past three years, our Saint John clinic has been hosting a free peer-to-peer drop-in support group for first responders – the first of its kind in New Brunswick. It’s been a privilege to witness the strength, resilience and community that these individuals create for one another.
Breaking the Silence: First Responders and Trusting the Therapy Process
For first responders, trust is a complicated issue. Your roles require(d) you to stay vigilant, to expect the unexpected, and to manage crises that most people can’t even imagine. The idea of sharing the weight of your experiences might feel risky or like you’re burdening someone else with things they aren’t prepared for.
You Aren't “Too Much”
A common fear is that your trauma or emotions are "too much" for a therapist to handle–whether it's fear, anger, guilt or the emotional numbness that can follow after years of being on the front lines.
You may worry that no one can truly understand the intensity of what you’ve been through, or that your experiences might overwhelm even a therapist.
But the truth is, therapists are trained to handle complex emotions. They are also trained to know their own capacity. If they encounter a situation beyond their scope, they need to seek clinical consultation or refer you to someone with the specialized skills needed. Sometimes this means moving on from one therapist to another to seek specific trauma therapy, such as EMDR. But oftentimes, they make more progress than they imagined with the person whom they had a strong secure connection with
If your situation requires more specialized care, a good therapist will recognize that and help guide you to someone who can provide the right support. It's also important to know that not everyone seeks therapy to immediately work through their on-the-job trauma. Some first responders simply want to start by building a support system, talking through stress, or finding ways to manage current daily emotional challenges.
Connection is Key
Regardless of skill set, the most important factor in therapy is the connection you feel with your therapist. Therapy works best when you feel understood, supported and safe to share what’s on your mind. If you don’t have safety with your therapist, all the specialized training in the world won’t help you.
It’s not about how quickly you work through things or deep-diving into your trauma in the first session—it’s about finding a therapist who makes you feel comfortable enough to take that journey at your own pace.
Therapy Isn't About Being "Fixed—It's About Support
First responders are used to solving problems and moving on to the next crisis. This can make therapy feel strange because it's not about quickly "fixing" something and moving on. The truth is, there’s nothing inherently wrong with you—they are facing something predictable in response to the difficult, high-pressure situations they encounter.
Therapy is about building support and creating a space where you can talk openly, even if you’re not ready to confront the hardest parts of your experience right away. It’s okay if you’re not ready to dive into deep trauma work. The right therapist will meet you where you are and if they can’t support you, they will walk alongside you as you find the right fit. If we can help with that, reach out!