Finding the Right Fit
Most would probably agree that the point of psychotherapy is to improve mental health, but what is mental health, and how do we know if we have it? Stress has its place in survival but can wear you down. After all, whether you have had boots on the ground for multiple years or are a graduate Firefighters, Paramedics, or Police Officer, service demands that the sane go into insane places. However, what kind of therapy is the right one to choose? How can you find the right therapist for you?
Obviously, no two people are exactly alike. This is why it is important to understand what mental health looks like for you. Because goals can be different for different members or Veterans, finding the right approach to psychotherapy can also be diverse. This is why a culturally competent therapist who can tailor treatment to you is important. Their approach needs to work for you, not use you to prove their approach. Clear as mud so far?
Asking the Right Questions to Find the Right Therapist
Consider this, even if you are a Firefighter with specialized training in HAZMAT, a Paramedic who does critical care, or Police Officer serving in the ERU, despite your specialized role, there are some basic factors that will impact how well you function. For example, you need to:
- Be well versed to address a variety of calls.
- Understand the community you are operating in.
- Trust your team.
Similarly, therapists have specialized skill sets but must be competent to work with First Responders and Veterans. Their approaches must work for you. Not having the right fit would be like sending someone from an auxiliary unit to investigate a homicide. If a First Responder or Veteran needed anger management or is struggling with grief, for example, they should:
- Find a therapist competent to work with First Responders and Veterans
- Ask the therapist if they have experience in what they want to work on
- Ask what treatment looks like with the therapist
- Ask themselves if they believe they could work with this therapist
Whether it is cognitive theory (i.e., CBT, CPT, DBT, MBCT) or other modalities, it is important to know how the therapist plans to use these when addressing the difficulties you are facing. Using a flexible approach allows a therapist to address an evolution of changes in your treatment. This is why if a therapist seems ridged in their approach, it should be an alarm bell. As you are already aware, when you arrive on scene, the situation changes and requires you to adapt. Your therapist needs to be the same.
Circle of Care
Healthcare is complex and sometimes involves multiple practitioners. It can be helpful to also ask if a therapist works in a circle of care with other practitioners you may need. For example, a member struggling with a traumatic loss might also find their service is impacting their marriage. Having individual sessions while also seeing a couples therapist with their spouse might be needed. These therapists should not be disconnected.
Getting Better is Never Done
Finding the right therapist for you involves asking the right questions. There are many different approaches to therapy, which can be overwhelming but also provides you with choices. Interview your therapist. Consider if they 1- understand your culture of service; 2- are competent to treat the difficulties you are facing, 3- and have experience in different approaches. It is also important that 4- you believe you can be open and honest with this therapist. Sometimes, if we believe they cannot relate, they will not be able to understand.
— Mental health is more than the absence of a mental disorder
Mental health is more than the absence of a mental disorder and is experienced differently from one First Responder or Veteran to the next. The level of distress we experience or how we respond to difficulties vary by degree but are not fundamental. Given enough time and exposure without relief, emotional collapse is inevitable. These are not measures of character. It is simply part of being sane in insane places.
— The level of distress we experience or how we respond to difficulties vary by degree but are not fundamental.
Do you have any questions about how to find the right therapist for you as a First Responder or Veteran? Let us know in the comments!
