Therapy for Police Officers in Ontario
If you are struggling with stresses from service, like anxiety or Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you’re not alone. Do not suffer alone. There’s help available.
Counselling for Police Officers
As a Police or Correction Officer, your service is vital to the safety of our communities. However, exposure to horrific scenes, morally complex situations, violence, and even difficulties with peers, the chain of command, or disrespect from the communities you swore to serve can be both physically taxing and emotionally draining.
From monotonous calls or disturbing scenes, to experiencing violence or traumatic loss, every call represents uncertainties. Whether working with other Officers or collaborating with our other First Responder brothers and sisters, service invites stress injuries few can imagine, let alone begin to understand.
From carrying the kit that protects you to exerting the force needed to hold the line, the physical demands of service expected from you are extraordinary. Certainly, your physical health is paramount in your ability to serve. However, your mental health is also a critical and inseparable component.
Therapy can help Police Officers to better understand the impact of their experiences on their physical and mental health.
How Therapy Can Help You as a Police Officer?
Therapy can help Police Officers in a number of ways, including:
It is important to note that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The best type of therapy for an individual Officer will depend on their specific needs and circumstances. However, therapy can be a valuable tool for Police Officers who are struggling with mental health challenges or who want to improve their overall well-being.
Some Police Officers have expressed concerns to me about becoming “soft” and less able to “deal with shit on the street” because of therapy. However, the goal of working together is NOT to make you soft and more susceptible to stress injuries or poor performance. We will work towards processing difficult experiences and problematic thinking to develop protective techniques to manage the stresses and strains of your service and even life off duty.
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What can you expect in therapy for Police Officers?
We will process experiences
We will talk about your experiences and how they have affected you and those around you.
We will develop techniques
We will work together to develop ways for managing stress and difficult experiences.
We will work collaboratively
Therapy is a partnership. We will work together to create a plan that meets your individual needs.
You will be given exercises for outside of sessions
Activities between sessions will help you get the most out of treatment and practice skills discussed in our sessions.
If necessary, we will involve other practitioners
If you need additional support, we may involve other practitioners, like a Couples Counsellor or Family Therapist.
You are a vital component to the protection our communities rely on. However, service also presents challenges at every level of your own health. From biological and psychological, to social and even spiritual, how can you be expected to serve if you become a casualty yourself?