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Services for First Responders, Veterans, and Public Safety Personnel

Your unique struggles

As a first responder, veteran, or public safety personnel, you face unique challenges due to the nature of your work and experiences. You regularly encounter, witness and experience traumatic events that most will never face. The cumulative stress and trauma and the taxing context of demanding work hours, long shifts, unsupportive environments, and unpredictable schedules can take a toll. The life-or-death nature of your work can create intense performance pressure, which can contribute to anxiety and burnout. Others around you may not know how to connect and understand, but often find themselves isolated and out of reach.

Unfortunately, there is often still a stigma around seeking mental health support. There are still messages that you selected this job, so you should be able to do it. Too often you might fear that you might appear weak or be judged, and you don’t want to appear like you can’t be trusted to handle the demands of the job. But understandably, certain work conditions and events just pile up and you might start feeling the weight of it all. The emotional toll of your experiences can lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair, burnout, and heightened anxiety. You may turn to withdrawal, avoidance, alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism, which can lead to more complicated problems. Maintaining work duties and healthy relationships can be difficult, leading to feelings of isolation and difficulty adjusting to life outside of work.

We recognize that you may not always have access to adequate mental health support or the right kind of support. You want to know that when you do reach out, the support you will receive is appropriate and meets your needs and distinct circumstances.

Our Services

1

WSIB - Community Mental Health Program

With over 15 years of experience with WSIB, we are equipped to provide the right compassionate and knowledgeable support for workers dealing with trauma, offering assessments and  therapeutic interventions.

2

Individual Therapy

We offer specialized therapy for first responders using evidence-based methods to address their unique challenges and traumas. We work collaboratively on their personal and occupational goals

3

Couple Therapy and Support for Family Members

We provide specialized therapies for first responders and their families to address trauma-related relational strains, empowering them with the knowledge to identify early signs and foster healthier relationships.

4

Group Skills Training

We offer specialized Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) training for trauma, tailored for first responders and focused on mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

5

Blue Cross for Veterans and RCMP members

Our clinic is equipped and familiar with services supported by Blue Cross. We can complete the medical questionnaires, work with PCVRS, and support demands for treatment extensions. 

6

Upcoming First Responder Programs

Our clinic is developing two programs.

The first is a psychoeducation and skills group to support family members and the second is resilience building group for early career first responders. 

Why choose us? 

  • Specialized Training:

    • Our clinicians undergo rigorous and ongoing training focused on the specific mental health issues and stressors experienced by first responders, veterans, and public safety personnel. This includes building cultural competency, trauma-informed care, PTSD treatment, and resilience-building techniques. Additionally, we benefit from having on our team a registered psychotherapist who was a first responder herself.

  • Cultural Competence:

    • We recognize and respect the unique culture, values, and experiences of first responders, veterans, and public safety personnel. Our clinicians are adept at understanding the nuances of each role and service (e.g., firefighters, police officers, paramedics and others), ensuring that our therapeutic approach is both relevant and respectful. We recognize and are aware of the high-stress nature of your work, exposure to trauma, and the physical and emotional demands you face daily. We thrive to stay informed about the latest research, best practices, and developments in the field to provide the best possible care, whether that means connecting with specific services, doing ride alongs or seeking trainings.

 

  • Experience and Expertise:

    • With years of experience working alongside first responders, veterans, and public safety personnel, our team has developed a deep understanding of the complexities involved in their work. We have successfully helped countless individuals navigate their mental health journeys, providing support that is both compassionate and effective.

Our Commitment to Giving Back

Thrive Psychology and Wellness Center values the service and wellbeing of first responders, armed forces, veterans, and public safety personnel. We are grateful for their courage and compassion and for their tireless dedication to our communities. Too often, their sacrifices go unnoticed, and their exhaustive responsibilities consume them. We see the scars – visible and hidden deep within – and as a small gesture of acknowledgment to say, “We see you, and we appreciate you”, Thrive Psychology and Wellness Centre commits to giving back 1% of our first responder intervention revenue to people-focused first responder organizations.

 

Our donations will support the following organizations:

Mailing Address (no physical office):

PO Box 74084, Beechwood PO, Ottawa, ON, K1M 2H9

Phone Number: 613-703-0277

Fax Number: 613-383-0209

Foggy Lake

Thrive Psychology and Wellness Centre practices psychotherapy virtually across the culturally diverse province of Ontario. We respectfully recognize and acknowledge that the land we primarily serve (i.e., Ontario) is rooted in the traditional territories of the First Nations and Métis Peoples and is home to many Inuit people. We acknowledge Indigenous people as the original keepers and protectors of this land and are grateful for the many opportunities that this privileged land affords us in our beautiful province and country. As a psychological practice, we dedicate ourselves to practicing respectfully and mindfully, and to developing greater cultural literacy and responsiveness to Indigenous populations and issues.

© 2025. Thrive Psychology and Wellness Centre. All rights Reserved.

Established Apr 1, 2019.

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