Therapy can be very helpful in reducing the emotional distress, trauma, or injury that can come with being a first responder. While trauma and its symptoms may be normalised by many first responders, the impact of seeing distressing situations or violence on a regular basis can have a highly negative effect on mental health over time. Therapists can help improve first responder mental health by offering an opportunity for clients to discuss traumatic situations, and they can introduce first responders to various coping skills, such as mindfulness exercises, that they can use both on and off the job to reduce distress.
