Counseling for First Responders in Bergen County, NJ

It's Your Turn to Heal.

It's That Code of Silence

You don't know who you can trust. You go through things you can't talk about with just anyone.

You're "always on," overworked, exhausted, alone.

You deal with difficult colleagues. You cope with getting passed over for promotions. Yet, you're expected to stay stoic and professional at all times.

Don't let them see your fear. Don't get emotional. Experience violence, illness, trauma, death. Then go home to your family and pretend you're ok.

It's a calling, but, wow, it's rough.

Your head hurts, your heart feels heavy, and you're tired and overwhelmed. It feels like a dark cloud is looming over you from morning to night, and you're at your breaking point.

You need to let it out. You are safe here.

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You may have had thoughts like...

  • “Am I cut out for this?”
  • “Does anyone else feel like I do?”
  • "I can't take this much longer."
  • "If I ask for help, it means I'm weak."

If you're a first responder, you're no stranger to pain, grief, and trauma. You're in constant "high alert" mode, and it can be hard to turn that off at the end of the day.

Your health is being affected by the stress of shift work, the red tape, the physical exertion. You honestly don't think anyone could possibly understand.

That feeling of sadness, of tension, of anxiety...no one can know about it. You're supposed to have it all together. You're supposed to be neutral. You're supposed to stay strong.

Look at it this way:

Would you tell your call to "suck it up?"

Would you tell a patient in pain to "deal with it?"

What ever happened to being human?

What's so wrong about being on the receiving end of patience and understanding?

The truth is, we all need a safe space to process our feelings. Police, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, doctors...we're all human. We all need skills and strategies to help us cope with stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

Relief is possible, when you have the right guide.

Frontline Heroes Face Unique Challenges.

Cops used to be heroes but the media has changed the narrative. Nurses and doctors are being reassigned, taking on extra shifts, seeing more patients per shift, and being compensated poorly. Firefighters are 30% more likely to die of suicide than fire.

Some of the stressors of being a first responder include:

  • Witnessing human suffering
  • Risk of personal harm
  • Intense workloads
  • Making life-and-death decisions
  • Shift work, extended hours, being on call
  • Spending holidays and special occasions away from your family

All of the above lead to stress and burnout, which can look like:

  • Sadness
  • Apathy
  • Anxiety
  • Low frustration tolerance
  • Irritability
  • Isolation
  • Substance use

We Are Allies. We Are Here to Help.

At Englewood Therapy Associates, we believe in supporting our frontline heroes. We are the spouses and children of retired police officers. We are uniquely positioned to help because we have extensive, firsthand personal and professional experience supporting and holding space for first responders. You are family here.

If you are reluctant to share with your loved ones because you don't want them to worry when you're in the field, let us be your neutral, confidential source of support. We provide a safe space to let it all out, and can help reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and trauma with evidence-based therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Insight-Oriented Therapy, and EMDR.

When you work with one of our providers, you can rest assured that you're in trustworthy company.

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Wake up feeling lighter.

When you share your burdens, they become less heavy. And when your burden is lighter, you can be more effective and present at work and at home. By seeking therapy, you can begin to feel a renewed sense of positivity about your calling, a deeper connection with your life partner and children, a greater understanding of what inspires you. You can get back to that place when you felt good about life. It's not selfish to seek help...when you're ok, everyone benefits.

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It’s time you put you and your loved ones first.

If you’re ready to be free from burnout, anxiety, and work-related stress, we would be honored to help you on your path.

We know it can feel difficult to reach out, but rest assured that all calls and inquiries are strictly confidential. No one will know unless you decide to share.

We're looking forward to helping you for a change.

Click below to schedule a consultation or call us directly at (551) 209-2069.

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