First Responders Counselling

Caring Psychologists for First Responders

First responders, including paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, face intense and high-pressure situations every day that can take a serious toll on mental health and emotional well-being. Exposure to trauma, critical incidents, and life-or-death emergencies increases the risk of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. First responders counselling provides a confidential, professional space to process these experiences, build resilience, and develop practical strategies for coping with occupational stress. By prioritizing mental health and emotional support, first responders can maintain their well-being, enhance performance on the job, and sustain long-term personal and professional balance.
Ava McLinskarr
Virtual & In-Person

Ava McLinskarr

Provisional Psychologist
$220 per hour
Ava supports teens, adults, and couples in navigating challenges related to trauma, relationship difficulties, stress, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and ADHD.
Jennifer Berrow
Virtual & In-Person

Jennifer Berrow

Provisional Psychologist
$200 per hour
Jennifer Berrow is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who supports children, teens, and adults through anxiety, depression, and ADHD while offering neuro-affirming assessments and strength-based, evidence-based care.
Jody Cumberbatch Lewis
Virtual & In-Person

Jody Cumberbatch Lewis

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Jody specializes in anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and caregiver stress using ACT, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches.
Joshua Woelfle
Virtual & In-Person

Joshua Woelfle

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Joshua works with adults and teenagers living with PTSD, ADHD, mood disorders, stress, suicidal ideation, grief and loss, phobias, OCD, and relationship issues.
Cecily Wang
Virtual & In-Person

Cecily Wang

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Cecily helps with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationships, OCD, workplace issues, stress, anger, and more. She also performs Psycho-educational, Giftedness and ADHD Assessments for adults and children (3+).
Annemarie Rued Fraser
Virtual & In-Person

Annemarie Rued Fraser

Registered Psychologist
$235 per hour
Annemarie has 10+ years of experience helping clients overcome post-traumatic stress disorder, adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, depression, life transitions, autism, depression, stress, grief, personality disorders, domestic violence, & more.
Jaimee Grossklaus
Virtual & In-Person

Jaimee Grossklaus

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Jaimee works with adults who live with anxiety, trauma (PTSD), depression, stress, poor self-esteem and confidence, work concerns, chronic health concerns, and brain injuries.
Emma Godin
Virtual & In-Person

Emma Godin

Provisional Psychologist
$200 per hour
Emma helps teens and adults with various mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD, trauma, self-harm behaviours, grief, self esteem, life transitions, panic attacks, chronic illness and more.
Calen Jobson
Virtual & In-Person

Calen Jobson

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Calen works with individuals and athletes who have concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief, low self esteem, relationship issues, performance issues, and more.
Lule Begashaw
Virtual & In-Person

Lule Begashaw

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Lule supports diverse individuals through healing and growth, drawing from both professional expertise and rich personal experience. Rooted in faith, empathy, and authenticity, she creates a safe space for connection, resilience, and transformation.
Danielle Gelleny
Virtual & In-Person

Danielle Gelleny

Provisional Psychologist
$235 per hour
Danielle has vast experience supporting children, teens, and adults with anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, self-esteem, perfectionism, trauma, sobriety, relationships, emotional regulation, stress, and more. She also provides Psychoeducational assessments for children and youth ages 6–16.
Shaheena Kassam
Virtual & In-Person

Shaheena Kassam

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Shaheena offers assessments and counselling for children, youths, and their families, as well as adults, to help them with anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other behavioural or social challenges.
Alison Statham
Virtual & In-Person

Alison Statham

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Alison works with children (6+), teens and adults with anxiety, trauma, depression, emotional regulation, social skills, OCD, stress, burnout life transitions, ADHD, panic attacks, & relationship issues.
Returning Clients Only
Brittney Giacchetta
Virtual & In-Person

Brittney Giacchetta

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Brittney works with individuals living with anxiety, borderline personality disorder, burnout, chronic pain, complex mental health, depression, autism, life transitions, couples issues, phobias, trauma, and stress.
Kristy Honan
Virtual & In-Person

Kristy Honan

Provisional Psychologist, MACP
$220 per hour
Kristy has over 13 years of experience in working with anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, trauma and PTSD, identity and existential crisis, life transitions, low self-worth, struggles with body image, relationship concerns, and spiritual concerns.
Amanda Herbert
Virtual & In-Person

Amanda Herbert

Occupational Therapist
$170 per hour
Amanda provides assessments and counselling for depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, sensory and emotional dysregulation, and cognitive impairments.
Angela Regino
Virtual & In-Person

Angela Regino

Occupational Therapist
$170 per hour
Angela provides various professional assessments & counselling to adults with anxiety, depression, trauma (PTSD), personality disorders, chronic pain, brain injury, cognitive concerns, stress, and more.
Cara Hason
Virtual Only

Cara Hason

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Cara has over 10 years of experience in helping individuals living with anxiety, depression, trauma, panic attacks, stress, OCD, intrusive thoughts, PTSD, relationship issues, and perinatal issues.
Alyssa Gonzalez
Virtual & In-Person

Alyssa Gonzalez

Registered Psychologist
$235 per hour
Alyssa works with children, adolescents, & adults who experience a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parenting, trauma, family issues, stress and more.
Theresa Breen
Virtual & In-Person

Theresa Breen

Provisional Psychologist
$200 per hour
Theresa provides therapy for teens, couples, families & individuals, using evidence-based care to address anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism, relationship issues, life transitions, trauma and more.
Jessica Friesen
Virtual & In-Person

Jessica Friesen

Registered Psychologist
$235 (sliding scale available) per hour
Jessica works with children (6+), teens, adults, and couples on issues like anxiety, depression, life transitions, ADHD, reproductive health, and more. A former educator and published author, Jessica brings calm, compassion, and deep insight to every session.
Vanessa de Guzman
Virtual & In-Person

Vanessa de Guzman

Provisional Psychologist
$220 per hour
Vanessa supports children (4+), youth (12+), and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and major life transitions with compassion and cultural sensitivity. Drawing on her experience in both voluntary and court-mandated therapy, she creates a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can process challenges, build resilience, and move forward with confidence and clarity.
Dr. Sharanpreet Kaur
Virtual Only

Dr. Sharanpreet Kaur

Registered Psychologist
$235 per hour
Sharanpreet specializes in trauma assessment and treatment, chronic pain, workplace issues, medication management, anxiety, grief and more.
Joel Zimmerman
Virtual Only

Joel Zimmerman

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
*Direct billing Available* Joel works with individuals who need support for anxiety, depression, personal growth, and trauma (PTSD); as well as couples and families who want to improve communication, conflict management, and trust.
Megan Zmetana
Virtual & In-Person

Megan Zmetana

Occupational Therapist, MSCOT
$170 per hour
Megan specializes in supporting individuals as they return to work after an illness, injury, trauma, mental health concern and any other reason preventing them from resuming their lives.
Stephen Walker
Virtual & In-Person

Stephen Walker

Reg. Clinical Social Worker
$200 per hour
With 10+ years of experience, Stephen works with individuals and couples (12+) dealing with anxiety, depression, anger, trauma (PTSD), family violence, addictions, grief/loss, couples concerns and more.
Ty Helfrich
Virtual & In-Person

Ty Helfrich

Provisional Psychologist
$150 per hour
Ty conducts assessments for a range of concerns, including ADHD, PTSD, personality disorders, cognitive functioning, memory and IQ, as well as general mental health.
Rameen Kargger
Virtual & In-Person

Rameen Kargger

Registered Psychologist
$350 per hour
Rameen offers assessments and counselling for couples and individuals with relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, phobias, OCD, and much more.
Selective Clients Only
Camila Schroh
Virtual & In-Person

Camila Schroh

Provisional Psychologist
$220 per hour
Camila works with teens, and adults to address issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, and more. Additionally, she offers psycho-educational assessments and supports parents in navigating challenges and enhancing their connection with their children.

Understanding First Responders Counselling

First responders, including paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, face unique and high-pressure challenges every day. Exposure to trauma, critical incidents, and life-or-death situations can impact mental health, emotional well-being, and overall resilience. First responders counselling provides a safe, confidential space to process experiences, manage stress, and develop strategies to cope with the demands of this vital work.

Common Challenges for First Responders

First responders often encounter:

  • Exposure to traumatic or life-threatening events
  • High levels of occupational stress and burnout
  • Shift work and irregular sleep patterns
  • Emotional strain from supporting others in crisis
  • Difficulty transitioning between high-stress work and personal life

These challenges can lead to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and substance misuse. Counselling helps first responders recognize and address these issues before they affect personal or professional life.

Signs You May Benefit from First Responders Counselling

First responders experiencing emotional distress may notice:

  • Persistent stress, irritability, or mood changes
  • Difficulty sleeping or recurring nightmares
  • Emotional numbness or detachment from family and colleagues
  • Avoidance of social or professional responsibilities
  • Anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts related to traumatic events

Recognizing these signs early allows for timely support and prevents long-term mental health consequences.

How Counselling Helps First Responders

Counselling for first responders focuses on coping, resilience, and emotional recovery. Evidence-based approaches include:

  • Trauma-informed therapy: Understanding and processing exposure to critical incidents
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Identifying and reframing negative thought patterns
  • Mindfulness and stress reduction techniques: Building emotional resilience and focus
  • Critical incident debriefing: Structured support immediately following traumatic events

These approaches help first responders manage stress, reduce anxiety, and develop practical strategies to maintain mental and emotional well-being.

Get Matched To The Right Therapist

Not sure who can help you? You can either fill out the form to be matched to a therapist that specializes in your unique situation or give us a call at (403) 588-7639.

Get Started
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