RCMP, Military, and First Responders
Uniformed personnel and professionals on the front lines may have unique mental health needs that go unnoticed and untreated. A recent study examining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) found that nearly one-half of veterans experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both. They are also disproportionally more likely to experience PTSD.
At Boreal Therapy Collective, we provide treatment for police, military personnel, and other first responders, including firefighters, EMTs, security professionals, emergency dispatchers, crisis line workers, and their families. We acknowledge and respect your role in keeping our communities safe, and we are here to support you.
Approved Veteran’s Affairs & Canadian Armed Forces Providers:
Amy Parsons
Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only)
Kenneth Guye (virtual only)
Samantha LeBlanc
RCMP K Division Can Request Preauthorization for the Following Providers:
Amy Parsons
Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only)
Kenneth Guye (virtual only)
Samantha LeBlanc
Reasons for Police Officers, Military, and First Responders to Seek Therapy
Your work comes with intense and unique stressors that may be difficult to put into words. Peer support from colleagues can help, but you may also benefit from seeking professional guidance. Therapy can be helpful if any of the following apply to you:
You experience vicarious trauma: Vicarious trauma is common in these lines of work, and it refers to the reactions associated with being chronically exposed to different types of trauma. These symptoms can mimic those of PTSD and include emotional numbness, somatic distress, distractibility, increased irritability and anger, and a general sense of apathy.
You have relationship problems: Maybe you relate to feeling like nobody understands what you do. Maybe you come home and just want time alone. It can be hard to go from work mode to your personal life, and your relationships may suffer as a result of your job.
You feel professionally burnt out: Burnout can happen in any industry, but military and first responders absorb an immense amount of stress on a daily basis. Long hours, inconsistent work schedules, and unhealthy work environments can all contribute to burnout. This can exacerbate both physical and emotional issues.
You're struggling with your emotional regulation: You may seem like you have it all together at work, and there's often an intense pressure to act unfazed by whatever is happening. This can result in you compartmentalizing your stress and suppressing your feelings. But those emotions may come out in other ways, including hostility toward others, shutting down when overwhelmed, or engaging in impulsive behaviours.
What Does Therapy Offer?
All treatment starts with a thorough assessment of your current needs and presenting symptoms. It's important to have a collaborative relationship with your therapist - you're the expert of your life, so you get to determine which therapy goals feel most important for you. Treatment may be short or long-term, but your autonomy is always prioritized. We embrace a multidisciplinary approach that may include several components, including cognitive behavioural therapy, EMDR, acceptance and commitment therapy, medication management, and more.
Better stress management: In therapy, you will learn how to understand and respond to your stress triggers adaptively. Work may always feel stressful, but you can change your relationship with anxiety and implement new coping skills to help you feel more regulated.
Trauma support: Military and first responders can experience trauma at work, but you might also have old trauma affecting your well-being. Therapy can help you recognize trauma triggers and strengthen your ability to take care of yourself when you feel dysregulated.
Help with intrusive thoughts: Thoughts about suicide, self-harm, or violence toward others can manifest through traumatic experiences. However, these thoughts often feel shameful and taboo. In therapy, you have space to explore your feelings without judgment, and you can receive the care you need to manage these symptoms.
Better work-life balance: You may feel so consumed by your career that it’s taken over your identity. Therapy can help you recenter and refocus. You can explore your values, determine which priorities need to change, and implement healthy boundaries.
Therapy for RCMP, Military, and First Responders in Fort McMurray
How to Start Therapy
Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here.
Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment
Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals.
After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice.
Therapy for RCMP, Military, and First Responders at Boreal Therapy Collective
Where We Are Located
We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here.
Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. There is also an empty dirt lot adjacent to our office that many use for parking. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here.
Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you!
Rates & Benefit Coverage
Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking).
With prior approval, Veteran’s Affairs, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the RCMP will cover therapy provided by the therapists noted above. For all other first responders, we recommend that you consult your benefit provider to determine coverage details.
Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing.
If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here.
