Immersive Healing: VR Therapy for Anxiety, Phobia and PTSD
By Derek Sienko, M.A., in Military Psychology, BSW., RSW, Chaplain, RTWDM, & CVRP. Mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and operational stress injuries can profoundly impact our ability to thrive, often leaving us feeling overwhelmed. However, the power of 21st-century technology, combined with the guidance of a highly experienced clinical therapist, can help alleviate emotional […]
Strong, Steady, Ready: Regulating Stress in Real Time Policing
Published in National Police Federation (npf-fpn.com) August 18, 2025 For police officers, the job demands split-second decisions, high-stakes encounters, and repeated exposure to human suffering and conflict. These stressors can push the mind and body outside what psychologists call the “Window of Tolerance” the optimal zone of arousal where we think clearly, feel grounded, and respond effectively.
RCMP National Reintegration program helps officers return to work after trauma
By Mara Shaw. Published on RCMP.ca on June 24, 2025 Image by RCMP. After nearly two decades in uniform, RCMP Corporal Mark Ryttersgaard is no stranger to high-stress calls. Since his first posting in Saskatchewan in 2007, Ryttersgaard has handled a wide range of incidents – and even more emotionally-stressful scenes – as a forensic identification specialist […]
“I am fine”: The Deadly Cost of Self-Stigma
Despite growing awareness, many first responders struggle not only with the symptoms of mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, but also with self-stigma, a powerful internal barrier that discourages help-seeking and perpetuates suffering. Self-stigma occurs when individuals internalize negative societal beliefs about mental illness, leading to shame, self-doubt, and avoidance of support. […]
Occupational Stress and Somatic Suffering
Military personnel and first responders, including paramedics, police officers, firefighters, border services officers, and other emergency personnel, are routinely exposed to occupational stressors that place them at elevated risk for a spectrum of psychological conditions. Among these, somatoform disorders now largely subsumed under the category of Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders in the Diagnostic and […]
How Specialized PTSD Programs Can Help Firefighters
As a firefighter, you are admired by your community for fearlessly putting your life on the line to protect others. You battle through intense flames, rescue those trapped in dangerous situations, and confront unimaginable trauma daily. But you’re also human, and those harrowing experiences can take a toll on your mental health. Unfortunately, many firefighters […]
Understanding PTSD in Paramedics – Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Coping Strategies
As a paramedic, you know that staying calm under pressure while providing essential medical help is crucial. But what happens when your experiences become too much to handle? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common issue for paramedics, often coming from daily exposure to traumatic events. This blog post explores what causes PTSD in paramedics, […]
Moral Injury: Everything You Need To Know
Moral injury is defined as “the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct.” Initial research and understanding of moral injury mostly originated from clinical work with war veterans. However, it is now […]
Self-regulation: The Space Between
There is no shortage of opportunities to practice resilience in our day-to-day lives. We are constantly confronted with trials, setbacks, and roadblocks that challenge us to access our inner strength and capacity to face these difficulties directly. When I say resilience, I mean our ability to move through our days knowing that we have the […]
Spirituality for Resiliency
Spirituality is an essential coping method that helps military personnel in building and maintaining psychological resilience. Spirituality means something different to every single individual.” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Brown, 628th Air Base Wing Chaplain. There is no one standard answer that fits all. It is important to note that spirituality does not necessarily involve […]