First Responders Counselling
Examples of first responders include police officers, firefighters, and paramedics and military members. Really though, we are extending to service to all individuals working in high stress occupations—also including corrections officers, lawyers and medical professionals, and any field in which you face periods of overwhelm and intensity beyond what most people ever experience in the workplace.
If you perform high stress work, there is a good chance you do so proudly with your profession as an important part of your identity. Despite the training these jobs come with, however, chronic stress can lead to burnout, and carry other costs:
- Feeling ‘switched on’ or hypervigilant, like you can’t turn off fight or flight
- Difficulty sleeping and poor digestion
- Increased urge to escape or numb through activities like extreme sports or substance use
- Strained relationships
- Chronic pain
- Reduced self worth, anxiety and depression
- Heightened irritability and anger or difficult balancing emotions
- Aloneness with experiences that others can’t understand, or urge to protect friends and family from your stories
High stress ocupational counselling is offered by: Andrew Jarvis.
How can we help with the stress of first responders?
Just as the body adapts to heightened stress, it is fully capable of adjusting back to peace, presence and a state of rest and digest.
Building on decades of study and practice treating complex and post-traumatic stress, our clinic understands that human connection activates the circuitry of peace—known as the ventral vagal nerve running through the front of our body. When the particular practices we offer are put in place, the mind and body steadily re-learn how to relax and feel safe again—something those close to you will appreciate as much as you.

What is High Stress Occupational Counselling?
Counselling is readily available to help provide relief. Whether you are seeking therapy for post-traumatic stress (PTSD), burnout, or some other concern, it involves three steps:
- Stabilize and Educate. The first step is immediate relief. It involves learning grounding tools and psychoeducation—the practice of actually understanding what is going on in your brain and body. It is often welcome news that what’s happening to you makes sense. Your body isn’t broken, it has just adapted to stress.
- Change and Action: With basic safety and stability in place, it’s time to get to work. During this part of counselling we will actively process and complete what are called body memories—the ‘stuck’ emotional stress energy that brought you through the door in the first place. This is where individuals really feel like they are ‘getting themselves back.’
- Integrate and Master: Equally important is ensuring you feel equipped to stay well and to protect yourself against future stress. This phase is all about mastering your new skills and abilities. Those who have dealt with trauma or PTSD will often report posttraumatic growth—a life-changing and meaningful shift in thinking and relating to the world and self.
Meet Andrew Jarvis
As a counsellor and former professional soldier, working with men’s issues and high-stress occupations is my career passion and area of expertise. Throughout my 12 years in the Army, seeing the impact of operational deployments and professional stress on my friends and colleagues, and leading soldiers through challenging personal experiences fuelled my interest in working with stress-relief, resilience, and trauma-survival.
Much of my academic education focused on first responder mental health, I have completed training with the Veterans Transition Network where I am a junior practitioner, and I have facilitated group and individual therapy for police officers, firefighters, military members and lawyers.
In uniformed and other high-stress occupations, the question of “who am I?” is often close to one’s professional identity. This means that when challenges arise at work or at home that leave you feeling weak, frightened, lost, out of control, or any other way that is inconsistent with your identity, it can be hard to acknowledge them. While you may be a soldier, police officer, firefighter, corrections officer or paramedic, you are also a human being. Struggling with stress is perhaps the most normal thing in the world.
At its most basic, therapy is a conversation. We talk about the challenges you face, shine light in the dark places, and build you a stress and resiliency toolbox. As professionals, we are taught the value of having partners to help us through the toughest battles. Psychological battles are no different, and I would be honoured to stand beside you in yours.
“After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment.” ― Judith Lewis Herman
The Costs of Chronic Stress
Often, professionals in high-stress occupations do not seek therapy until they receive an ultimatum, maybe from their job or spouse. Perhaps the idea of seeking help can feel like some kind of failure, or maybe accepting help means acknowledging how bad the problem really is, which can be devastating. If you choose to look a problem in the eyes and say “I see you”, however, you can begin to change. Like any wound, acknowledging a mental health challenge is the first step to healing from it.

First Responder Support at Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre
Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre, Vancouver, BC specializes in burnout recovery, trauma therapy and counselling in Vancouver. Our registered therapists are dedicated to providing personalized care to our clients and ensuring their comfort and support. It is our honour to provide therapy for post-traumatic stress and first responder mental health support.
We assess your personal history, identify and process negative experiences, and create positive associations to replace negative ones. Our therapists are best at creating a safe and trusting environment so that you can explore your emotions and experiences without fear of judgment.
High stress occupational counselling is currently offered by Andrew Jarvis.
Best Attempts To Cope
Professionals in high-stress occupations often cope with stress in ways that are similarly intense to their work. While this can be helpful, it can also temporarily push away or replace the stress rather than resolving it. After a stressful period at work, do you do any of the following? If so, it’s possible that you could benefit from unpacking that stress with a counsellor:
- Extreme sports, or regular sports in a more extreme or risky way
- Bingeing alcohol, food, drugs, video games or pornography
- Fighting or arguing
- Driving aggressively or at high speeds
- Impulse shopping or spending lots of money
- Hooking up frequently at bars or on dating apps, or visiting prostitutes
- Getting unplanned tattoos
This is not the end of the story. Just as you learned these means of dealing, you can free yourself from them. We are here to help with this.

Rate
$165 + GST
Counsellor
High Stress Occupational Therapy Vancouver FAQs
What is High Stress Occupational Counselling?
What are the 3 phases of trauma recovery?
Judith Herman was amongst the first to out into words the phases of recognizing and recovery from trauma. She describes them as Establishing Safety, Remembering and Mourning and finally Reconnection with Ordinary Life. Working with us at Thrive means spending time on any or all of these phases as appropriate.
What is EMDR?
EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly effective, evidence-based psychotherapy approach designed to resolve the emotional and psychological distress associated with traumatic memories. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR incorporates elements from various therapeutic disciplines, utilizing a unique eight-phase approach to reduce past traumas’ emotional impact.
Is High Stress Occupational Counselling covered by insurance?
High Stress Occupational Counselling may be covered by insurance, but it depends on your specific plan. It’s important to check with your insurance provider to see if they cover Registered Counselling and if there are any limitations or requirements. Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre provides a reimbursement receipt if your insurance plan covers it. If you are seeking counselling for police officers, military counselling, or therapy for firefighters, your extended benefits plan may cover services from one of our Registered Clinical Counsellors.
Who is High Stress Occupational Counselling not appropriate for?
Our therapists provide a slow and safe assessment of readiness and never rush you into anything. The only people this would not be appropriate for are those who connect with us and who don’t feel a good fit with our therapist. In this case, we are happy to provide outside referrals.
How many sessions do you need for High Stress Occupational Counselling?
The number of therapy sessions required can vary depending on the individual and their specific needs. Some may only require only a few sessions, while most benefit from deepening the work slowly over time. Therapy typically has one session a week with plenty of flexibility in either direction. Your therapist will help you decide how often works best for you. Therapy tends to become more spaced out as goals are met.
Does therapy work?
Yes, therapy has been shown to effectively treat a variety of mental health concerns, including PTSD and depression. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of stress and trauma therapy in improving the overall functioning of the brain. However, it’s important to note that not everyone responds to counselling in the same way, and the results may vary between individuals.
How long does it take for counselling to work?
The amount of time it takes for counselling to work varies between individuals and their specific needs. Some people may start to notice improvements after their first session, while others may require more sessions before seeing significant changes. It’s important to discuss your progress with your therapist regularly to ensure that you are getting the most out of your sessions.