Veterans, Military & First Responders

When "Handling It" Has Been Part of the Job

Military service and first responder work can teach you how to function when things are difficult.

Stay focused. Do the job. Take care of the people around you. Deal with your own reaction later.

Sometimes "later" has a way of catching up.

You may be dealing with experiences that are difficult to explain to people who haven't lived or worked in that world. Or the problem may have less to do with a particular event and more to do with relationships, anger, anxiety, loss, retirement, leaving the military, changes in identity, or figuring out what comes next.

Before becoming a counselor, I spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy. I don't assume that means I automatically understand your experience—but it does mean you won't have to explain military culture to me from the ground up.

In counseling, we can look at what's working, what isn't, and what you may still be carrying. Using CBT and ACT, we'll work on recognizing patterns in how you think and respond, making room for experiences that can't simply be "turned off," and deciding how you want to move forward.

You don't have to be in crisis to come in.

Sometimes the question is simply:

"The way I've always handled things got me this far. Is it still getting me where I want to go?"