By Tanisha L. Knighton, Ph.D. | COHR Psychologists & Associates

You show up. To the worst days of someone else’s life. To scenes most people will never forget and ones you don’t have the luxury of avoiding.

Whether you’re in law enforcement, EMS, fire service, or corrections, your job asks a lot. You’re trained to stay calm under pressure. To push through. To get it done…no matter what the situation demands.  But what happens after the call?  After the lights fade, the paperwork’s filed, and everyone else moves on?  Who checks on you?

The Weight Behind the Uniform

First responders are expected to carry a level of emotional weight that most civilians can’t imagine. You’ve seen things that live in your body long after the scene is cleared. And yet, the culture around you often says: “Keep it moving.”; “Don’t let it get to you.”; “You signed up for this.”

Let’s be clear: Exposure doesn’t equal immunity.  The trauma, stress, and cumulative pressure don’t disappear just because you wear a uniform. And pushing through without support isn’t strength…it’s survival.

Over time, that survival mode can lead to:

• Irritability or emotional numbness
• Sleep issues and hypervigilance
• Difficulty connecting with loved ones
• Substance use as a coping mechanism
• Anxiety, depression, or burnout
• Compassion fatigue or suicidal thoughts

This isn’t weakness. This is what happens when you carry too much for too long, without being given space to put it down.  Read more about the impact of cumulative trauma on mental health .

Why First Responders Avoid Therapy (And Why That Needs to Change)

You’ve been trained to be the helper, the protector, the one in control. So, the idea of therapy might feel… off. Unfamiliar. Maybe even like a loss of control.

You might be thinking: “I don’t want to be labeled unfit.”;“I can’t talk about work with someone who doesn’t get it.”; “If I start talking, I might not be able to stop.”

I hear that. I’ve worked with many first responders who felt the same way at first. But here’s what they learned: Therapy doesn’t take your edge away. It helps you stop cutting yourself with it.

At COHR Psychologists & Associates, we offer therapy that respects your experience and protects your privacy. We know how important confidentiality is, both personally and professionally. We also know that trust has to be earned, especially when you’ve learned to keep things locked down.

What Therapy Looks Like at COHR

Therapy with us isn’t about sitting on a couch and digging through childhood memories (…unless that’s part of what you want to explore).

It is about:

• Naming the things you’ve been carrying in silence
• Processing traumatic calls in a way that’s manageable, not overwhelming
• Learning how to manage stress without numbing out
• Reconnecting with parts of yourself that have taken a backseat to the job
• Building tools to cope with burnout, family stress, or past trauma

Our approach is culturally responsive, practical, and trauma-informed. We speak plain language. We honor the real-world pressure you face. And we don’t pathologize your reactions to repeated exposure to human pain, we help you navigate it.

Final Thoughts

First responders are excellent at protecting others.  But at some point, you have to ask: Who’s protecting you?  Therapy isn’t about fixing you. It’s about supporting the human behind the badge, the uniform, the shield. It’s about giving yourself permission to be more than your role.  If you’ve been holding it all together in silence, this is your invitation to lay it down for a moment, for a session, or for as long as you need.

We’re here when you’re ready.
Call (330) 578-4855 or click the linktr.ee/cohrpsych  to schedule a confidential consultation. No judgment. Just real support.