Menu
Police officers, EMT’s, fire fighters and other first responders and their families are a unique and underserved population. Their stress incurred in these jobs is constant and the impact the job has on the Public service employee and their families creates additional stress. Our therapist’s have intense training and possess extensive knowledge to cater to the needs of all first responders and understand the intensity of the work they do.
Our therapists have diverse experiences, including working in corrections, juvenile services, as police officers, and in other first responder positions. They have also been mentored by retired police officers.
First responders often hesitate to seek mental health services due to a lack of trust in others or fear that their treatment will be exploited. Some are concerned about the conventional portrayal of therapy in movies—lying on a couch, sobbing. However, we strive to provide a comfortable, secure environment for everyone to feel safe while going through the therapeutic process in their way.
Sunrise Wellness works with a variety of police departments and sheriff’s offices to provide wellness programs, peers support training, mental wellness training and to be available to support departments and the families of those officers in times of critical incidents
Wellness Checks
A ‘wellness check’ is a 45–50-minute one-on-one session with a mental health provider to discuss an employee’s current abilities to cope with job stressors and to learn additional healthy ways to deal with these and future stressors. Topics may extend to an employee’s personal life. The wellness check is not a fitness-for-duty evaluation and is not a form of punishment. It is individualized training and is considered an officer safety course as there are still more first responders who commit suicide than get killed in the line of duty. The wellness check is not intended to screen for a mental health diagnosis or disorder. It offers an opportunity for an employee to discuss coping strategies and solutions to deal with the various stressors of being a first responder as well as be given psychoeducation about individual mental health wellness. The wellness check is usually completed yearly, with the cost covered by the department.
Employees may determine they would want additional sessions with a mental health provider. The cost would be covered depending on the department’s plan. Some departments cover extra sessions, while
others encourage the use of EAP, personal insurance, or private pay. The employee could be seen by a Sunrise Wellness mental health professional or would be given referrals to other mental health professionals.
The only information that is shared with the department would be the employee’s name and attendance date. All conversations shared with the mental health professionals are confidential except in the following circumstances, as is required by law:
1) An employee is deemed an immediate threat of harm to themselves or another
2) An employee discloses that they are abusing a child, elderly, or disabled person.
Wellness checks can occur in any of our office locations, on-site at a department, or at a third-party neutral location. Teletherapy options are also available.
Peer Support (PS) Training and consultation
We have a commissioner-approved 30-hour initial peer supporttraining (in person). We also offer a 10-hour Peer Support refreshertraining and phone support to the Peer Support team for feedback, advice, and guidance from the Clinical Director.
POST approved mental wellness in-person trainings. Working to post trainings on the site next year.
Training: We will provide training for specific needs as requested todepartments or conferences