Our First Responder such as police, firefighters, 911/Dispatch Operators, EMT’s and Veterans/Military deserve our best care. In order to provide high quality and specialized care those that treat Fisrt Responders need to be culturally competent. Cultural competency goes beyond knowing the basics of the job description. It means spending years working with this population, taking continuing education courses on public safety and experiencing a passion for supporting these men and woman who protect us each day. In health contexts, cultural competence refers to considering patients’ values, beliefs, and norms when providing care and tailoring support to meet one’s unique needs (Betancourt et al., 2003).
Because of the stigma attached to reaching out for help many First Responder wait until they are experiencing a crisis. The other reason why they wait is because of uncertainty as to who they should see and who they can trust to understand and help them. Receiving help in a timely manner is critical is the care and the career of a First Responder. Below our resources that can be helpful for First Responders in need. To schedule a therapy session with a “Culturally Competent” mental health provider please contact us.
Below you will find Culturally Competent Resources for First Responders:
Disclaimer- Vancouver EMDR Therapy is not affiliated with these resources. This list is updated periodically. Resource information may change.