For Those Who Protect & Serve

You Carry the Weight. Let Someone Help You Set It Down.

Therapy for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers — from a therapist who's been in the field himself.

Former EMT. Former call firefighter. Former police co-responder. I get it.

The Job Changes You. That's Not Weakness — It's Reality.

You've responded to calls most people can't imagine. You've held it together when everything around you was falling apart. But the accumulation of those experiences doesn't just disappear when the shift ends.

Hypervigilance that won't turn off — even at home

Sleep problems, nightmares, or waking up on edge

Irritability or anger that feels disproportionate

Emotional numbness — feeling disconnected from people you care about

Intrusive memories from critical incidents

Drinking or other coping that's getting out of hand

Relationship strain — your partner says you've changed

The feeling that nobody outside the job could understand

If any of this sounds familiar — you're not broken. You're carrying too much alone.

Why I Work With First Responders

Bill Dwinnells - Licensed Mental Health Counselor

I didn't just read about first responder stress in a textbook. I lived it. I was an EMT, a call firefighter, and a police co-responder. I've been on the calls. I know what the back of an ambulance smells like at 3 AM.

That experience means I don't need you to explain the culture, the dark humor, or why you can't just "talk to someone." I already get it. We skip the part where you educate your therapist and go straight to the work.

I'm also a member of Behind the Badge and Beyond — a network of clinicians specifically trained to work with first responders. This isn't a side interest for me. It's personal.

How I Help

EMDR Therapy

Process traumatic memories without reliving every detail. Especially effective for critical incident stress and cumulative trauma. I'm trained in EMDR — this isn't something I dabble in.

CBT + Stoic Philosophy

Practical tools to manage the mental game. Cognitive restructuring meets 2,000-year-old warrior philosophy. It's about building genuine resilience — not just "coping."

Emotional Management

Learn to respond instead of react. Manage the anger, the numbness, the hypervigilance — without losing the edge that keeps you sharp on the job.

What to Expect

No Judgment. No Lectures.

I'm not going to tell you to "practice self-care" or suggest yoga. We'll talk straight about what's going on and build a real plan.

100% Confidential

I understand the concerns about confidentiality in your line of work. Your sessions are completely private. Nothing goes back to your department. Period.

Virtual Sessions

No sitting in a waiting room where someone might recognize you. Secure video sessions from wherever you're comfortable. Available in MA, VT, and PA.

Results, Not Just Talking

You'll leave every session with something concrete. A tool, a strategy, a shift in perspective. We're not here to just process — we're here to move forward.

For Departments & Agencies

If you're a department leader looking for mental health support for your team, I offer consultation and can discuss training options. Your people deserve better than a generic EAP referral.

Contact Me About Department Services

You've Answered Enough Calls. Time to Make One for Yourself.

Getting help isn't a sign of weakness — it's the smartest tactical decision you can make. Let's talk.

Request an Appointment