Strong Enough to Help, Deserving Enough to Heal
Therapy for First Responders in Virginia
First responders carry an incredible responsibility. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and dispatchers are called to step into crises while others step back. While this work brings pride and purpose, it also exposes you to ongoing trauma, long shifts, and the constant demand to stay composed under pressure. Over time, the weight of these experiences can show up as sleepless nights, irritability, hypervigilance, or the feeling that you can never fully “turn off.”
Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling offers a safe and confidential space to process what you’ve been through and learn healthier ways to manage stress. You do not have to carry the burden alone. Together, we can work to restore balance, strengthen resilience, and help you reconnect with the parts of yourself that may feel overshadowed by the job.
Benefits of Therapy for First Responders
If you are experiencing:
a replay of tough call that won’t shut off
trouble sleeping or constant nightmares
feeling on guard, like you can’t relax
a short fuse or snapping at people you care about
pulling away from loved ones
carrying guilt after calls
feeling numb or like you’ve got nothing left to give
burned out and keep questioning why you do this
anxiety about the next call, shift, or worst-case scenario
Therapy can:
give you a place to work through those memories so they don’t keep running the show in your head.
teach you ways to calm your mind and body so you can finally get the rest you need between shifts
build tools to help your body stand down so you don’t feel “on duty” 24/7
teach you strategies to manage the stress so it doesn’t spill over onto family, friends, or coworkers
give you space to sort through what you’re carrying so you can show up more fully at home.
Work through the weight of “what ifs” and learn how to stop blaming yourself for things outside your control
reconnect with your emotions and rediscover parts of yourself that the job has pushed to the background.
help you get back to your “why,” set healthier boundaries, and find ways to make the job sustainable.
Learn healthier ways to handle stress so you don’t feel like numbing out is your only option.
Build confidence with tools that help you stay steady and grounded no matter what comes your way.
Meet Your Therapist
I’m Sarah Theimer, LPC and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II). As both a counselor and the wife of a first responder, I understand the unique challenges faced by first responders and their families. Using evidence-based approaches like EMDR, CBT, and CPT, I help you find relief from stress and trauma while building strength, resilience, and peace.
In your line of work, you are used to being the one in control, making split-second calls when lives are on the line. I see therapy in a similar way: you are in the driver’s seat. My role is to ride alongside you, help you size up what is weighing you down, and offer tools that actually work in real life. Healing does not come from quick fixes or from simply “getting over it.” It comes from unpacking what you have seen and carried, understanding how it shows up in your daily life, and learning new ways to respond that do not keep you stuck. I use proven approaches such as EMDR, CBT, and CPT. These methods are practical, evidence-based, and designed to help first responders process trauma and regain a steady footing. Therapy is about finding the balance between being supported and being pushed to grow. Just as you build strength by stepping out of your comfort zone, growth happens here with the right mix of challenge and support.
My Philosophy
When you come into session, you can expect straight talk, real support, and no judgment. This is a space where you do not need to put on the “I am fine” face or keep everything bottled up. We will work through what has been sitting heavy, and I will also challenge you when it helps you move forward. Together, we will look at what is underneath the stress: why certain calls stay with you, why your fuse feels shorter, or why it is so hard to turn off the switch after a shift. From there, I will give you practical tools you can use on the job and at home to quiet your mind, manage the adrenaline, and feel more in control. The goal is not only to ease the symptoms but also to help you build lasting resilience so you can continue doing the work you are proud of without burning out. If your faith is important to you, we can also bring that into the process. This may include prayer, scripture, or grounding practices with a spiritual foundation, depending on what helps you feel supported and whole.
What you can expect in sessions
Types of Therapy for First Responders
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a type of therapy that helps your brain heal from painful memories and experiences. Instead of just talking about what happened, EMDR gently guides you through a process that allows your mind to let go of the intensity tied to those memories.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a structured, evidence-based treatment designed to help people heal from the impact of trauma and PTSD. Through a series of sessions, CPT guides you in identifying “stuck points,” or unhelpful beliefs that keep you feeling trapped in the past. Together, we work on challenging and reshaping these thoughts so you can move forward with greater clarity and peace. CPT also includes structured homework between sessions, giving you the chance to practice skills in your daily life and build lasting change..
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical and effective approach that helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. Often, the way we interpret a situation shapes how we feel and how we respond. In CBT, we work together to notice negative or unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more balanced and realistic ones.
Christian Based Counseling
Christian counseling creates a space where your faith and mental health can grow together. Sessions integrate biblical truths with evidence-based therapy, so you can find peace while staying rooted in your relationship with God. Whether through prayer, reflection on Scripture, or faith-based coping skills, Christian counseling helps you draw strength from your walk with Jesus while also addressing challenges like anxiety, trauma, or stress.
Hope and Healing for First Responders and Their Families
Step into a space where your struggles are heard, your resilience is honored, and healing becomes possible.
Behind every first responder is a person with real challenges, emotions, and needs. Whether you’re on the front lines or supporting a loved one who is, therapy offers a safe space where you can process difficult experiences, learn healthy ways to cope, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that stress and trauma may have overshadowed. You don’t have to go through this alone. If you’re ready to take steps toward greater resilience, I invite you to reach out today.