Neurofeedback for First Responders

Neurofeedback for First Responders is a non-negotiable, but before we get into our spiel, we want to thank you.

Thank you for being the first in line with emergencies and for your dedication, courage and the difference you make for so many. Your commitment to service even when it means putting yourself in life-threatening situations does not go unnoticed.

If you are a First Responder, Firefighter, Paramedic, Police, or Dispatchers, you don’t need me to tell you about the stressors of your job. About the risks for depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, suicide or anxiety. You live with these stressors everyday and often keep them to yourselves, believing it’s an expectation of the job. When your job is to respond to emergencies and help protect and save lives, it can be hard to ask for help.

According to a 2018 Supplemental Research Bulletin from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center, about three in 10 first responders live with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Trauma is a factor that First Responders are typically exposed to each shift. As a First Responder, you may experience personal trauma, or face a life and death experience or injury, or are chronically exposed to vicarious trauma. This shows up in psychological and physical issues related to work.

While our brain and body are designed to cope with fear, stress, and danger, they’re not designed to stay in these activated states for prolonged periods of time. As First Responders, your exposure to trauma and crisis mean your neurophysiological systems related to keeping any individual safe are constantly in overdrive.

Your brain’s stress response system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, may especially be thrown out of whack with the prolonged, repeated exposure to stress. The overexposure First Responders experience on a daily basis can cause brain cells to age more rapidly, contribute to mood disturbances such as anxiety & depression, along with PTSD and overall brain functioning.  

Why Neurofeedback for First Responders?

We’re passionate about supporting the emotional, mental, and physical needs of First Responders. Our goal is to help with the prevention of mental health issues. In particular, we want to regulate the brain of First Responders and help them to recover in healthy ways. The idea is to counterbalance the stressors of your job, regulate your emotions and increase First Responders’ quality of life.

Neurofeedback is a learning process for the brain that enables it to function more efficiently and appropriately. In short, Neurofeedback helps First Responders live more fulfilling lives.Typical benefits include:  

  • Stress management and optimal performance  
  • Better decision making and composure under pressure  
  • improved situational awareness   
  • Improved clarity, focus, serenity  
  • Confidence, calm assertiveness  
  • Improved sleep habits, waking more refreshed  
  • Easier transition between states of high alert and relaxation  
  • Improved personal relationships  
  • Less irritability  
  • Reduced self doubt, rumination and feelings of guilt or failure  
  • Easier to shake off negative events or feelings  
  • Ability to leave work at work, unwind when off duty  
  • Less burnout  
  • Panic and anxiety management
  • Building emotional resilience
  • Improving mood, concentration, focus and attention
  • Improving learning and cognitive performance
  • Boosting motivation and energy
  • Learning to manage addictions, destructive habits and cravings

Training leads to improved resilience and flexibility making it easier to stay the course when faced with obstacles and to switch gears and change course when appropriate.