Our Counseling Services
COUNSELING PODCASTS
Sarah offers two free podcasts. First Responder Psychological Support is available at: anchor.fm/sarah-gura and MINDSET is available as supplemental content for her patients and other listeners at: anchor.fm/sarah-gura3 You can also find both podcasts on Spotify.
MENTAL HEALTH CLASSES
Classes on mental health topics are available via ZOOM or locally to first responder groups. Sarah highly recommends the first presentation if you have not heard her speak before: First Responder Psychological Support, an introductory class (2 hours). She can present per shift, during the week.
Other popular classes: Mindfulness for First Responders, Afflictions & Addictions, Understanding Anger, Managing Anxiety & Panic, Depression Psychology Education, Acute Stress Disorder & Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and First Responders’ Spouse Support. Other courses are available, please inquire!
Sarah does NOT offer CISM/CISD services. However, she recommends scheduling a class on Acute Stress Disorder as an alternative.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
The therapy hour is about 50 minutes. We will complete an initial assessment at your first appointment. Then, we will create a treatment plan based on your concerns. We usually meet 1x/week until the issue is resolved. If you have any questions, we offer a free 15-minute phone consultation!
Special issues: addictions of high functioning adults, anger, anxiety, career/vocational stress, depression, panic attacks, PTSD (and acute stress), sexual concerns, and traumas for adults (from childhood or present day).
EMDR
Sarah highly recommends EMDR for first responders and the general population. It is a trauma-focused therapy that uses the body’s natural processes for healing. We use the EMDR trainings and protocol outlined by EMDRIA — the international association for EMDR.
EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing): EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences. -from EMDRIA.ORG
Couples Counseling
The therapy hour is about 50 minutes for couples counseling. We will complete an initial assessment at your first appointment, with both of you present. Then, we will create a treatment plan based on your concerns. We usually meet about 1x/week until you decide on your own pace for attending couples counseling.
Special issues: aging relationships, after the affair, communication skill building, distress tolerance & emotion regulation, financial disagreements, first responder relationships, parenting strains, sexual health (kink & LGBTQI friendly), and separating amicably.
Annual Behavioral Health Review (ABHR)
Sarah supports Life Safety Initiative #13: First responders must have access to counseling and psychological support services.
Police and fire departments use an EAP service (or other funds) to pay for non-mandated, annual check-ups of first responders. The idea is that the department supports private and confidential 90-minute appointments for their members once per year. Sarah can help the first responder self-evaluate, provide them psych-education, and make recommendations as needed in these sessions. There is no written report, only confirmation that the person attended their scheduled session.
Sarah has extensive experience working with first responders. We encourage a positive attitude and approach to mental health services for police, dispatch, firefighters, and emergency department professionals.
Employee Counseling Program (ECP)
Not every first responder department has access to an EAP program that specializes in treating first responders. Sarah created an ECP Program for first responders; please email [email protected] for the brochure. Your department can pay for first responder counseling services 1-3x/year at a discounted rate per first responder (and, per adult first responder family member). We can send the form to register your whole department, or by each individual case. There is no membership fee; the department only pays for services rendered.
First Responder Psychological Support
Public servants face human illness, human suffering, human stupidity, death, and property destruction often. Sarah has completed ride-alongs, trainings, and created curriculum for first responders so that they can learn to cope with the dynamics of their careers in a world that seems clueless about their stress and traumas. She is able to keep up with first responder language, culture, leadership/politics, and career-specific needs in individual counseling sessions. Whether you want to work on childhood issues, marriage and family concerns, or calls that caused discomfort, distress, or trauma: Sarah can help.
Sarah also has experience training peer supporters, and uses her approach: listen, validate, relate, and refer as the foundation for the core curriculum.