Behavioral Health Support for Arizona’s First Responders
Supporting Operational Readiness and Long-Term Well-Being
Confidential, trauma-informed support for firefighters, law enforcement professionals, dispatchers, EMS personnel, veterans, and their families.
WE UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT YOU CARRY
First responders are asked to make split-second decisions under extraordinary pressure while carrying the cumulative weight of calls and experiences that may remain long after the shift ends.
Whether you are navigating a recent critical incident, years of accumulated stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, relationship challenges, or simply want to protect your mental health throughout your career, you deserve support from clinicians who understand the realities of public safety work.
We recognize that reaching out is not always easy. We know trust has to be earned. Our therapists provide confidential, trauma-informed care grounded in specialized training in first responder culture, occupational stress, cumulative trauma, and the demands placed on first responder families.
We also understand that when a first responder reaches out, timely access to care matters. Our team works to connect each person with an appropriate provider as quickly as possible.
HOW WE SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy can help first responders address PTSD, cumulative trauma, moral injury, distressing calls, anxiety, depression, grief, and other experiences that continue to affect daily life.
Our comprehensive EMDR-based approach is designed to move beyond symptom management and address the experiences contributing to ongoing distress.
Couples Therapy
Public safety careers can affect communication, connection, family roles, and the ability to transition between work and home.
Our couples therapists help first responders and their partners address relationship strain, strengthen communication, rebuild connection, and better understand how occupational stress can affect the entire family.
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR, or KA-EMDR, combines medically supervised ketamine treatment with specialized EMDR therapy.
This integrated approach may be appropriate for individuals experiencing persistent trauma symptoms, depression, anxiety, or barriers that have made traditional therapy difficult or less effective.
THE OFFICER CRAIG TIGER ACT (HB 2502)
Arizona First Responders May Have Access to Counseling Benefits
The Officer Craig Tiger Act (HB 2502), commonly known as the Craig Tiger Act or Tiger Act, provides eligible Arizona first responders with access to counseling following qualifying work-related traumatic events.
Depending on eligibility and authorization, the benefit may provide up to 36 counseling sessions following a qualifying work-related traumatic event.
Qualifying work-related traumatic events include:
- Visually or audibly witnessing the death or maiming of one or more human beings, or witnessing the immediate aftermath of such an event.
- Responding to or being directly involved in the investigation of an offense involving a dangerous crime against a child.
- Requiring rescue while in the line of duty where your own life was endangered.
- Using deadly force or being subjected to deadly force in the line of duty, regardless of whether you were physically injured.
- Witnessing the death of another peace officer or firefighter while engaged in the line of duty.
- Responding to or being directly involved in an investigation involving the drowning or near drowning of a child.
Not sure whether your experience qualifies?
Many first responders are unfamiliar with the Craig Tiger Act and have questions about whether they qualify, how the process works, or where to begin.
If you’re unsure whether your experience qualifies, we encourage you to reach out. Our team can discuss your circumstances, answer your questions, help you navigate the Craig Tiger Act process, coordinate the required documentation, and, when appropriate, establish Tiger Act billing.
FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS ASSESSMENTS
Our confidential Annual Mental Health Wellness Assessments help departments provide proactive behavioral health support before stress becomes unmanageable.
Each participant receives a private, one-on-one assessment with a licensed mental health professional trained in the unique stressors and challenges of public safety work. Departments receive only anonymized, aggregate information.
SUPPORT FOR DEPARTMENTS
ETC works with fire departments, law enforcement agencies, peer support teams, wellness personnel, department leadership, and organizations serving Arizona’s first responder community.
We provide:
- Annual Mental Health Wellness Assessments
- EMDR therapy, couples therapy, and Ketamine-Assisted EMDR (KA-EMDR)
- Rapid access to trauma-informed behavioral health services for department members
- Behavioral health consultation and support for department leadership
Whether you’re looking to strengthen your department’s behavioral health resources, improve access to care, or support members following a critical incident, we can tailor our services to meet the unique needs, size, and goals of your department or organization.
EARLY EMDR INTERVENTION AFTER CRITICAL INCIDENTS
R-TEP and G-TEP
Critical incidents can affect individuals and entire teams. ETC offers specialized early EMDR interventions designed to support first responders following recent traumatic events.
Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP)
R-TEP is an individual EMDR protocol developed specifically for recent traumatic experiences. It helps the individual safely process the broader traumatic episode, including the parts of the event that may still feel unresolved, fragmented, or emotionally activating.
R-TEP may be appropriate following a critical call, line-of-duty death, serious injury, mass-casualty event, officer-involved shooting, or other recent traumatic experience.
Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP)
G-TEP is a structured group EMDR protocol for people who have been affected by the same critical incident or traumatic event.
It allows multiple department members to receive an early trauma intervention together while maintaining personal privacy. Participants are not required to disclose the details of their individual experiences to the group.
G-TEP can be coordinated with departments following a shared critical incident to support stabilization, trauma processing, resilience, and continued connection with appropriate resources.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EDUCATION & TRAINING
ETC offers customized behavioral health education, workshops, and training for departments, peer support teams, first responders, veterans, and their families.
Topics may include:
- Understanding cumulative trauma and occupational stress
- Recognizing early signs of burnout and behavioral health concerns
- Understanding how trauma affects the brain and body
- Building resilience throughout a public safety career
- Understanding EMDR and trauma treatment
- Supporting first responder relationships and families
- Recognizing when professional support may be beneficial
- Preparing for and responding to critical incidents
- Reducing stigma and encouraging early access to care
Education and training can be customized for leadership, peer support teams, department members, spouses, veterans, or mixed audiences.
TRUSTED BY ARIZONA AGENCIES
We’ve had the privilege of supporting first responders from agencies across Arizona, including:
Fire & EMS Agencies
- Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA)
- Casa Grande Fire Department
- Chandler Fire Department
- Gilbert Fire & Rescue
- Kingman Fire Department
- Phoenix Fire Department
- Pinetop Fire District
- Queen Creek Fire & Medical Department
- Salt River Fire Department
- Scottsdale Fire Department
- Superstition Fire & Medical District
- Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department
Law Enforcement Agencies
- Chandler Police Department
- Gilbert Police Department
- Maricopa Police Department
- Mesa Police Department
- Tucson Police Department
…and many other fire, law enforcement, EMS, and dispatch agencies throughout Arizona.
WHY FIRST RESPONDERS CHOOSE ETC
As we’ve listened to the evolving needs of Arizona’s first responder community, we’ve intentionally expanded our services to better support first responders, their families, and the departments they serve.
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting first responders, their families, departments, and public safety organizations throughout Arizona. Those relationships have shaped our practice in meaningful ways.
Today, our work includes trauma-focused therapy, couples counseling, Ketamine-Assisted EMDR, Annual Mental Health Wellness Assessments, early EMDR interventions following critical incidents through R-TEP and G-TEP, behavioral health education and training, and guidance for first responders seeking counseling benefits through the Officer Craig Tiger Act.
Our connection extends beyond our clinical work. Our family includes veterans and firefighters, giving us additional appreciation for the commitment, responsibility, and sacrifices that come with serving others. While our clinical expertise comes from years of specialized training and experience, those personal connections continue to deepen our respect for the individuals, families, and communities we serve.
Serving Arizona’s first responder community isn’t simply one of our specialties. It has become one of the defining missions of our practice.
Who We Serve
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BECOMES A CRISIS
Support is appropriate after a critical incident, but it is also appropriate when stress has accumulated gradually, relationships are strained, sleep is disrupted, work feels harder to leave at work, or something simply does not feel right.
You do not need to have a diagnosis or be in crisis to reach out.
Whether you are a first responder, a spouse or family member, a peer support professional, a veteran, or a department representative, our team can help identify the most appropriate next step.
For First Responders, Veterans, and Families
Connect with our Client Care Team to discuss EMDR therapy, couples therapy, Ketamine-Assisted EMDR, R-TEP, or Craig Tiger Act benefits.
For Departments and First Responder Organizations
Contact us to discuss department Wellness Assessments, G-TEP, behavioral health education and training, consultation, or other department-wide support.
Let’s Start the Conversation
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Hours
Monday – Saturday: 8am – 8pm
Sunday: Closed
