09/24/2026
You Are Human First: Therapy for Trauma-Exposed Professionals
Host Julie Clarke speaks with registered psychotherapist and longtime Ontario paramedic Deb Cooper about finding appropriate mental-health support as a trauma-exposed professional.
Their definition reaches beyond first responders. Paramedics, police officers, firefighters, military personnel, healthcare workers, mental-health clinicians, personal support workers, and early childhood educators can all encounter trauma as an expected part of their work. Julie and Deb discuss why those professionals need clinicians who understand both trauma and the occupational culture surrounding it.
The conversation explores the differences among mental-health providers in Ontario, the limits of labels such as “trauma-informed,” and practical ways to evaluate a prospective therapist. It also gives listeners permission to ask questions, seek referrals, try several sessions, name problems in the therapeutic relationship, set limits on what they are ready to discuss, and leave when serious red flags appear.
At its heart, this episode is about agency: therapy exists for the client. A thoughtful therapist respects boundaries, welcomes honest feedback, repairs ruptures, and helps clients build the ability to move forward without them.
Recording date: Oct 30, 2023
01:16:51
