Welcome
We are proven best-practice mental health services for first responders.
WE ARE 911 FOR 911
WHY US?
WE CONNECT
BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU.
Command Counseling Center's therapists have many years of experience working with emergency services or have taken the Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative's Clinician Awareness Training.
We speak your language.
We understand your culture.
We have even walked in your boots.
WHY US?
we CARE
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.
Command Counseling Center's staff and therapists have a deep passionate care for emergency services. We have family and friends who serve our communities and have felt the gap in psychological care and support. It is our calling to bring the same kind of care we expect when we call 911.
WHY ARE FIRST RESPONDERS TURNING TO SUICIDE?
SOME ANSWERS:
- The culture
- The stigma on mental health
- The first responders' personality
- The toll on mental health due to chronic vicarious trauma
- The toll on mental and physical health due to the chronic stress response.
- Any mental health issue is progressive and will only get worse if left untreated.
- THE OBVIOUS GAP BETWEEN THE FIRST RESPONDER INDUSTRY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
THE GAP: THERAPISTS ARE NOT CONNECTING
First responders are losing hope and finalizing their suicide plans after meeting with a therapist.
The first responders who currently go to therapists feel:
- They don't connect because they don’t understand the job.
- The therapists claim their coping techniques are maladaptive because therapists do not understand the culture.
- Therapists give unrealistic solutions; unable to accomplish because of the job requirements.
- Cost is too high.
WHO ARE THESE THERAPISTS?
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
Problems with EAP:
- EAP system not first responder culture educated. (Don’t meet NFPA 1500 standards)
- EAP system confusing to work with.
- EAP typically schedule appointments 3 weeks out.
- Have small numbers of providers, so do not have variety of specialties.
- Therapists may be new to private practice so needs EAP referrals.
- Therapist may not be very good and unable to build a cash pay practice through word of mouth.
- Limited number of sessions.
THERAPISTS THROUGH YOUR IN-NETWORK INSURANCE PLAN
Problems with in-network insurance providers:
- Don’t meet NFPA 1500 standards if they have not been trained in fire industry culture or have trauma therapy training.
- When going through insurance the first responder hast to get a diagnosis.
- The treatment is insurance driven. For example, the insurance company will state how many sessions are allowed.
- A mental health diagnoses may cause issues in attaining life insurance.
- Increased usage can cause insurance premiums to increase.
- Therapists may be new to private practice so needs insurance referrals.
- Therapist may not be very good and unable to build a cash pay practice through word of mouth.
- May not have time to stay up-to-date on new treatments.
- Cant specialize in many topics, i.e. substance abuse, so do not know when to refer them out or how to help.
WE ARE THE SOLUTION
Command Counseling Center (CCC)
Why Command
- All therapists meet NFPA 1500 standards.
- All therapists are handpicked.
- For less than the cost of one staff psychologist, CCCC offers every specialty needed by a first responder or their family members.
- Command can contract with high dollar clinicians who would never be part of an EAP or an in-network insurance panel.
- Command has contracted with therapists that have specialties like PTSD treatments, loss and grief, cancer treatment therapy, marriage and family therapy, child and adolescent therapy.
- Every first responder gets a call back and an appointment within 12-24 hours.
THERE'S MORE:
- Command can be on call 24-7. Making crisis intervention and prevention imminent.
- Education on mental health, will reduce the mental health stigma and give the department an opportunity to review their mental health policy.\
- Command can help a department revise their mental health policy to create up to date best practice for their department.
- Follow-up: having someone be very familiarized with the department and each member where it facilitates the responder to talk to someone immediately after a call that bothered them can reduce mental health disorders, including PTSD.
- Contracts in California and Austin Texas have shown work satisfaction, higher retention rates, reduced mental health stigma, culture changes, more tolerance, dealing with issues much earlier thus avoiding crisis, reducing sick days-calling out days, overtime, forced retirement due to mental health issues.
- Saving departments lots of money.
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