Putting first responders and their families first
The nightmares can end. You can get close to people again.
The nightmares, the irritability, and the constant "on-guard" feeling, it doesn’t have to stay this way forever. You might feel like you’ll never be the same person you were before the incident. While that may be true, you can feel better than you do right now.
Call to make an appointment
510.797.4911 (Voice Only)
Recognizing the signs
Trauma often shows up when you least expect it. It’s common to feel "fine" or "locked in" while on duty, only to struggle the moment you walk through your own front door.
Avoidance
Trying to block out memories or avoiding people and places that remind you of an event. I don’t want to go there, see that, or feel that. I don’t want to talk about it.
Volatile Emotions
Feeling “zero to sixty” irritability or sudden outbursts over small things at home. Is your family walking on egg shells when you walk in the door?
Physical Toll
Exhaustion, hip and shoulder pain? Acid reflux or irritable bowel? Do you wake up with headaches and a tight jaw?
The "Crazy" Myth
Your brain is actually trying to protect you. These are normal reactions to an abnormal event.
Specialized support for those who serve
Since 2008, I have specialized in Post-Traumatic Stress working specifically with first responders.
My practice is built for:
Firefighters
These resources focus on maintaining the “psychological fitness” of the fire service professionals by helping manage the unique stressors of the job and protect relationships at home.
Law enforcement
Training, and trauma-informed resources specifically tailored to support the mental health and emotional resilience of law enforcement officers and first responders.
Military
A supportive space for returning veterans to navigate the transition home, offering specialized care for irritability, hyper-vigilance, and other common post-deployment challenges.
Emergency Medical Services
Clinical support to build resilience against the cumulative stress and violence encountered by professionals.
Communication Dispatchers
Targeted support for dispatchers to help them process high-stakes calls, manage the mental toll of constant multitasking, and find relief from intrusive memories or “what-if” thinking.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
Now offering the same quality psychological care to retired first responders as to active duty.
Psychological services
Call to make an appointment
510.797.4911 (Voice Only)
Individual counseling
Dr. Bisek offers Individual Counseling consisting of short-term weekly sessions tailored to your personal goals, helping you address difficult thoughts, relationship patterns and behaviors that you want to change.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is best suited for symptoms following a critical incident. It takes the gut punch out of the memory (desensitization) and allows the first responder to put the incident in the past with a more balanced perspective (reprocessing). Dr. Bisek has been a certified EMDR therapist since 2011.
It’s Time to Call for Backup
In your line of work, you know when to call for backup with hazardous material. Trauma exposure is no different. Reaching out for professional support is like calling for backup when the situation demands more resources.
Call to make an appointment
510.797.4911 (Voice Only)