Counselling for Veterans & First Responders in Vancouver — PTSD, Operational Stress & Sleep - Dr. Samuel

Notice: For general interest only; may contain inaccuracies. Not a diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or professional, clinical, or legal advice. Reading this creates no counsellor-client relationship. By reading this page, you agree to these terms. Full disclaimer. In an emergency, call 911.

Counselling for veterans, police, fire, paramedics, corrections and dispatch in Vancouver

Talk to Samuel directly. No receptionist, no intake forms. Call 604-721-0604 · Text what is going on · Book a free 20-minute call. In-person in downtown Vancouver or by video across BC; evenings available.

The job exposes you to things most people never see. The research says the cost is real and treatable.

The largest Canadian study of public safety personnel surveyed 5,813 correctional workers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, police and RCMP and found that “substantial proportions of participants reported current symptoms consistent with 1 (i.e., 15.1%) or more (i.e., 26.7%) mental disorders based on the screening measures” (Carleton et al., 2018, p. 54). Its authors wrote that Canadian PSP “are exposed to potentially traumatic events as a function of their work. Such exposures contribute to the risk of developing clinically significant symptoms related to mental disorders” (Carleton et al., 2018, p. 54), and that the data “underscore the need for a rigorous epidemiologic study and category-specific solutions” (Carleton et al., 2018, p. 54).

Treatment works. The Canadian anxiety and PTSD guidelines note that these disorders are “very common in clinical practice, and frequently comorbid with other psychiatric and medical conditions” (Katzman et al., 2014, p. 1). For PTSD specifically, CBT-based treatments showed effects that were “large for PTSD” at follow-up of 12 months or more (van Dis et al., 2020, p. 265).

What counselling for veterans and first responders looks like here

Session one. No forms and no receptionist. Operational stress injuries, moral injury, sleep that has not been right since a particular call, hypervigilance off duty, anger at home, drinking to come down, and the strain on a marriage are all on the table. Family members are welcome in the process when that helps.

The method. Trauma-focused treatment, including EMDR and prolonged-exposure or cognitive-processing approaches, with Gottman and IFS work for the relationship, and neurofeedback for the nervous system that will not stand down. The largest head-to-head trial in veterans found that “improvements in PTSD were meaningful in both treatment groups” and that the findings “highlight the importance of shared decision-making to help patients understand the evidence and select their preferred treatment” (Schnurr et al., 2022, p. 1). The same trial reported that “treatment dropout was higher in PE (254 [55.8%]) than in CPT (215 [46.6%]; P < .01)" (Schnurr et al., 2022, p. 1), which is why pacing and choice of method are decided with you, not for you. 01)” (Schnurr et al., 2022, p. 1), which is why pacing and choice of method are decided with you, not for you.

Confidentiality. Samuel works in private practice. Nothing goes to your unit, detachment or employer without your written consent, within the limits every Registered Clinical Counsellor is bound by.

Coverage

Samuel is a registered provider for Veterans Affairs Canada, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces (Medavie Blue Cross), and direct-bills so you pay nothing out of pocket for approved sessions. ICBC and CVAP claims and most extended-health plans are also accepted. Fees and expenses are covered by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available.

Your counsellor

Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #23405) and Canadian Certified Counsellor with more than 25 years of clinical experience, including veterans’ programs and humanitarian field work, and a doctorate in health sciences. He is a Certified Trauma Professional.

Frequently asked questions

How common are mental health problems among first responders in Canada?

High. Carleton et al. (2018) found “substantial proportions of participants reported current symptoms consistent with 1 (i.e., 15.1%) or more (i.e., 26.7%) mental disorders” (p. 54) among 5,813 Canadian public safety personnel.

Does PTSD treatment work for veterans and police?

Yes. A trial of 916 veterans found “improvements in PTSD were meaningful in both treatment groups” (Schnurr et al., 2022, p. 1), and long-term follow-up studies found CBT effects “large for PTSD” (van Dis et al., 2020, p. 265).

Which therapy is best for PTSD?

Several work, and the difference between the leading ones is small: PE was statistically more effective than CPT but “the difference was not clinically significant” (Schnurr et al., 2022, p. 1). EMDR, PE and CPT are all offered here; choice depends on you.

Will my employer or unit find out?

Not from this practice. Samuel is in private practice and releases nothing without your written consent, within the standard legal limits of confidentiality.

Is counselling covered for veterans, RCMP and CAF members?

Yes. Samuel is a registered provider with VAC, RCMP and CAF (Medavie Blue Cross) and direct-bills approved sessions. Fees and expenses are covered by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available.

What about sleep and anger, not just flashbacks?

They are usually part of the same injury and are treated together. The Canadian guidelines note PTSD is “frequently comorbid with other psychiatric and medical conditions” (Katzman et al., 2014, p. 1). See also insomnia counselling.

Can my spouse be involved?

Yes, when it helps. Couples sessions using the Gottman Method and IFS are available alongside individual trauma work. See couples counselling.

Can I do sessions by video?

Yes. In person in downtown Vancouver or by secure video across BC, with evening times for shift schedules.

What happens when you call

The first conversation is a free 20-minute phone call with Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC (RCC #23405). You describe what is going on; he tells you plainly whether what he offers fits and what a first session would involve. Sessions are available in English and Farsi, in person at Suite 1300, 1500 West Georgia St, Vancouver, or by secure video anywhere in BC. Fees and expenses are covered by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available.

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Related pages: Trauma therapy · EMDR · Insomnia & sleep · Couples counselling · Neurofeedback

References

Carleton, R. N., Afifi, T. O., Turner, S., Taillieu, T., Duranceau, S., LeBouthillier, D. M., Sareen, J., Ricciardelli, R., MacPhee, R. S., Groll, D., Hozempa, K., Brunet, A., Weekes, J. R., Griffiths, C. T., Abrams, K. J., Jones, N. A., Beshai, S., Cramm, H. A., Dobson, K. S., … Asmundson, G. J. G. (2018). Mental disorder symptoms among public safety personnel in Canada. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(1), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743717723825

Katzman, M. A., Bleau, P., Blier, P., Chokka, P., Kjernisted, K., Van Ameringen, M., & the Canadian Anxiety Guidelines Initiative Group. (2014). Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders. BMC Psychiatry, 14(Suppl 1), S1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-14-S1-S1

Schnurr, P. P., Chard, K. M., Ruzek, J. I., Chow, B. K., Resick, P. A., Foa, E. B., Marx, B. P., Friedman, M. J., Bovin, M. J., Caudle, K. L., Castillo, D., Curry, K. T., Hollifield, M., Huang, G. D., Chee, C. L., Astin, M. C., Dickstein, B., Renner, K., Clancy, C. P., … Shih, M.-C. (2022). Comparison of prolonged exposure vs cognitive processing therapy for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder among US veterans: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 5(1), e2136921. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36921

van Dis, E. A. M., van Veen, S. C., Hagenaars, M. A., Batelaan, N. M., Bockting, C. L. H., van den Heuvel, R. M., Cuijpers, P., & Engelhard, I. M. (2020). Long-term outcomes of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(3), 265–273. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3986