First responder work breaks the body's normal threat-response calibration. Years of running toward what most people run away from leaves a residue. Operational stress, post-traumatic stress, sleep disruption, alcohol creep, marital strain, hypervigilance that does not turn off at the end of shift. None of it makes you weak. All of it is treatable. Our team treats first responders confidentially, with clinicians who understand the culture.
Why is ARCW a good fit for first responders?
Dr. Kristy Burton, our Clinical Director, spent nearly 20 years as a law enforcement officer and US Probation Officer before completing her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. The first responder world is not something she had to study — she lived it. Our team treats first responders with that same lens: practical, direct, no academic abstraction, no judgment about coping strategies that helped you stay functional.
What do you treat in first responders?
- PTSD from critical incidents (single events or cumulative)
- Operational stress and burnout
- Sleep disruption (shift work, rumination, hypervigilance)
- Marital and relationship strain
- Alcohol use creeping into territory that worries you
- Anger and irritability at home
- Career transition (retirement, medical separation, leaving the job)
- Critical incident debriefing and follow-up
- Secondary trauma in dispatch and corrections
Will this stay confidential from my department?
Yes. Sessions with a licensed clinician are confidential under Arkansas law and HIPAA. We do not share session content with your department, your supervisor, or your union without your explicit written consent. The exceptions are the standard ones: imminent harm to self or others, and mandated reporting situations. Many first responder clients pay self-pay specifically so that insurance does not create any paper trail; sliding scale is available.
Do you do post-critical-incident work?
Yes. We see officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and dispatch staff after critical incidents — both single events and cumulative exposure. Treatment usually starts with EMDR or Brainspotting once stabilization is in place. We do not do CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) team debriefings; we do individual and family work in the days, weeks, and months after.
How do I get started?
Call 501-464-2926 or email scheduling@arcounselingandwellness.com. Tell us you are a first responder when you call so we can match you with a clinician with relevant experience. First sessions are available within 7-14 days for most cases; same-week if it is urgent.
Related services
Free 15-minute consultation
No obligation. Talk through what you need and whether we are the right fit.
Call 501-464-2926 Email scheduling