IT'S OK TO ASK FOR HELP

The resources on this website have been recommended by a member of the California fire service as a resource for their peers. Their listing on this website is not an endorsement. The California Fire Service Task Force on Behavioral Health, its members or its partnering organizations do not endorse any person, organization, activity, product or service.


NATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES: Click to find additional programs available 24/7

Crisis Lines | National Programs

REGIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES: Select Region

Northern California | Greater Bay Area | Central California | Central Coast | Southern California | FAR SOUTH


MAKE MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY

No matter how tough, no one is immune to the anguish that can build from a career of difficult calls.

All too often, we keep the anguish buried inside, afraid to be labeled as weak or unfit. "The 'suck it up, buttercup' mentality believes ... all you need to do is rub some dirt in it and get back out there." The thing is, the same line was used against SCBA, seat belts, turnouts and other safety equipment and practices that are saving firefighter lives. As with any injury, allowing this anguish to fester can lead to unhealthy habits, behaviors, and, sometimes, death. Mental health is medical health.

Speaking up is not weakness ... it is the strongest, healthiest thing you can do. 


Where to go to find help

Crisis Lines

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - 988

The national suicide hotline. Not first responder specific, but they can talk to anyone who needs help.

Safe Call Now - 1-206-459-3020

A 24/7 help line staffed by first responders for first responders and their family members. They can assist with treatment options for responders who are suffering from mental health, substance abuse and other personal issues.

Fire/EMS Helpline - 1-888-731-3473

Also known as Share the Load. A program run by the National Volunteer Fire Council. They have a help line, text-based help services, and have a collection of resources for people looking for help and support.

Frontline Helpline - 1-866-676-7500

Run by Frontline Responder Services. Offer 24/7 coverage with first responder call-takers.

Firefighter/ Family Crisis and Support Line: 844-525-FIRE (3473)

A 24/7 hotline for firefighters and family members and to speak with mental health counselors who are trained in fire service culture.


National Programs

Firestrong.org -- an online clearinghouse of information about firefighter post-traumatic stress, along with links to peer support resources offered by dozens of individual fire departments.

Local peer support programs -- More and more individual departments and local unions are bringing peer support into the firehouse. Best resource is to contact your local union. We're compiling a list and will update with additional local information as it becomes available.

Significant Others and Spouses -- Program from the First Responder Support Network aimed at helping family members of firefighters deal with family disruptions and issues arising from the stresses of the job.

The Sage Project by Shift Wellness - First Responder Spouse Retreat - Retreat provides insight, education, connection, wellness, and support as we explore the costs and rewards of being the spouse/partner of a First Responder.

IAFF Center for Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery -- Comprehensive in-patient recovery center exclusively geared to firefighters. Treatment of substance abuse, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI), depression and other psychological injuries linked to the job. (READ: "Firefighters helping others learn to help themselves" -- Washington Post)

West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat -- Recovery center geared toward firefighters and law enforcement. Small-group treatment with intensive debrief and counseling, driven by peer support and geared toward needs of first responders. 

Public Safety Professionals Retreat-- Intensive outpatient retreat that provides first responders the opportunity to learn and practice new coping skills while improving personal and professional relationships. RHR focuses on substance abuse, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances, and other stress - and trauma-related symptoms. 

First Responder Wellness - by Simple — Simple Recovery offers First Responders trauma-informed substance abuse and co-occurring mental health treatment designed with the help of First Responder organizations, respected addiction and mental health professionals, and strategic community partners.

Save a Warrior - SAW is a nationally recognized program, offering novel, judgement-free solutions to returning Veterans, Active Duty Service Members and First Responders with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).

Alvarado Parkway Institute - Center for Mental Health and Addictive Disorders offers hospital and outpatient services and is expanding to include residential treatment, home health, counseling, and pharmacy services.

First Responders First - Provide top-quality medical, psychological and emotional care in a safe confidential environment. This is a state-of-the-art substance and alcohol abuse treatment program created exclusively to serve First Responders


Regional Support Services

Northern California

Cameron Park
Joy Graf, MA
4120 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA
Phone: 530-391-1658
Focus: First Responders, Spouses of First Responders, PTSD, EMDR

Merri Francis, LCSW
4120 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA
Phone: 916-802-7102
Focus: Children, Teens

Kay Williams, MA - Call for availability
4120 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA
Phone: 530-748-9592
Focus: First Responder, PTSD, REMD

Diamond Springs
Jill Gustafson, LCSW - Currently accepting new patients
493 Main St., Suite D, Diamond Springs, CA
Phone: 530-644-8013
Focus: First Responders, Child, Teen, Family, EMDR

Fair Oaks
Cornerstone Psychological Center
5330 Primrose #135, Fair Oaks, CA
Phone: 916-787-0555/764-2325
Focus: Relationships, Individuals, Male teens w/ emotional issues

Gold River
Laura Venable, MA, MFT
11344 Coloma Road, Suite 250, Gold River, CA
Phone: 916-492-7900
Focus: Relationships, Teens, Children

Roseville
Chuck May & Connie May
2140 Professional Dr., Roseville, CA
Phone: 916-787-8717
Focus: Military, First Responder, Trauma, PTSD (Retired Military)

Pamela Pfitzer, MA, MFCC
775 Sunrise Avenue, Roseville, CA 95661   
Phone: 916-781-3402     
Insurance: Accepts most insurance
Focus: First Responders, PTSD, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Critical Incidents, and family

Theresa Margetich, PsyD - Currently accepting new patients
2277 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
Phone: 916-920-9429
Insurance: EAP, Cortica
Focus: First Responder

Paul Morton, PsyD - Currently accepting new patients
2277 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
Phone: 916-920-9429
Insurance: EAP, Cortica
Focus: First Responder, Retired Law Enforcement

South Lake Tahoe
Michel G VanGordon: South Lake Tahoe Therapy
- Currently accepting clients via Telehealth
3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA. 96150   
Phone: 530-318-1502    
Insurance: Blue Shield, EAP, Anthem
Focus: First Responders, compassion fatigue, PTSD, EMDR

Virtual Throughout California
Dr. Matt Rensi, PhD. LPCC (CA), LPC (OR)
Phone: 541-359-6808 cell
mrensicounseling@gmail.com
Focus: First responders, veterans, and their families with their behavioral health
Therapy - Currently accepting clients via Telehealth in CA and OR

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Greater Bay Area

Glen Ellen
Mountain Vista Farm - Currently accepting new patients
3020 Warm Springs Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Phone: 707-996-6716
Focus: Alcohol and substance abuse treatment facility, located in Sonoma County.

Livermore
Greg Burns
Livermore, CA   
Phone: 925-223-7228     
Insurance: Self Pay
Focus: Marriage & Family, Individuals, Trauma, Shame, Crisis

Novato
Dr. Dana Nussbaum, PhD, EMDR
1683 Novato Blvd, Suite 1B, Novato, CA 94947    
Phone: 415-484-1473 
Insurance: MHN, Magellan, Self-Pay  
Focus: First Responders, Trauma, Critical Incidents

Pleasant Hill
Dr. Mary Dinerman, MD
101 Gregory Lane, #33, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523   
Phone: 925-939-7560  
Insurance: Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, ETNA, Cigna, Optum, United Healthcare
Focus: Clinical Psychologist

San Jose
Esther Trevino, MTF

Location: 2020 Forest Ave, San Jose, CA 95128   
Phone: 408-896-4585     
Focus: PTSD, Marriage/Family Therapy

San Rafael
Dr. Joel Fay: West Coast Trauma Retreat - Call for availability
San Rafael, CA   
Phone: 415-720-6653  
Insurance: Accepts most insurance, MHN
Focus: First Responders

Santa Rosa
Dian Barkan  

825 College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404   
Phone: 707-579-8044   
Insurance: Self Pay    
Focus: First Responders, PTSD

Barry Pierce, M.D. - Call for availability
1260 N. Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401    
Phone: 707-525-9045   
Insurance: Self Pay    
Focus: PTSD, Psychopharmacology

Sebastopol
Richard Giovannoli, PhD   
874 Gravenstein Hwy S., Suite 12, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Phone: 707-824-8834     
Focus: Marriage, First Responders

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Central CALIFORNIA

Bakersfield
Sunny M. Mueller, LPCC
4805 Centennial Plaza Way, Suite 200A-4 Bakersfield, CA 93312    
Phone: 661-563-0638     
Insurance: Magellan, Blue Shield, State Employees, Cal Fire   
Focus: First Responders

Sunny M. Mueller, LPCC - Public Safety Professionals Retreat
9530 Hageman Road, Suite B-181 Bakersfield, CA 93312   
Phone: 661-563-0638     
Focus: First Responders

Fresno
Dr. Sharon Johnson, PHD
1111 E Herndon Ave # 306, Fresno, CA 93720   
Phone: 559-440-0112     
Focus: Clinical Psychology

Modesto
Jocelyn Roland, PhD, ABPP     
2937 Veneman Ave # B125, Modesto, CA 95356   
Phone: 209-521-8400   
Insurance: Self Pay    
Focus: Public Safety, First Responders

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Central Coast

Camarillo
Debbie Rubright MFT - Currently accepting new patients
1000 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 134, Camarillo, CA 93010
Phone: 805-384-9399
Focus: EMDR, First Responders, Families

First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
Camarillo, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responder/Public Safety

Hollister
First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
Hollister, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responders/Public Safety

San Luis Obispo
At Ease   
Location: Serving San Luis Obispo County   
Phone: Call or Text 805-886-4211
*
Free and confidential to firefighters and their families
Focus:
First Responders and Families

Kimberly Miller, MS - Call for availability
3220 South Higuera Street, Ste 306, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401  
Phone: 805-235-1585 
Insurance: Accepts most insurance, EAP    
Focus: First Responders, PTSD, Marriage/Parenting Counseling, NO CRISIS

Santa Barbara
At Ease   
Location: Serving Santa Barbara County   
Phone: Call or Text 805-886-4211 
*Free and confidential to firefighters and their families
Focus: First Responders and Families

Ventura
At Ease   
Location: Serving Ventura County    
Phone: Call or Text 805-886-4211 
*Free and confidential to firefighters and their families  
Focus: First Responders and Families

Audree Chapman, MS MFT
701 E. Santa Clara St. #43, Ventura, CA 93001
Phone: 805-415-4466
Focus: First Responders and Families

Kasey Curtis, MFT
3585 Maple Street, Suite #277, Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805-856-6458
Focus: EMDR, First Responders, adolescents

Westlake Village
Frederick Cohen, MFT - Call for availability
5743 Corsa Avenue, Suite 103, Westlake Village, CA 91362   
Phone: 805-490-4990 
Insurance: Self Pay      
Focus: Marriage Counseling, Anxiety, EMDR, Crisis

Samantha Tamburro: Engage Therapy   
60 Hampshire Road, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361   
Phone: 805-497-0605      
Focus: Individual, Family, Couples, Child & Adolescent, Substance Abuse

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Southern California

Beverly Hills
Anne Kellogg: Chiron Center, Inc.   
455 North Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210   
Phone: 310-701-1140        
Focus: First Responders

Costa Mesa
First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
Costa Mesa, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responder/Public Safety

First Responder Wellness - by Simple
1901 Newport Blvd #200, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: 888-743-0490
Focus: First Responders

Irvine
First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
Irvine, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responders/Public Safety

La Habra
Susan Harris & Mark Harris, MFT: Harris Marriage and Family Therapy   
731 N. Beach Blvd, La Habra, CA 90631   
Phone: 562-690-4060       
Insurance: PPO, Self-Pay
Focus: Marriage and Family, Anxiety, EMDR

Long Beach
Dr. Duggan & Associates
4137 E. 7th St Long Beach, CA 90804-5311
Phone: 562-433-8152
Insurance: Accepts most insurance, Kaiser, Self-Pay
Focus: Multi-disciplinary counseling provider, working with Long Beach Fire Department. 

Los Angeles

Steven F. Froehlich, Ph.D. MFT#7666   
Director of Behavioral Health & Lead Clinician at Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014
Phone: 818-645-9027
Insurance: Will work with each person individually and assist with the paperwork that insurance companies use for reimbursement.
Focus: Peer counseling team for Los Angeles City Fire Department

Moreno Valley
Juan Gonzalez: Riverside University Health System   
26520 Cactus Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA 92555   
Phone: 951-486-4000 
Focus: Alcohol, depression, anxiety, family issues

Murrieta
Cathy Glassner, M.A./LMFT: Aurora Family Counseling Center 
24977 Washington Ave., Suite K, Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: 951-677-1470  
Insurance: IEHP, TriCare, Blue Shield, Aetna, MHN, EAP, Blue Cross Focus: Firefighters/Military

Newport Beach
Anna Barsoe, LMFT - Currently accepting new patients
4100 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: 949-870-0643
Email: annabarsoe@yahoo.com
Focus: First Responders, Trauma, EMDR
Insurance: Does not take insurance but does provide a superbill which most insurance companies reimburse

Rancho Cucamonga
Alta Loma Psychological Associates - Multiple clinicians currently accepting new patients  
9089 Baseline Road, Suite 200, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730   
Phone: 909-980-3567   
Focus: Family Counseling

Redondo Beach
First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
Redondo Beach, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responder/Public Safety

Riverside

Chaplain Steve Ballinger: Living Shield
Riverside CA  
Phone: 951-683-7878  
Focus: First Responders, Initial PTSD type incidents

San Jacinto
Jody Ruggiero, MA, LMFT
2533 South San Jacinto, San Jacinto, CA 92583   
Phone: 951-465-3300
Insurance: Kaiser, Medi-Cal, Blue Cross
Focus: MFT, EMDR, Drug Counseling, Domestic Violence

San Juan Capistrano

Jessica Jarema, M.A., LMFT - Currently accepting new patients. Sessions are available in-person or via Telehealth.
31473 Rancho Viejo Rd, Suite 102, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: 714-888-5602
Email: Jessica@solutionsoc.com
Insurance: Does not take insurance, but can provide a super bill which most insurance companies reimburse
Focus: First Responders, depression, anxiety, grief

Temecula
John Davis: Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs 
27919 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 203, Temecula, CA 92590 Phone: 951-514-7450  
Focus: First Responders, EMDR, depression, anxiety, grief

Toluca Lake
Cameron Wardlaw    
10153 1/2 Riverside Drive 295, Toluca Lake, CA 91602   
Phone: 818-618-9273 
Insurance: Blue Cross, Blue Shield, MHN, Self-Pay       
Focus: First Responders, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Crisis

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FAR SOUTH

Encinitas
Sara Gilman, PsyD, LMFT: Coherence Associates, Inc.   
721 N. Vulcan Avenue., Suite 108, Encinitas, CA 92024   
Phone: 760-942-8663   
Focus: PTSD, Couples & Marriage Counseling

Danielle Hering: Thru the Heart   
1054 2nd Street, Encinitas, CA 92024   
Phone: 760-814-4497        
Insurance: Self-pay
Focus: PTSD, Relationships

La Mesa
Catherine Butler Ed. D, LMFT: Butler Therapy, Inc. - Call for availability  
4582 Palm Ave., La Mesa, CA 91941   
Phone: 619-644-1788   
Focus: First Responders, Family/ Marriage

Santee
Ed Mcintyre, MFT: Santee Family Counseling Center   
9905 Prospect Ave., Santee, CA. 92071   
Phone: 619-449-9937    
Insurance: Most major insurances
Focus: Individual, Relationship, Children, Adults, PTSD

San Diego

April Barnett, Aurora San Diego
11878 Avenue of Industry, San Diego, CA 92128
Phone: 858-675-4295
Insurance: Most major insurances
Focus: First responders

First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
San Diego, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responder/Public Safety

Focus Psychological Services
444 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 215, San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 858-565-0066
Focus: First Responders

Kaiser: Psychiatry   
Location: San Diego   
Phone: 877-496-0450    
Insurance: Kaiser
Focus: Family Therapy

Judi Schaim, MFT
3033 5th Avenue, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92103   
Phone: 619-298-5536        
Focus: Marriage & Family Counseling

Matt Shobert, MA, EFO, CFO, MIFireE - Currently accepting new patients  
San Diego, CA   
Phone: 619-987-8139 
Insurance: Peer supporter, does not charge for services
Focus: Peer Supporter for First Responders

San Marcos
Miranda Bowersox, MFT - Call for availability
Location: 100 E. San Macros Blvd., Suite 400, San Marcos, CA 92069
Phone: 760-566-7738
Insurance: Accepts most insurance, EAP, discounted self-pay for firefighters
Focus: First Responders, Family/ Marriage, Trauma, EMDR

Vista
First Alarm Wellness
138 Civic Center Dr., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: (760) 650-4128
Insurance: Most insurance
Focus: San Diego-based clinical and peer-support services, specializing in first responders, PTSI, and military

First Responder Fellowship Support Groups
Vista, CA
Focus: All Active and Retired First Responders/Public Safety

Emily Hunter: First Alarm Wellness   
138 Civic Center Drive, Vista CA 92084   
Phone: 760-650-4128  
Insurance: Accepts most insurance    
Focus: First Responders

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