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
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
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
Kernville
Heather Berry, LCSW
14 Sierra Drive, Kernville, CA 93238
Phone: 760-417-2392
Focus: Firefighter Mental Health, Trauma Recovery
Modesto
Jocelyn Roland, PhD, ABPP
2937 Veneman Ave # B125, Modesto, CA 95356
Phone: 209-521-8400
Insurance: Self Pay
Focus: Public Safety, First Responders
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
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
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
