First Responder Therapist in Ontario | Darryl DeRoches MSW RSW

Counselling Designed for First Responders

First responders carry a weight that most people outside the profession don't fully understand, and most therapists aren't equipped to meet them where they are. The vocabulary is different. The culture around vulnerability is different. And the concern about affecting someone else with what you've seen is real.

This page is for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and others in emergency services who are dealing with occupational stress, cumulative trauma, operational incidents, or the general weight of a career spent in high-stakes situations. It is also for those who aren't sure what to call what they're carrying, but know it's getting heavier.

Counselling for first responders is not about reframing your career or persuading you that asking for help is strength. It is about working with someone who understands the culture you operate in, and can get to the actual work without spending your session time on orientation.

How Darryl Works With First Responders

Darryl DeRoches, MSW RSW, is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. He has worked with first responders across law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and dispatch, and is familiar with the occupational culture, the language, and the specific psychological landscape that comes with this work.

His approach is holistic and trauma-informed, drawing on frameworks suited to cumulative and acute operational stress, without the clinical detachment that can make therapy feel like a debrief. You will not need to explain acronyms, justify your reaction time, or worry about whether what you're saying is going to land badly. The session starts where you actually are.

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What to Expect from Your First Session

Step 1: The Initial Conversation

Your first session is a conversation, not an intake form. Darryl will listen, ask questions, and get a clear sense of what you're dealing with and what support looks like for you. You share what you're ready to share.

Step 2: Ongoing Sessions

Sessions are tailored to your goals and pacing. Darryl uses trauma-informed and mindfulness-based approaches, adapted to what's actually useful for you, whether that's structured work around specific incidents or broader support for occupational stress and its effects at home.

Step 3: Your Schedule, Your Pace

There's no prescribed number of sessions. You decide how often you come in and when you're ready to step back. Sessions are available in person in London and St. Thomas, and virtually for anyone in Ontario.

What Clients Typically Work Through

First responder clients who work with Darryl commonly address:

Cumulative occupational stress and its effects on sleep, relationships, and off-duty functioning
Acute trauma from specific incidents, including those that are difficult to categorize or name
Identity and role strain, particularly during career transitions, injuries, or retirement

Progress often shows up first in how clients function outside of work: steadier sleep, less reactivity at home, more capacity to be present with the people they care about.

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Counselling

I am a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with over 25 years experience in the field. I am innately curious about people, human nature and the human condition. I strive to be present for my clients and see my work with them as service and that being of service to people is a true calling. I approach my work with clients from a holistic perspective and I utilize a Mindfulness approach in our work together. I truly believe that the therapeutic relationship is a crucible for true change and understanding in our lives. Are you ready to do the work? You’re not alone. Let’s do this.

Darryl DeRoches

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to explain my job before we can start the actual work?

No. Darryl is familiar with first responder culture, operational vocabulary, and the psychological weight of emergency services work. You can speak plainly about what you're carrying without providing context a civilian therapist would need.

I'm worried about affecting my therapist with what I've seen. Is that something I need to manage?

This is one of the most common concerns first responders bring to a first session, and the short answer is no. Darryl has worked with this population for many years. He is equipped for this work. You do not need to filter or soften what you share to protect the person across from you.

Do you offer virtual sessions?

Yes. Darryl offers secure virtual counselling for clients anywhere in Ontario. For first responders who prefer not to be seen entering a therapist's office, virtual sessions offer complete privacy and flexibility around shift schedules.

Is this confidential?

Yes. Sessions are fully confidential, subject to the same legal and professional exceptions that apply to all regulated mental health services in Ontario. Darryl is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Do you work with active-duty and retired first responders?

Yes. Darryl works with first responders at all career stages, including those currently active, those on medical leave, and those navigating retirement or career transition.

Book a Session With Darryl

Darryl DeRoches, MSW RSW, offers in-person counselling in London (408 Queens Ave) and St. Thomas (141 Wellington Street), and virtual sessions for first responders anywhere in Ontario. He is currently accepting new clients.

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