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A recent online survey of over 5800 Canadian first responders found that public safety personnel are up to four times more likely to have mental health issues, compared to the general population. With this awareness slowly breaking down the long-held stigma against mental health, emergency services Safe Guarding A recent online survey of over 5800 Canadian first responders found that public safety personnel are up to four times more likely to have mental health issues, compared to the general population. With this awareness slowly breaking down the long-held stigma against mental health, emergency services are looking for ways to better safe-guard their employees.

Susan joined Dr. Laidlaw & Associates in January 2018 as Administrative Assistant and Receptionist. Susan’s first career was as a High School Physical Education Teacher in Scotland after obtaining a Diploma of Education (Dip.Ed). Following a motor vehicle accident Susan had to explore alternate care Krisandra Einboden Krisandra Einboden 905-635-777 0 Krisandra Einboden is a Registered Social Worker /Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She holds a Master of Social Work Degree with the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Guelph. With nine years of experience in law enforcement, Krisandra has developed an important understanding of crisis intervention, resilience, and the complexities of trauma. Her recent transition into a career in firefighting has further deepened her understanding of high-pressure. environments and reinforced her commitment to fostering genuine human connection. Krisandra approaches therapy with empathy, compassion, and a commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment. She understands the importance of active listening, empathy, and genuine engagement in the therapeutic process. She integrates evidence-based therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), tailoring therapy to meet the unique needs of each client.

Resiliency Resilience is the ability to cope with ongoing disruptive change and maintain good health and energy even when under constant pressure. It involves the capacity to bounce back easily from setbacks, overcome adversities, and adapt to a new way of working and living when an old way is no longer possible. Resilience goes beyond simply enduring difficult circumstances. It also involves the ability to navigate challenges without resorting to harmful behaviors. Building coping strategies through therapy can help build resilience, giving you the strength and strategies to face your job as a first responder as well as manage mental disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy The best care I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. Feel free to drag and drop me anywhere you like on your page. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. This is a great space to write long text about your company and your services. You can use this space to go into a little more detail about your company. Talk about your team and what services you provide. Tell your visitors the story of how you came up with the idea for your business and what makes you different from your competitors. Make your company stand out and show your visitors who you are.

Kathryn Knight has a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University and is a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She works with first Rachel Spekking, BA, BBA, RP (Qualifying) Rachel Spekking 905-635-7770 rachelspekking@gmail .com Rachel Spekking is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Criminology, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She has over 10 years of experience working in policing in Ontario. Rachel provides client-centered therapeutic interventions to address the unique emotional and psychological challenges faced by clients. She believes effective treatment is dependent upon building a therapeutic relationship that can support clients to gain deeper self-understanding, self-growth, and to develop strong coping strategies through being actively engaged in the therapeutic process. She provides an integrative approach to treatment of adults 19 years of age and older who are experiencing challenging life transitions, critical incident stress/trauma, operational stress, or needing support regarding their emotional/psychological health. Models that she finds helpful include, but are not limited to, Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Rachel is also Eagala certified for Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

WSIB WSIB recognizes PTSD as a workplace injury. For more information regarding the WSIB policy, visit their website . If you wish to submit a WSIB claim, we can help you complete the Worker’s Report of Injury/Disease (Form 6) . Dr. Laidlaw can also complete the Form 8 on your behalf.

Susan joined Dr. Laidlaw & Associates in January 2018 as Administrative Assistant and Receptionist. Susan’s first career was as a High School Physical Education Teacher in Scotland after obtaining a Diploma of Education (Dip.Ed). Following a motor vehicle accident Susan had to explore alternate care Olivia Olivia 905-635-7770 Olivia joined Dr. Laidlaw & Associates in May of 2025 as a Research Student. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Criminology from Western University and is in the process of continuing her education through graduate studies in counselling psychology. In her role, Olivia supports the practice by conducting literature reviews, analyzing current research, and developing training material for peer support initiatives with first responders. She contributes to the team’s work by translating research into practical resources that enhance mental health awareness and resilience.

Signs of PTSD PTSD symptoms are grouped into four clusters. You may not exhibit all the symptoms, but you do need to have some symptoms in all categories to be diagnosed with PTSD. Intrusive Memories Unwanted, repeated, and distressing memories of a traumatic event Repeated, disturbing dreams about the traumatic event Flashbacks; suddenly feeling as if you were re-experiencing the traumatic event. Feeling emotionally or physically distressed when something reminds you of a traumatic event Avoidance Avoiding feelings, thoughts, and memories of a traumatic event Avoiding places, people, activities, situations, and/or objects that remind you of a traumatic event Negative Changes in Thoughts and Moods Difficulty remembering significant parts of a traumatic event Strong negative beliefs about yourself or other people; negative changes to your worldview Blaming yourself or others for the traumatic event and its aftermath Experiencing negative emotions such as guilt, fear, horror, anger, and/or shame Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed Feeling detached from other people, including family, friends, and co-workers Difficulty experiencing positive emotions Arousal - Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions Irritable behaviour, angry outbursts, and/or acting aggressively Risky or self-destructive behaviour such as driving too fast, drinking too much, not wearing safety equipment properly Hypervigilant; always watchful or on guard Easily startled or frightened; feeling jumpy Difficulty concentrating or focusing Difficulty falling and/or staying asleep

PTSD Testing Diagnosis of PTSD is achieved through a series of written inventories, self-assessments, and clinical interviews. If you think you may be suffering from PTSD, you can download a self-assessment and discuss the results with your family doctor. Only a medical doctor or psychologist can provide a diagnosis.

Kathryn Knight has a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University and is a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She works with first Katrina Katrina 905-635-7770 Katrina volunteered with Dr. Laidlaw & Associates in the summer of 2025, supporting the teams’ research initiatives. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Sociology at Queen’s University.

Group therapy is a process where a small group of people (generally six to ten individuals) meets on a regular basis with a therapist/facilitator to discuss an issue common to all participants. Under the direction of the facilitator, group members explore and share their stories. Group Therapy Group therapy is a process where a small group of people (generally six to ten individuals) meets on a regular basis with a therapist/facilitator to discuss an issue common to all participants. Under the direction of the facilitator, group members explore and share their stories, receive encouragement from others, and learn coping strategies. In a safe and supportive environment, group members work together to heal their emotional wounds and meet their therapeutic goals.