Understanding Psychological Support
Why Psychological Support Matters
As a police officer or staff member, you encounter situations that most people never do; serious injury, death, violence, abuse, child protection cases, moral dilemmas, and constant organisational pressures.
Long hours, shift work, and repeated exposure to traumatic material can make it difficult to process these experiences, which may affect your mental health. You might notice stress, anxiety, low mood, moral distress, sleep problems, emotional exhaustion, or tension in your relationships.
Families can also be affected, seeing a loved one struggle or being indirectly exposed to trauma can impact your mental health too. Getting support early can prevent these difficulties from becoming more serious.
What is Counselling?
Counselling is a confidential conversation with a trained professional who can help you explore difficulties and find ways to cope. It’s often shorter-term and practical, focusing on your current challenges and helping you:
- Understand and manage work-related stress
- Process difficult incidents
- Build strategies to improve wellbeing
- Navigate relationship or personal issues
Common reasons policing staff and their families seek counselling include stress, anxiety, low mood, burnout, and adjusting after challenging events. Find out more about how counselling can support you.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy goes deeper, exploring patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and how past experiences influence how you respond today. It can help with:
- Processing trauma exposure or vicarious trauma
- Working through moral injury or occupational stress
- Understanding repeated exposure to distressing material
- Exploring identity, meaning, and long-term wellbeing
Types of Psychotherapy we offer
We offer sessions with a range of approaches, including:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected. By spotting unhelpful thinking patterns and trying new ways of responding, you can manage stress, emotions, and difficult situations more effectively. More on CBT
Trauma-focused CBT
Is a type of therapy designed to help you process and make sense of distressing or traumatic experiences. It supports you in reducing the emotional impact of trauma, managing distressing memories, and building coping strategies for the future. Trauma-focused CBT Understanding Trauma Therapies TF-CBT and EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing)
Helps your brain process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. It uses guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to support healing from trauma and improve emotional wellbeing. Read more on EMDR therapy
Narrative Exposure Therapy
Helps you make sense of traumatic experiences by telling your life story in a structured way. It allows you to process distressing events, connect them to your broader life, and reduce their emotional impact over time. About Narrative Therapy
Person-centred counselling
Provides a safe, supportive space where you can explore your feelings at your own pace. The therapist offers empathy and understanding, helping you gain insight, build confidence, and find your own solutions. How Counselling could help you
What Happens in a Session?
Each session gives you time to talk through your experiences, reflect on patterns, and develop coping strategies. Sessions usually last 50–60 minutes (sometimes up to 90) and vary in number depending on your needs. Everything you share is confidential, with therapists explaining limits clearly at the start, such as risks of harm or safeguarding concerns.
When to Seek professional support
You don’t need to wait until things feel overwhelming to get help. Support can be useful if you notice:
· Persistent stress, low mood, or emotional exhaustion
· Sleep problems or intrusive memories
· Feeling numb, detached, or overwhelmed
· Irritability, anger, or difficulty concentrating
· Loss of motivation or enjoyment
· Strain on family life
Early support is often the most effective. You can access help through your GP, Occupational Health, or send us an enquiry.
