First Responder Trauma Psychologist

EMDR & PTSD Treatment | Bowral, Albion Park & Telehealth

At Myrtle Practice, we provide evidance based psychological support for first responders who have experienced trauma, critical incidents and cumulative operational stress. We work with police, paramedics, firefighters, corrective services and other emergency personnel across Bowral, Wollongong and NSW via Telehealth, offering evidence-based, confidential care.
Our focus is on trauma recovery, PTSD, anxiety, depression, burnout and work-related psychological injury, with experience supporting clients under WorkCover and Medicare Mental Health Care Plans.

Trauma Support for Police, Paramedics & Emergency Services

First responders are routinely exposed to distressing and life-threatening situations. Over time, this can lead to symptoms such as:

Intrusive memories or flashbacks
Hypervigilance and sleep disturbance
Emotional numbness or irritability
Anxiety, panic or low mood
Difficulty switching off from work
Relationship and family strain

At Myrtle Practice, we understand the culture, pressures and realities of emergency service work. Therapy is provided in a respectful, practical and trauma-informed way, at a pace that feels safe and controlled.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD and Trauma

A core part of our work with first responders is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) – an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma.

EMDR helps the brain process traumatic memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or remain “stuck” in the nervous system. It can reduce:

Flashbacks and intrusive thoughts
Emotional reactivity
Avoidance
Hyperarousal and startle response
Ongoing distress linked to critical incidents

EMDR is recommended in national and international PTSD treatment guidelines and is particularly effective for both single-incident trauma and cumulative operational exposure.

As seen in “Expert Guidelines: Diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in emergency service workers”

EMDR has been shown to be an effective treatment for PTSD in multiple Randomised control trials, with a number of head-to-head comparison trials suggesting EMDR is as effective as trauma focused CBT. Some have also suggested it may be a particularly useful intervention for those who have difficulty verbalising or discussing their traumatic experiences.

WorkCover & Medicare Pathways

Myrtle Practice supports first responders accessing therapy through:

WorkCover NSW

Assessment and treatment of work-related psychological injury
Trauma-focused intervention (including EMDR)
Liaison with GPs, insurers and rehabilitation providers
Return-to-work psychological support

Medicare Mental Health Care Plans

Trauma, PTSD, anxiety and depression
Short- and longer-term evidence-based treatment
In-person and Telehealth options

Appointments in Bowral, Albion Park & via Telehealth NSW wide

We offer:

In-person sessions in the Illawarra region (Wollongong / surrounding areas) and the southern highlands (Bowral / surrounding areas)
Telehealth across NSW and Australia
Flexible appointment times
Confidential, person centered care

Telehealth is particularly suitable for shift workers, regional first responders and those seeking convenience.

Trauma Psychologist for First Responders in the Illawarra Region

Myrtle Practice provides specialised trauma and PTSD treatment for first responders across the Illawarra, including:

Wollongong
Shellharbour
Albion Park
Kiama
Nowra
Surrounding South Coast and regional NSW areas

Whether you are a police officer, paramedic, firefighter or emergency services worker based in the Illawarra or South Coast, support is available through in-person sessions and secure Telehealth.

We regularly work with first responders from Shellharbour and Albion Park accessing WorkCover psychology services, as well as police and emergency personnel in Wollongong, Kiama and Nowra seeking trauma-focused therapy and EMDR for PTSD and critical incident exposure.

Telehealth allows confidential access to specialised trauma treatment regardless of shift work, location or travel constraints, with Medicare and WorkCover pathways available.

Book a Confidential Appointment

First Responder Enquiries Welcome
WorkCover & Medicare Accepted