AN OPEN LETTER
I SEE you.
APPRECIATE YOU.
I AM YOU.
You Volunteered to Serve. Intentionally chose a career with a Dedicated Purpose towards the preservation of Life, the safety of the community, and the sovereignty of Land. That’s Courage in Action, every day... and every day, choosing to keep the commitment with a clear understanding of the potential personal risk.
MILITARY · FIRST RESPONDERS · PUBLIC SERVANTS
The CULTURE. The CALLS. The THINGS YOU'VE SEEN. I KNOW the LIFE and UNDERSTAND the Choices and STRUGGLES...
I completed the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia.
I shined boots, ran, and climbed in full gear, and qualified on the range.
I've worked 24 and 56 hour shifts, duty days, and duty weekends.
I’ve faced the threat of physical harm in the classroom.
I know what it’s like to run TOWARDS the crisis and not instinctively run away.
I know what it feels like to witness a human transition from life to death.
I know what it’s like when the skill of emotional disconnection disrupts family and intimate relationships.
I understand the nakedness of no longer carrying the badge.
I’ve heard crying while using a K-12 Saw and Jaws of Life to extract a person trapped in a mangled vehicle.
I understand the awkward transition from active-duty military to civilian life.
I’ve experienced camaraderie that feels closer than family.
I ALSO KNOW the FUN TIMES and BONDS
The Depth of camaraderie and lifelong friendship. I’ve had those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and hold heartfelt memories. Comrades and colleagues, you have a unique life with distinct lived experiences, and being able to reflect on and explore life-shaping experiences openly is priceless. Connecting with someone who
knows the lingo, the culture, structure, and demands, the fulfilment, and sacrifice – it just hits different.
It’s almost like ... GOING HOME.
Like you, I chose to serve and did so in various roles and settings before choosing to serve as a licensed clinical psychologist. Likewise, we share similar experiences as routine components of the career.
MESSAGES WE CARRY
What You Are is HUMAN
"Don't be weak."
Strength is often measured by how much you can carry without showing it. But acknowledging when you need support is not weakness; it is an act of courage and self-awareness.
"You're stronger than that!"
You can be strong and still be affected by what you have experienced. Strength does not require you to ignore your pain or carry every burden alone.
"You're good. You don't need that."
You may be functioning, showing up, and fulfilling your responsibilities while still needing support. Being capable does not mean you have to be okay with everything you are carrying.
"That's for crazy folks."
You do not have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Having a confidential space to process your experiences, understand your emotions, and care for your well-being is for anyone.
You've spent years learning how to push through, stay focused, finish the shift, complete the mission, and handle what is in front of you. Those skills can keep you moving, but sometimes what helps you survive the moment follows you home.
Asking for support takes a different kind of courage. You don't have to wait until everything falls apart. There is space to examine what you've carried, what you've learned to shut off, and what you want life to look like from here.
I’m here, standing with you... Serving in a new way.
A SPACE FOR THOSE WHO SERVE
Comrades and colleagues of public service, there is a place where you can be heard, feel seen, and be understood. A safe place for you to reflect and unpack personal challenges, explore the unexpected residue of career experiences, and reconcile the complex interconnection between the two.
I have Served
U.S. NAVY / FEDERAL PEACE OFFICER / PROFESSOR /
SOCIAL WORKER / PROBATION OFFICER /
AIRCRAFT & STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTER
READY WHEN YOU ARE
You’ve spent a lot of time being the one others depend on. Here, you don’t have to be the strong one, have the right words, or wait until things become too heavy to carry.
This is a confidential space to talk honestly, process what you’ve experienced, and care for the person behind the role.
You don’t have to explain the culture. You don’t have to prove that you need support.
When you’re ready, I’m here.
Your Comrade and Colleague,
Licensed Clinical Psychologist · EMDR-Trained
SPECIALIZED SUPPORT
FOR
THOSE WHO SERVE
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a specialized therapeutic approach that can help you process difficult experiences, memories, and moments that may still affect you long after they've passed.
- Dr. Nyiema Carter
