First responder work does not stay at the station, the hospital, or the dispatch center. It comes home.
In this first part of a two-part conversation, trauma therapist and doctoral candidate Parul Shah joins The Other Side of the Call to talk about the often-unseen impact of first responder work on families.
Parul brings more than two decades of experience in mental health, including work in child protection and trauma-informed psychotherapy. She also brings lived experience as the spouse of a police officer and member of a first responder family for more than twenty-four years.
Together we explore:
• How stress from first responder work begins to show up at home
• The shifting roles partners and families take on over time
• Warning signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health
• The impact of stigma and “tough it out” culture
• The difference between trauma-informed and trauma-trained care
• Why families often see the warning signs first
This episode focuses on the early stages of stress inside first responder families and the signals that something deeper may be happening beneath the surface.
In Part Two, we continue the conversation and explore separation, rebuilding identity, and what healing can look like for families on the other side of crisis.
Guest
Parul Shah, MSP, RSW (Doctoral Candidate)
Psychotherapist & Founder
Parul Shah is a registered social worker and psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience in mental health and trauma care. Her work focuses on supporting first responders and their families through trauma, burnout, complex PTSD, and workplace stress.
She is currently a doctoral candidate in psychology and operates a private practice supporting frontline professionals and their loved ones.
Resources Discussed in This Episode
If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.
• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada)
Call or text 988
• Boots on the Ground
Peer support for first responders and families
https://bootsontheground.ca
• Wings of Change Peer Support
Support for public safety personnel and families
https://wingsofchange.ca
• I've Got Your Back 911
A charity with awesome merch supporting the mental health of first responders across Canada and
(among other things) the creators of a new APP connecting first responders and their families to
help at the touch of a button
https://ivegotyourback911.com
Connect With Our Guest
Parul Shah
Private Practice – Ontario & Alberta