First responder work does not stay at the station, the hall, the hospital, the prison, or the dispatch centre. It comes home.
In Part Two of this conversation, psychotherapist and doctoral candidate Parul Shah returns to explore what happens when the pressure inside first responder families becomes too much to carry.
Drawing from both clinical experience and her own life as the spouse of a police officer, Parul speaks candidly about separation, the complexity of co-parenting, and the lasting impact of trauma on children and family systems.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why communication breaks down in high-stress households
• The role of guilt, responsibility, and identity in decisions to stay or leave
• The impact of trauma exposure on children
• What partners and families often recognize before first responders do
• Why many families wait too long to seek support
• What actually helps when families begin to rebuild
This is an honest conversation about survival, identity, and what it takes to move forward after 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