Liberty’s Commitment to Veterans and First Responders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects a significant proportion of Australian ex-service personnel and first responders. Rates of PTSD among veterans and first responders are far higher than in the general population, and the impact is rarely limited to the individual alone. Partners, families, and entire support networks feel the ripple effects of trauma. Intimate relationships can be strained by hypervigilance, avoidance, anger, shame, or emotional detachment.
These are not signs of weakness or failure, they are understandable human responses to extraordinary experiences. Yet, left unsupported, they can erode quality of life, relationships, and hope for the future.
At Liberty Psychotherapy, my approach with veterans and first responders blends evidence-based trauma therapies with a deep respect for military culture and the realities of transition to civilian life. Because I’ve lived that transition myself, I understand the loss of the “unit” as a secure base and the challenge of rebuilding a sense of safety and belonging at home.
With every person and family I work with, my goal is to:
Create safety and trust so therapy feels like a secure base, not another battlefield.
Address shame and self-criticism gently and directly, helping veterans and ex-service personal develop self-compassion as a skill, not a personality trait.
Involve partners when appropriate to rebuild connection and strengthen the couple as a safe haven.
Integrate practical tools for nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and compassionate self-talk alongside traditional trauma therapies.
Supporting veterans and first responders is not just about reducing symptoms, it’s about restoring dignity, connection, and hope. It’s about helping those who have spent years protecting others learn how to extend protection and compassion inward, and to receive it from those who care for them.
As both a veteran, first responder and a psychotherapist, the wellbeing of those who have served our country is not just a professional interest for me, it’s deeply personal. I have witnessed and experienced firsthand the toll that service can take on mental health. I have also seen the courage, resilience, and vulnerability of friends and colleagues navigating life after service. This work is not abstract for me, it’s about people I love, people I’ve stood beside, and people who deserve care that truly understands their experience.
Research shows that practising compassion and self-compassion is a powerful component of healing from trauma. In veterans, ex-service personal and first responders, learning to turn toward their own pain with kindness, rather than avoidance or harsh self-criticism can soften the grip of PTSD symptoms. Compassion also strengthens relationships and when veterans and their partners learn to offer and receive compassion, they often report feeling safer, closer, and more supported.
If you’re a veteran, a partner of a veteran, a first responder or someone supporting a loved one with PTSD, know that you’re not alone. Help exists, and healing is possible. At Liberty Psychotherapy, it is an honour to walk alongside you on that journey.