When Trauma Comes Home: Impacts of First Responder Trauma on their Partners
Abstract
Police officers are exposed to high levels of trauma and stress in the course of their work; however, they do not experience these traumas in isolation. Police officer partners are often impacted by workplace trauma, yet, little research has explored the implications of such experiences on officers’ relationships and intimate partners. As such, this research paper asks: 1) what are the experiences of partners of police officers in regard to trauma experienced in the profession?; and 2) what counselling supports are needed for partners of police officers? Drawing on data from interview with partners of police officers, the findings of this study principally reveal that more effective treatment services should be tailored to both police officers and their partners; hence, conveying the importance of developing culturally responsive training resources for mental health clinicians working with police officers and their partners.
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