Frontline Resilience: Mental Health & Addiction Support for First Responders

Serving Law Enforcement, EMS, Firefighters, Dispatchers, and Military Personnel

Every day, first responders run toward danger—rushing into burning buildings, responding to violent crises, treating the wounded, and standing strong in the face of trauma.

But who answers the call for you?

At River’s Bend, we proudly introduce our Frontline Resilience Program, a specialized mental health and substance use treatment track designed exclusively for:

Active-duty and retired police officers
Firefighters
EMTs and paramedics
911 dispatchers and communication specialists
Military members, reservists, and veterans

For Many of Us, This Commitment Is Personal

Our team’s connection to this work runs deep.

Bruce Goldberg, River’s Bend Co-Owner, comes from a family of first responders. His grandfather served with the NYPD, and that legacy of service continues to shape our mission.
Cheryl Narduzzi, Business Development Liaison, is married to a police officer and brings firsthand insight into the needs of first responder families.
Logan Cook, LLMSW, was inspired by his father’s proud service and deep commitment to community. Logan recently completed a PsychArmor certification course, a trusted, expert-led training designed to help professionals better understand and support service members, veterans, and their families.
Jessica Hillen, LMSW, Clinical Director, is married to a police officer and understands the complex balance between duty, trauma, and family life.
Mark Kauffman, LPC, CPSS, honors his late father, a retired police officer, through his dedication to helping first responders and veterans recover and thrive.

These personal experiences, and continued education in responder and military wellness, drive our compassion, authenticity, and clinical excellence.

Ongoing Education & Partnership: Learning from Leaders in Trauma-Informed Care

At River’s Bend, we believe the best care comes from continuous learning.

Recently, Mark Kauffman, Jessica Hillen, and Logan Cook visited Sierra Tucson’s Red White and Blue Program, which specializes in treatment tracks for military personnel, veterans, retirees, and first responders.

This collaboration allowed our clinicians to gain deeper insight into:

The challenges faced by service members transitioning from active duty
Advanced therapeutic models for PTSD, addiction, and moral injury
Integrative approaches to recovery that combine clinical, holistic, and community support

Why First Responders Need Specialized Mental Health & Substance Use Care

Being a first responder isn’t just a job; it’s a calling. But that calling comes with extraordinary demands.

Shift work, trauma exposure, and the pressure to remain “unbreakable” can lead to anxiety, depression, or substance use. Many turn to alcohol or drugs not from weakness, but from a buildup of unprocessed stress.

Our Frontline Resilience Program integrates co-occurring mental health and substance use treatment for true, whole-person recovery.

Comprehensive, Culture-Informed Care for First Responders

1. Clinical Assessment for the Right Level of Care

Our licensed clinicians understand responder culture and confidentiality needs. Whether you’re experiencing PTSD, burnout, depression, or addiction, we’ll help you find the right level of care.
🔹 Why it matters: Trust begins with cultural competence and confidentiality.

2. Individual Therapy

Confidential one-on-one sessions using CBT, ACT, and trauma-focused therapy to reduce hypervigilance, anxiety, and emotional fatigue.
🔹 Why it matters: Private, targeted therapy for responders, by clinicians who understand your world.

3. Group Therapy

Peer-based sessions help responders connect and heal through shared experience.
🔹 Why it matters: Connection combats isolation, the root of burnout and despair.

4. EMDR Trauma Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps process critical incident trauma safely and effectively.
🔹 Why it matters: You don’t have to relive the pain to find relief.

5. Medication Management

When indicated, our psychiatric team supports stability and function through individualized care.
🔹 Why it matters: The goal is restoration, not sedation.

6. Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Three structured therapy sessions per week (in-person or virtual) for 6–8 weeks.
🔹 Why it matters: Balancing recovery with real life.

7. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) IOP

An integrated track that blends psychoeducation, relapse prevention, and therapist-led peer processing.
🔹 Why it matters: Recovery without shame, within a structure that works for first responders.

Expanded Expertise In Clinical Training

Three River’s Bend therapists recently explored the Sierra Tucson “Red White and Blue” program, a specialized training for clinicians serving law enforcement and first responders.

This advanced education enhances our clinicians’ ability to:

Recognize responder-specific trauma responses
Navigate departmental culture and confidentiality concerns
Deliver therapy that respects the realities of the job while promoting long-term wellness

Our participation in this program underscores River’s Bend’s mission to provide culturally competent, clinically advanced care for those who serve our communities.

New Resource: Family Action Plan for First Responder Families

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens in relationships.

River’s Bend has developed a new, interactive Family Action Plan for First Responder Families, a proactive, evidence-informed guide to help families build resilience together and prevent burnout or crisis before it begins.

Inside you’ll find:

A Family Resilience Checklist
Tools to support open communication about stress and trauma
Step-by-step guidance for developing a Family Crisis & Wellness Plan
Local Michigan and national mental health resources

Use it as a standalone resource or bring it into therapy sessions for personalized application and family goal setting.

What Makes River’s Bend Different

Clinicians trained in first responder and veteran culture
“Back the Blue” certification & PsychArmor veteran-care training
Collaborative insights from Sierra Tucson’s trauma recovery programs
Co-occurring care for mental health and addiction
Flexible scheduling for shift work
Confidential, trauma-informed treatment spaces
In-person and virtual care options

A Message from Bruce Goldberg, Co-Owner: Why Asking for Help Is Leadership

“I was trained to help others. I never learned how to ask for help myself.”

That’s what we hear most often from first responders. But asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s leadership.

We’ve walked alongside countless first responders and veterans rediscovering their purpose, rebuilding relationships, and reclaiming peace. Whether you’re struggling with trauma, anxiety, or substance use, we’ll meet you with compassion, respect, and expertise.

A Word from the Front Lines

“First responders face hundreds of traumatic events in a single career—far more than most will experience in a lifetime. It’s time to break the silence, end the stigma, and stand up for those who always stand up for us.”

— Chief James Gallagher, Bloomfield Township Police Department