Local counselor earns CFRC designation

North Aurora - Earlier this month, Emily Frey completed an intense and focused training program designed for counselors who want to work with law enforcement officers and first responders as mental health clients.

"I am taking the CFRC training and I want you to know this is absolutely the best training I have had in years," said a recent student.

The Certified First Responder Counselor training program gives an in-depth and intense look at the culture, trauma, and unique mental health concerns of law enforcement officers and first responders.

Counselors who go through this program hear real stories and go on an in-person ride-along as part of the training.

Counselors are required to pass an examination, and must complete continuing education to retain their CFRC designation each year.

Officers and first responders who go to a CFRC for counseling services know that the counselor has been well-trained to better understand their specific needs.

In therapy, Frey provides a warm, genuine, empathic environment for clients, while fostering sensitivity and vulnerability by encouraging clients to focus inward. During therapy, she assists clients in transforming their pain into positive change to help them push through their struggles. This includes developing the capacity for emotion regulation, resilience, strength building, coping, learning to self-soothe, assertiveness training, and building insight into the self. Through collaboration, Frey makes a strong effort to meet clients where they are at, which involves adapting therapy to the client's needs and respecting how diversity influences each person's unique narrative.

The Certified First Responder Counselor training program is available only online at www.FirstResponderCounselor.com.

Founded in 2015, Academy Hour (www.AcademyHour.com) is the provider of the CFRC training program, and specializes in mental health training for law enforcement and first responders.