BOS is a resiliency-based program that empowers public safety employees to take charge of their mental health. The program uniquely combines theoretical and experiential learning procedures to mitigate the effects of operational stress. As we work to continue to understand the impact of operational stress, our evidence tells us we can provide tools to proactively cushion the impact of public safety personnel’s work so that they can do their jobs without tragic consequences. While it is understood that public safety employees will inevitably be exposed to operational stress, that does not mean they are destined to have their lives ruined by the psychological effects of their work.
We know public safety employees need information to protect themselves. Further, we know they need practice and support to incorporate this knowledge and these experiences into their operational roles. BOS delivers on these objectives by offering a spectrum of programs to support public safety employees along the trajectory of their careers.
Firefighters
In the past number of years, Wayfound has worked closely with the Calgary Firefighters Association to understand the unique challenges and needs of its firefighter clients. We have collaborated with the Firefighters Assistance Charitable Society to establish a peer support team in Calgary, and are proud to provide clinical consultation and oversight to this team as it works to reduce barriers and increase access to mental health supports for firefighters. We are proud to collaborate with the International Association of Firefighters in examining the mental health experience of firefighters in a Canadian context and will continue to gather understanding to move this examination forward. At Wayfound we offer therapeutic services to firefighters on an individual and group basis, in addition to offering spousal, marital and family support. Our organization understands the complexities of working with the Calgary Firefighters Association as well as the Calgary Fire Department and upholds confidentiality of the membership as our utmost priority. We have taken the lessons learned and experience we have gathered to other contexts and are happy to offer services to firefighters in all of our national locations.
Police Services
Wayfound is proud to have provided service to Canada-wide metropolitan police services for the past several years. We have developed familiarity with the unique challenges faced by these groups, including the demands of shift work and the challenge of managing physical and emotional stress when faced with continuous exposure to traumatic and difficult events. We offer a range of assessment and treatment services, and have organized group therapy services specifically for metropolitan police members, in order that they can come together in a therapeutic fashion to work through the difficult events that occur. We also offer individual psychotherapy, spousal support, marital and family therapy, as well as psychotherapy specifically for children.
Military Active Duty / Veterans
Wayfound is proud of it’s long history in working with members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Veterans, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to advocate for those who serve. We have lengthy history in working with the Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs Canada. We use this knowledge to help our clients navigate the military health system, and Veterans Affairs System, including helping them transfer to Veterans Affairs Canada when appropriate. We offer individual and group therapy for both Veterans and active-duty military personnel, as well as services to their spouses and children, in addition to marital and family therapy. Wayfound clinicians routinely work with military clients in the submission of disability applications related to Operational Stress Injuries, whether this is for an initial application or a re-assessment.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Over the past 10 years, Wayfound has gathered broad experience in working with members of the Canadian RCMP. We have come to understand the unique challenges faced by its members, and incorporate this knowledge into the clinical services we have developed. We offer a range of assessment services, including pension assessments of Operational Stress Injuries for submission to Veterans Affairs Canada. Wayfound understands how to collaborate with RCMP Health Services to coordinate your treatment and to address any duty fitness issues that may be present. Our RCMP clients are offered a range of treatment options, including those provided individually, in group format, for couples, family’s and children.
Paramedics
Over the course of the last several years, our understanding at Wayfound of the challenges faced by Paramedics has grown and deepened. We are familiar with the resource issues that are chronically challenging and the repetitive and intense exposure to difficult events that Paramedic’s face. We have learned that offering a broad range of clinical services that can be accessed in one location has been crucial for our Paramedic clients, and to that end offer individual, group, spousal, marital, family and child treatment services in our offices. We have vast experience in working with the Workers Compensation Board in Alberta, and can support Paramedic personnel in their submission of work-based claims for Operational Stress Injuries.
Other Emergency Response Personnel
Our understanding at Wayfound about what comprises a first responder continues to grow. We have gathered experience in the past several years working with 911 dispatch personnel, Corrections Officers, medical personnel, mental health professionals who work with traumatized individuals, animal services personnel, and more. We know that our understanding of the impact of stress and trauma in the workplace is only beginning, and we are committed to working with anyone impacted by the stressful nature of their occupation to ensure sound mental health and valued quality of life. We offer a range of assessment services, as well as individual and group psychological treatment. Treatment services also extend to spouses, family members and children, with Wayfound offering marital, family and child psychotherapy. We are familiar with working with the Workers Compensation Board, should claims for work-play psychological injury be required and we can work with you to determine what funding sources you can access in order to support engagement in treatment.
The group versions of the BOS program are only offered through Public Safety organizations. If you are not able to take BOS through your employer, visit the BOS education platform to register for BOS Online! You will have access to the same content and be able to complete the course at your own pace.
The BOS program is designed for any individual who has been or is likely to be exposed to Operational Stress and potentially traumatic events. BOS is not appropriate for individuals currently experiencing acute OSI symptoms, but rather recommended for individuals who are in the post treatment stage of an OSI.
Do you have a question you don’t see answered here? Please contact us. We are happy to connect!
Unit 630 – 999 8th St.
Calgary, Alberta, T2R 1J5
Unit 100 – 10525 170th St.
Edmonton, Alberta, T5P 4W2
Unit 101 – 5589 47 St.
Red Deer, AB, T4N 1S1
*Currently Only Accepting Virtual Appointments*
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