Mental health support for our protectors after every shift.
An evidenced-based approach to wellbeing for frontline workers.
Unlocking Resilience, Reviving Spirits
Those who serve on the front lines carry burdens well beyond their shifts.
At Shift Change, we exist to lighten this load, ensuring that nurses, doctors, first responders, emergency workers, community and employment frontline workers have a supportive place to unburden their hearts and minds after every shift, so they never have to carry the day's trauma home.
Our evidence-based, World Health Organization-endorsed approach is designed to provide online mental health support to meet the intense demands of high-stakes professions.
Our why
Our mission is to develop a support system so responsive that it becomes a haven for our protectors; an environment where they can unburden their hearts and receive the care they deserve, creating a legacy of healing that will benefit generations to come.
The cost of inadequate mental health support for first responders…
Decreased Productivity
Increased Risk of Suicide
Poor Social Interactions
Cost of workplace disability leave for mental illness compared to physical illness.
50% or more
Number of first responders in Canada who will experience mental illness in any given year.
1 in 5
Rate of PTSD among nurses, paramedics, police officers, firefighters and military personnel.
Up to 57%
Impactful EMDR group therapy for frontline workers that’s backed by neuroscience and endorsed by the World Health Organization.
HOSPITALS | FIRE DEPARTMENTS | EMERGENCY SERVICES | COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYMENT WORKERS
Our Services
At Shift Change, we facilitate online mental health support for emergency workers.
Statistics show a marked decrease in the progression to chronic PTSD when a traumatic event can be reprocessed through EMDR within 90 days, which is why we provide options to help you process your experiences after any—or every—shift.
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Our EMDR group protocol, known as the ASSYST Group Intervention, is a 1-hour online session guided by a EMDR certified therapist. You’ll be able to see the faces of your fellow participants, however all personal information is withheld. During the session you’ll follow a series of prompts from your therapist to help process the memory or experience that has been stressful or traumatic. As EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as body tapping, rather than speaking, there is no risk of sharing confidential information.
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Our EMDR group protocol, known as the ASSYST Group Intervention, is a 1-hour online session guided by an EMDR certified therapist. We use state-of-the-art technology so you can participate as part of a group without needing to show your face to the group. Only the therapist will see you. During the session you’ll follow a series of prompts from your therapist to help process the memory or experience that has been stressful or traumatic. As EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as body tapping, rather than speaking, there is no risk of sharing confidential information.
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Of the 10-20% of individuals who require further support following the ASSYST Group Intervention, Shift Change facilitates this with Individualized EMDR Sessions. Our 1:1 online EMDR therapy sessions with registered clincial counsellors help individuals to continue to efficiently process and recover from traumatic experiences.
How to work with Shift Change
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Reach out today and we’ll customize a therapy offering unique to your organization, or provide individualized access to our online group therapy.
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We’ll facilitate an in-person or virtual orientation to give you a sense of what EMDR group therapy is and how sessions work, so you feel confident logging on to join.
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Shift Change facilitates online EMDR group therapy as often as needed. You can choose the frequency for your organization.
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In as little as one session, you’ll notice a reduction in stress levels and trauma symptoms, and increased resilience to persevere in the face of challenges you face every day.
The Impact of Shift Change
Words from the community
Video testimonial from a Shift Change participant
Revolutionizing Mental Health Support
Entrepreneurs United Podcast
How Shift Change supports you
For Organizations
Partner with Shift Change to cultivate a workplace where mental health is prioritized as a critical aspect of overall wellbeing. Our evidence-based approach has been proven to help prevent burnout, reduce absenteeism, and enhance overall productivity and morale by ensuring your teams can leave their stress at work and return home rejuvenated.
For Individuals
Whether you're dealing with the aftermath of a tough shift or the cumulative trauma of a demanding career, our specialized support caters directly to the challenges faced by your high-stress roles. For those that prefer a discrete approach to mental health support, our anonymous group sessions allow you to share and heal without concern for exposure.
Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.
When we understand how trauma is stored in the brain and body, we realise we can’t out-talk or simply ignore the distress.
How it works
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), is a World Health Organization-endorsed therapy designed to alleviate the psychological stress of traumatic experience.
Available in both group settings and individual sessions and facilitated without the need for people to verbalize their experiences, EMDR’s effectiveness is achieved in hours to days, not weeks to months.
Its adaptability to various settings, including online platforms, allows for broad and diverse reach, ensuring mental health care is always accessible, regardless of location or circumstances.
Adapted from Rolf C. Carriere - Scaling Up What Works: Using EMDR to Help Confront the World’s Burden of Traumatic Stress
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Identified and Anonymous Options: 1-hour Session
Participants engage in a therapist-guided process with minimal verbal interaction. Using body tapping and other bilateral stimulations to help process stressful experiences, this approach is tailored for individuals with mild to moderate stress symptoms. The Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization Treatment (ASSYST) is designed to ground participants and reduce the likelihood of more complex trauma reactions, effectively addressing acute stress early to prevent the development of more severe conditions. This low-intensity treatment is expected to be sufficient for most clients.
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Identified and Anonymous Options: 1-Day Session
This specialized, high-intensity treatment is reserved for those with more severe symptoms or who do not respond to low-intensity care. The EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress (EMDR-IGTP) was the first group EMDR intervention developed in the world and utilizes art therapy and the butterfly hug, where each person administers bilateral stimulation in the form of tapping, to reprocess traumatic events. Facilitated in smaller groups, this protocol allows for the group administration of individual EMDR treatment.
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1:1 Session with a Therapist: 1-Hour Session
For those who need more personalized support following a high-intensity group therapy session, our one-on-one sessions provide deeper intervention tailored to individual experiences. The EMDR Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents and Ongoing Traumatic Stress (EMDR-PRECI) is an evidence-based, individual protocol that uses eye movement desensitization and reprocessing to treat acute trauma, ongoing traumatic stress and prolonged adverse experiences that often result in PTSD.
Facilitated in groups, online. Choose from identified or anonymous.
Helps reprocess stress & trauma without talking aloud.
Effective in as little as one group session.
Lead by highly-qualified specialists.
Are you ready to enhance your team's resilience and well-being?
As a team leader, you have the power to initiate change and bring invaluable mental health support to your group.
Book a discovery call with us today for a custom quote tailored specifically to your people’s needs so you can start to make a meaningful difference in your team's daily life and long-term health.
The proof is in the data.
Multiple controlled outcome studies and research papers on EMDR therapy have shown:
Positive effects of EMDR therapy in the treatment of emotional trauma and other adverse life experiences. Source
Seven of 10 studies reported EMDR therapy to be more rapid and/or more effective than trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Source
With EMDR, the world now has a new efficient and effective therapy against the damaging effects of traumatic stress, one proven to be quick, low-cost, and widely applicable in a range of crisis settings and cultural milieus. Source
FAQs
What is EMDR therapy, and how can it help first responders?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy treatment that has been extensively researched and proven effective for those who have experienced stress and trauma. It is especially beneficial for first responders as it helps to process these experiences without needing to verbalize them, which can reduce the stress of reliving the trauma. Learn more about EMDR here.
Who can benefit from Shift Change's services?
Shift Change is designed for first responders, healthcare professionals, and community/employment support workers who experience high levels of stress and trauma in their jobs. This includes paramedics, nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, emergency dispatch personnel, community advocates, outreach workers, and any other roles where vicarious trauma impacts.
What makes Shift Change different from other mental health services?
Shift Change specializes in supporting high-stress professionals through online EMDR group therapy. Our approach is confidential, allowing participants to maintain anonymity in group sessions.
Is there support available after completing an EMDR session?
Shift Change provides ongoing support following EMDR group sessions. For those who need additional assistance, further 1:1 sessions can be scheduled.
Can organizations integrate Shift Change’s services into their existing wellness programs?
Yes, Shift Change works closely with organizations to integrate our services into existing wellness programs. We offer tailored solutions that fit the needs of your team, aiming to enhance overall workplace well-being, reduce absenteeism, and improve productivity.
How confidential are the therapy sessions?
Our therapy sessions are held with the utmost confidentiality. In online group settings, we use technology that ensures participants' identities and discussions remain anonymous. This allows individuals to share and heal without concerns about privacy or exposure.
What is the duration and frequency of the therapy sessions?
Therapy sessions last for 1-hour and can vary in frequency depending on the needs of the individual or the organization.
How quickly can one expect to see results from EMDR therapy?
Many individuals experience relief after just one session of EMDR therapy. However, the number of sessions needed can vary based on the individual's circumstances and the severity of their stress or trauma. Our therapists work to customize treatment plans that provide effective, timely results.
How can I schedule a discovery call with Shift Change?
You can schedule a discovery call by contacting us directly through our contact page. This initial call will help us understand your needs and discuss how our services can best support you or your organization.
What are the costs associated with Shift Change’s services?
The costs of our services vary depending on the type and frequency of therapy required. During your discovery call, we can provide more detailed information about pricing based on your specific needs and the customized plan we develop for you.
Can I access Shift Change as an individual?
Yes, absolutely. We provide customized offerings for organizations, as well as providing online access to our existing group therapy programs for individuals. Contact us for more information.