Services & EMDR therapy

Care built around your needs

Our services focus on people affected by the pressures of first response, public safety, healthcare, military service and other helping professions, as well as their families.

The approach, pace and goals of care will be discussed with your clinician. No single method is appropriate for every person or every concern.

Your first session: a conversation about fit

Therapy is personal. Your initial session is an opportunity to meet your therapist, ask questions, discuss what you hope to change and consider whether working together feels like a good fit. Your therapist will explain their approach, assess your individual needs and discuss next steps with you. You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or a detailed account of traumatic events.

Your voice, your choices and your pace

We aim to offer a respectful space where you can speak openly without pressure to tell your whole story at once. You choose what you feel ready to share. You can decline to discuss a topic, ask questions, request a pause or discuss another approach. Your therapist will explain any information needed to assess safety and provide appropriate care.

There is no blanket expectation that you relive trauma. If working with traumatic memories may be therapeutically helpful, your clinician will discuss the reasons, preparation, alternatives and your consent before proceeding. The approach, pace and frequency of sessions are agreed together and reviewed as your needs and preferences change.

Confidentiality comes first

Protecting your privacy is a core priority at FRC Canada. Your care is a private professional relationship with your therapist. Information is not routinely shared with your employer, colleagues, Council volunteers or family members. Your clinician will explain consent for information sharing, any authorized access needed to provide care, and the legal and professional limits of confidentiality before treatment. Where information sharing is required by law, those obligations apply.

You can ask what is recorded, who can access your information and what an insurer or referring professional may require before deciding what to share. Read our Privacy & Cookie Policy or ask your therapist about clinical privacy.

Your shifts do not follow a nine-to-five schedule

First response and helping professions operate around the clock. Our appointment scheduling extends beyond a standard Monday-to-Friday workday to accommodate different shifts and working cultures. Explore current options in Jane, or contact administration if the available times do not fit your rotation.

We aim to help you access care around your working life. Specific times depend on clinician availability and must be confirmed; flexible scheduling does not mean a 24-hour or emergency service.

Understanding your professional world

FRC Canada is establishing a First Responder Volunteer Advisory Council with perspectives from across the helping professions. Regular conversations and general occupational-culture questions will help clinicians learn about working conditions, language and responsibilities. Volunteers will not discuss patients or access client information. The goal is to spend less of your therapy time explaining the basics of your profession, while your therapist continues to listen to your individual experience.

Individual counselling and psychotherapy

We offer counselling for concerns such as operational stress, trauma-related difficulties, depression, anxiety, grief and loss. The treating clinician will discuss whether their services are appropriate for your needs.

Trauma-focused care, including EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may be considered when clinically appropriate and within the treating clinician’s verified training and competence. An assessment and a discussion of options come before a decision about treatment.

Support for partners and families

The demands of service can reach beyond the person doing the work. We offer counselling support for partners and family members, with available individual, couple or family services confirmed through the clinical team.

Virtual appointments

We offer virtual appointments so eligible clients in Ontario can connect from a private setting. The clinician will consider suitability, privacy, technology and location before an appointment is arranged.

Virtual care is available to eligible clients in Ontario. Availability elsewhere will be confirmed before appointments are offered, taking account of clinician registration, insurance and the client’s location.

Connect from a place that feels familiar

For some first responders, home is the place where they feel most secure—a place apart from what they encounter at work. Attending an unfamiliar office or clinical environment can feel like stepping outside that comfort zone. Virtual appointments offer the choice to begin from a familiar setting rather than adding travel and a new environment to the experience.

Home will not be the right setting for everyone. You and your therapist can consider a private location where you feel comfortable, can speak without being overheard and can take part safely. Virtual suitability and a plan for support will be discussed before treatment.

Appointments and the waitlist

We are accepting new clients. Our secure booking page displays consultation and therapy options and current availability. To join the waitlist, first create your FRC Canada client account in Jane, then sign in and add yourself to the waitlist. Online requests currently relate to Jeffrey Kentel. Online requests cover up to one month; contact administration if you need a longer waitlist period.

For general information in the meantime, contact info@frccanada.ca. An email enquiry is not an appointment booking or confirmation of waitlist placement.

Fees and coverage

Please do not assume that services are approved or funded by an employer, insurer or compensation program.

Jane receipts and insurance documentation

We use Jane for appointment booking, client account access and billing documentation. Through the browser-based Client Portal, clients can view and download payment receipts. If your insurer needs a more detailed receipt or particular practitioner information, contact administration to discuss the documentation required.

Before booking, ask your insurer whether your plan covers a Registered Psychotherapist, whether a referral or pre-approval is needed, and which details must appear on your receipt. Jane supports receipt documentation; using Jane does not itself establish insurance eligibility, direct billing or reimbursement. Confirm any direct-billing or third-party funding arrangement with the practice before relying on it.

Open the Client Portal · Get the optional Jane mobile app

Please do not include medical records, detailed personal health information or urgent clinical concerns in an ordinary email. Contact us first for the appropriate next step.

FRC Canada is not an emergency or crisis service. If your safety is at immediate risk, call 911. In Canada, call or text 988 for suicide crisis support.

EMDR therapy

Working with memories that still feel present.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy used to treat PTSD. It focuses on processing distressing memories and the responses connected to them. An assessment comes first to decide whether it is appropriate for you.

What happens in a session?

Your therapist helps you identify a memory or concern to work on. During memory processing, you briefly attend to aspects of that experience while following guided side-to-side eye movements or another form of alternating stimulation. Your therapist checks your responses and adjusts the pace with you.

Preparation comes before processing

EMDR follows eight phases: history and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure and reevaluation. These unfold across sessions rather than being a checklist to finish in one visit. Preparation includes understanding the process and developing ways to manage distress.

You have a say in the pace

You can ask questions, pause and discuss alternatives. You do not necessarily need to recount every detail of an experience, but honest communication about your responses helps your therapist guide the work. The time needed varies, and no outcome can be guaranteed.

EMDR at FRC Canada

Jeffrey Kentel, MTS, MA, RP, our Chief Clinical Officer, is an EMDR Certified Clinician. EMDR will be offered by clinicians working within their training and professional scope. Virtual suitability, location eligibility and available session options are discussed before treatment.

Book an AppointmentAsk about EMDR

Is EMDR suitable for every person?

No single therapy fits everyone. Your clinician will discuss your needs, readiness and alternatives with you.

Can EMDR be delivered virtually?

Virtual EMDR may be considered after your clinician assesses suitability, privacy, technology and an appropriate plan for support during and between sessions.

Learn more: EMDR International Association · National Center for PTSD.

Getting started with virtual counselling in Ontario

Start with the information you need to make a decision. Your initial session is a chance to discuss your needs and consider the fit. Ask administration about appointment options and their fees before booking.

1. Meet your clinician. Read Jeffrey Kentel’s profile and our approach to care.
2. Check appointment options. Open Jane booking to see available appointment types and times. Contact administration if you are unsure which option to choose or need help around your shifts.
3. Confirm the practical details. Ask about fees, session length, cancellation terms and insurance documentation before booking. Your insurer determines coverage.
4. Meet and decide the next step. Your therapist will explain consent and confidentiality, discuss your priorities and consider a plan with you.

If you need the waitlist: create your FRC Canada clinic account first, sign in, then submit your waitlist preferences. The current online waitlist relates to Jeffrey Kentel. A request does not confirm an appointment. Call 1-888-415-3439 if you need help.