You Don’t Have to Pretend You’re OK. Let Someone Take Care of You.

Brainspotting Intensives for Maryland’s First Responders

You Keep It Together for Everyone Else, And There’s a Time to Let Someone Else Take Care of You!

As a first responder, you're trained to handle high-stakes situations. You stay calm under pressure, move quickly in crisis, and make life-or-death decisions without hesitation. But when the adrenaline fades, you’re left with the weight of what you’ve seen, what you’ve heard, and what you’ve had to suppress just to make it through another shift. You keep going because people count on you. But that doesn’t mean you’re okay.

You may not talk about it. You may not even notice how much you’re carrying. But your body and mind are telling the truth. The irritability. The racing thoughts. The sleepless nights. The extra servings of alcohol or moments you shut down because it’s just too much. Are you listening to your body?

The Toll of Holding It All In

When you spend years pushing through without paying attention to your body, things don’t just go away. The stress compounds. You might start snapping at the people you love. You lose patience. You isolate. You try to stay busy so you don’t have to feel it. But over time, the unprocessed weight of the job starts showing up in your health, your relationships, your ability to focus, and your sense of control.

The longer it builds, the harder it becomes to show up the way you want to. And that quiet pressure inside you only builds up until it eventually spills over!

So, What Is Your Option? Brainspotting Intensives for First Responders

LifeSpring Counseling Services offers focused, one-on-one Brainspotting Intensives designed specifically for first responders in Maryland. These 1-day or 3-day intensives are available in-person or online, and give you the space to process and offload what you’ve been carrying so you can feel lighter, more grounded, and fully present again.

Brainspotting Intensives are For You If:

  • • You’ve experienced physical or emotional injury on the job that is impacting your ability to function or even to return to work safely

  • • You’re not enthused about therapy but “want to get this over with” and feel better as soon as possible.

  • • You need to get better ASAP, so you can return to work and do what you love.

  • • Your years of on-the-job experiences have built up over the years leaving you with nightmares and intrusive memories that won’t leave you alone.

  • • You experience stress, anxiety, or anger that seems to come out of nowhere

  • • You’ve had trouble sleeping or relaxing, even on your days off

  • • You avoid talking about the job, even with people close to you (and maybe even with your therapist too)

  • • You know something needs to change, but don’t want to sit through months of therapy

Why First Responders Don’t Seek Support

If you've avoided therapy, you certainly wouldn’t be the first. Many first responders hesitate to seek support, and sometimes they don’t reach out until a spouse, child, colleague, or boss urges them to do so. If you’re like others: 

  • You don’t want to look weak.  You’ve built your identity around being strong and capable. Asking for help can feel like failure.

  • You don’t think anyone will understand.  Unless someone’s been on a call with you, it’s hard to imagine they’d get it. And, on the one or two occasions when you have opened up, people have not responded well.  You may have ended up being the one to take care of them, proving your point that you just can’t talk to some people about your job. 

  • You don’t have the time.  Long shifts, overtime, and unpredictable schedules don’t leave much room for weekly sessions. (That’s why we love Intensives!!)

  • You don’t want to relive it. The thought of sitting and talking about everything you’ve seen feels unbearable. (Great news: You don’t have to talk about these things to Brainspot). 

  • You worry it’ll affect your job. Whether it’s your career or your standing among peers, you don’t want it used against you. I get that, and your sessions are completely confidential. Unless you give us written permission (or unless we’re required by law due to safety concerns), your participation in therapy will never be shared with anyone else. 

While You Might Not be Excited About Doing Intensive Therapeutic Work, You Likely Are Eager to Feel Better. 

Even if you’ve told yourself that talking about things won’t help, Brainspotting can in fact help!  You can stay sharp without being on edge. You can respond to crisis without taking it home with you. You can show up for your family without shutting down. You can move forward without carrying past experiences with you. 

This is your opportunity to clear out what has been building up so you can function at your best on the job and at home.

If you’re still doubtful, there’s only one way to find out, and there’s a cost to not trying! 

Brainspotting Intensive Options:

Both formats are available in-person in Maryland or online to fit your schedule and comfort.

What is Holding You Back from Starting Brainspotting?

Getting Started is Simple!

Still Have Questions about Brainspotting Intensives? Check out our Brainspotting Intensive Q&A page before your consultation call with Melissa.

Scheduling your first session is simple:

  1. Click Here to book online 24/7 with Melissa Wesner, LCPC or give us a call at 410-497-8451 Mon-Fri from 9am-5pm.

  2. Complete your intake paperwork. 

  3. Attend your first session and start feeling better with professional support!

Your healing matters, and you don’t have to do this alone, we’d love to support you. Give us a call today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a brain and body based therapy that helps access and resolve stored trauma, stress, and emotional overload. It works on a deeper level than talk therapy to target what’s stuck.

Is this just for trauma?

No. While Brainspotting is highly effective for processing trauma, it’s also used for many other things like performance enhancement, creativity enhancement, expansion, working through difficult emotions, negative beliefs, and experiences.

Do I have to be in Maryland or New Hampshire?

Yes. Melissa is licensed in Maryland and New Hampshire.  Licensing guidelines require her to only work with individuals who are physically located in the states where she is licensed.  In-person Brainspotting services are offered in Baltimore, MD. First responders in New Hampshire or other parts of Maryland can do their Brainspotting Intensives online.

Can I really see results in one day?

Yes. Many individuals report noticeable shifts in just one day. Does that mean you will have processed everything that you’ve needed to work through in one day?  Not necessarily, but 1 day is a great place to start.  The 3-day option provides a more comprehensive option for those who are really needing that.

Will anyone know I’m doing this?

Not unless you tell them. Our work together is fully confidential, unless you give me written permission to share your information or unless there is a very serious safety situation that would legally require me to break confidentiality.  You do not need to go through your employer, and nothing is shared with your department. If you have any questions about confidentiality, I am happy to answer.

Can I use my insurance to cover a Brainspotting Intensive?

While LifeSpring Counseling Services is an insurance-friendly counseling practice, insurance companies do NOT pay for Intensives. The benefit of this is that your therapeutic work is even more private this way. When you use health insurance, we are required to share certain information with your health insurance for billing purposes. If you would like to use your HSA or FSA, that is an option.

How much do Intensives Cost?

At LifeSpring, Intensives consist of one FULL day of treatment. We start at 9 AM and end at 4 PM. The Intensives also include a 30 minute follow-up call to check in.
The 1-Day Intensive costs $4,000.
The 3-Day Intensivecosts $11,500.

How do I get started?

The next step is to set up a free, 15 minute consultation call to see if Brainspotting Intensives are right for you.  Call us at 410-497-8451 M-F from 9-5 to set up a consultation with Melissa Wesner, LCPC, LCMHC. You can also email Melissa directly at melissa@lifespringcounseling.net to set up a consultation call.

Why Choose Brainspotting Intensives at LifeSpring Counseling Services?

Melissa Wesner, LCPC, your Brainspotting therapist has received specialized training in working with first responders. She is also a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant. At this time, the Brainspotting Intensives offered by Melissa are the most comprehensive in duration (as far as we know) at this time in Maryland and maybe the east coast. Melissa has been doing Brainspotting for years, and she’s seen really amazing results with her clients.

The Cost of Keeping It All Inside

You’re the one people count on. But what happens when you keep pushing things down without looking at them and taking care of yourself? Your body pays the price. The job becomes something you dread. Your family feels the distance. And most of all, you start to forget what life felt like before the job took over.

Doing nothing is a choice. And it has real consequences.

If you don’t make space for your own physical and emotional health, your career, your relationships, and your wellbeing will carry the cost.

Take the First Step Toward Relief

You’ve put yourself last for long enough. It’s time to make space for yourself. Process what you’ve buried. Feel better. Reconnect to the part of yourself that isn’t always on alert.

Schedule a free 15 minute consultation to see if a Brainspotting Intensive is right for you!

Schedule Your First Appointment!

Meet Our Therapists

Other Mental Health Services at LifeSpring

Counseling for children and teens isn’t the only counseling service offered at our office. Our Greater Baltimore mental health counseling office also offers individual counseling services for adults and college students dealing with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, interpersonal violence, and trauma. We also offer specialized counseling services including online therapy, Brainspotting, faith-based counseling, and mindfulness-based counseling.