River’s Bend Launches Frontline Resilience for First Responder & Military Mental Health Support

River’s Bend PC, a leading provider of evidence-based behavioral healthcare in Michigan, today announced the launch of its Frontline Resilience Program, a specialized mental health and substance use treatment track designed exclusively for first responders and military personnel.

Created to meet the unique clinical and cultural needs of those who serve, the program offers confidential, trauma-informed care for:

• Active-duty and retired police officers
• Active-duty and retired firefighters
• Active-duty and retired EMTs, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers
• Active-duty and veteran military members, reservists, and National Guard personnel
• Other emergency service professionals

“Being a first responder isn’t just a job—it’s a calling that comes with extraordinary mental, emotional, and physical demands,” said Bruce Goldberg, President & Co-Owner of River’s Bend PC. “From critical incidents to constant high-stakes decision-making, the toll is real. We built Frontline Resilience to answer the call for those who’ve spent their lives answering everyone else’s.”

Program Highlights

• Comprehensive Clinical Assessments — Ensures accurate diagnosis and customized treatment planning to address PTSD, burnout, depression, substance use, and more.
• Individual Therapy — One-on-one counseling with licensed clinicians trained in first responder culture and evidence-based methods such as CBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care.
• Group Therapy — Peer-based sessions that foster connection, reduce isolation, and normalize responses to traumatic experiences.
• EMDR Trauma Therapy — A proven method for processing and resolving distressing memories without retraumatization.
• Medication Management — When clinically appropriate, collaborative medication support to aid recovery without compromising readiness for duty.
• First Responder Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) — A flexible hybrid model (in-person and virtual) offering 9 hours of weekly care over 6–8 weeks, designed to accommodate shift work and maintain confidentiality.

A Culture-Informed Approach

River’s Bend’s first responder clinicians are not only trained in best-practice behavioral healthcare but are deeply familiar with the culture, confidentiality concerns, and operational realities of public safety work. The program’s design reflects the latest research, including findings that approximately 20% of firefighters and paramedics meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress at some point in their careers, compared to 6.8% in the general population (Firefighter Mental Health and Well-being, 2023).

Breaking the Stigma

Goldberg, who has worked in behavioral health for more than 30 years, notes that stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to care.

“I’ve spoken to countless first responders who say, ‘I was trained to help others. I never learned how to ask for help myself.’ Asking for help is not weakness—it’s leadership. It’s resilience. Many who once thought they were beyond saving are now thriving because they made one call. We walk beside them from that moment forward.”

How to Access the Program

The Frontline Resilience Program is open to both self-referred first responders and those connected through leadership, EAP contacts, or peer support networks. All inquiries are handled with the highest level of confidentiality.

For more information about this new program or to schedule a confidential consultation about how to incorporate the Frontline Resilience Program in your first responders or military organization, contact Cheryl Narduzzi, Director of Business Development.

About River’s Bend P.C.

River’s Bend is a nationally accredited, privately owned outpatient behavioral health clinic located in Troy and West Bloomfield, MI. Specializing in Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and trauma-informed care, River’s Bend offers personalized treatment for mental health and substance use disorders in a compassionate, community-first setting.