Blog #47
To the Healthcare Providers & First Responders Working This Christmas: I’m Thinking of You
As the holidays approach, many people imagine slowing down, celebrating, and being surrounded by family. But for countless healthcare providers and first responders, Christmas doesn’t bring rest.
It brings another shift.
As a trauma therapist for healthcare providers and first responders in Ontario, and as someone who spent years working Christmas shifts as a psychiatric emergency nurse, I understand the unique emotional weight this season can carry.
You are not forgotten. You are not invisible. And your experience deserves acknowledgment and care.
Why Working During the Holidays Hits Differently for Helping Professionals
1. Missing Family Moments and Traditions
For many frontline professionals, working through Christmas means:
Missing family gatherings
Being absent from holiday traditions
Seeing photos of celebrations you’re not in
Watching loved ones celebrate without you
Feeling guilty for not being in two places at once
Eating rushed meals instead of holiday dinners
This isn’t simply “part of the job.” It’s a recurring grief that often goes unspoken.
2. Carrying Other People’s Crises During a Time Meant for Joy
Urgent situations don’t pause for the holidays. Whether it’s a medical emergency, a mental health crisis, or a call for help, you step into moments of pain and fear while others are celebrating.
You hold space for:
Families experiencing loss
Patients facing uncertainty
People going through their worst moments
And you do this on a day that the world claims should feel “joyful.” This contrast creates emotional whiplash that can deepen fatigue or burnout.
3. The Pressure to “Power Through” Because It’s Christmas
Frontline workers often feel like they shouldn’t complain. Many healthcare providers and first responders tell themselves:
“I should be grateful.”
“It’s just another shift.”
“Everyone else is managing.”
But internally, you may feel:
Exhaustion
Loneliness
Frustration
Numbness
Disconnection
Your feelings are valid, even if others don’t fully understand them. Your emotions don’t disappear just because it’s a holiday. They deserve space and care.
4. Compassion Fatigue Can Peak During the Holidays
The emotional labour of caring for others, layered with the expectations and nostalgia of the holiday season, can intensify:
Compassion fatigue
Secondary trauma
Moral injury
Burnout
Increased stress response
If you’re noticing increased irritability, difficulty sleeping, emotional heaviness, or a sense of detachment, these are common signs. As a therapist who specializes in supporting first responders and healthcare workers, I see how the holiday season can amplify the weight already carried year-round.
The Meaning You Bring, Even If It Doesn’t Feel Festive
When you’re working on Christmas, the shift can feel long, heavy, or routine. But the meaning behind your presence is real.
You are:
Providing safety
Offering comfort
Offering dignity and compassion in moments of fear
Delivering care when families can’t be there
Holding calm in someone else’s chaos
Ensuring communities remain supported
Even if it doesn’t feel heroic, it matters deeply.
If You’re Working This Christmas, Here Are Gentle Reminders
1. Your Mixed Emotions Are Valid
You can feel proud of your work and still wish you were home. Both can be true.
2. You Deserve Care Too
A few minutes of grounding, a warm drink, or a moment of stillness matters. Your nervous system needs nurturing as much as anyone else’s.
3. You’re Allowed to Acknowledge the Hard Parts
Suppressing your feelings doesn’t make you stronger. It makes you human. And humans need support.
4. Connection Can Happen in Small Moments
A staff-room laugh, shared meal, or quiet nod between colleagues can be a powerful source of belonging on days like this.
5. Your Work Has Impact
Even when you feel tired, unseen, or stretched thin, what you do makes a difference.
A Personal Message From a Fellow Healthcare Provider
As someone who has spent Christmas in emergency rooms instead of with family, I want to say this clearly:
I’m thinking of you as the holidays approach.
I know the sacrifices you make - often silently.
I know the emotional load you carry into every shift.
And I know the toll this season can take on your mind and body.
If you feel unseen, exhausted, or overwhelmed this time of year, I hope this message reminds you that your humanity matters. Not just the role you play.
If You Need Support, I’m Here. Let’s Connect.
I offer virtual therapy in Ontario for:
First responders
Nurses and healthcare providers
Professionals in high-stress roles
Anyone experiencing burnout, secondary trauma, or chronic stress
My approach integrates trauma-informed care, somatic awareness, attachment-based therapy, EMDR, CBT, and mindfulness, with deep respect for the realities of frontline work.
If the holidays bring up stress, heaviness, or emotional fatigue, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Explore the services that best fit your needs:
Therapy for First Responders
Individual Therapy
EMDR Therapy
Couples Therapy (for those whose relationships are impacted by shift work and stress).
About Growth Psychotherapy
Growth Psychotherapy provides trauma-focused psychotherapy for healthcare providers, nurses, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and professionals in high-stress roles across Ontario. Offering EMDR, individual therapy, couples therapy, and culturally informed care for Filipino Canadians. Virtual and in-person appointments available.
