What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 7pm Tuesday 9am - 7pm Wednesday 9am - 7pm Thursday 9am - 7pm Friday 9am - 7pm

The 911 Wellness Group, 765 Ela Road, Suite 300, Lake Zurich, IL (2026)

05/01/2026

Happy Friday and welcome May!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

For first responders, mental health isn’t a trend. It’s part of the job.
What you carry matters. And so do you.

You don’t have to wait until it gets heavy to check in, so let’s talk about it. Because what you carry doesn’t just go away...it builds.

04/27/2026

Mental Health Monday

Saturday's loss is one that ripples far beyond the scene.
It impacts departments, families, and entire communities.

Today, we stand with our first responders.

If you’re feeling off, overwhelmed, or not like yourself. Pay attention to that. Those reactions matter.

Check in on your people. Say something. Don’t carry it alone.

04/26/2026

End of Watch: April 25, 2026

Our hearts are heavy as we honor the life and service of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

We extend our deepest condolences to Officer Bartholomew’s family, loved ones, and the entire Chicago Police Department. There are no words that can truly ease the weight of this loss, but we stand with you in grief, in respect, and in unwavering support.

To the men and women who continue to show up, protect, and serve. Especially in moments like these. We see you. We honor you.

Rest easy, Officer Bartholomew. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

— 911 Wellness Group

04/14/2026

Some voices you never see… but you’ll never forget.

To our 911 dispatchers. The calm in the chaos, the steady voice in someone’s worst moment. Thank you for showing up, shift after shift.

We see you. We respect you. We appreciate you.

04/13/2026

APRIL – Stress Awareness Month

Stress & The Nervous System
Focus: Regulation > Suppression

Stress doesn’t just stay in your head. It lives in your body.

For first responders, stress isn’t occasional… It’s cumulative.
Call after call, shift after shift, your nervous system is constantly being asked to go from 0 to 100, and back again.

Over time, that looks like:

Irritable or short fuse
Trouble sleeping (even when exhausted)
Feeling numb or disconnected
Always being “on edge” even at home

And for families, you feel it too.

When they walk through the door, home can become the only place where that pressure gets released. Not because they don’t care… but because it’s the only place they finally can.

Here’s the shift:
It’s not about “handling stress better.”
It’s about learning how to regulate your nervous system.

Try this today:

Slow your breathing (in 4, out 6)
Take a 10-minute walk without your phone
Sit in silence before jumping into the next task

Small resets matter more than you think.

You don’t have to carry it all.

If you or your family need support, we’re here. In person or telehealth: 847.550.4520.

04/10/2026

Happy Friday!

Family Only Friday – Week 8: Boundaries Protect Everyone
For the Families of Our First Responders & Active/Retired Veterans

When you love someone in this profession, it’s easy to feel like you’re always “on call” too. Adjusting, supporting, and carrying the emotional weight of the job alongside them.

But here’s something that often gets missed:

Healthy boundaries don’t create distance in relationships. They actually create safety.

Why Boundaries Matter for Families

First responder households often run on unpredictability. Without boundaries, that can turn into:

Emotional burnout
Resentment or miscommunication
Feeling like you’re “walking on eggshells.”
Losing your own sense of balance

Boundaries help bring structure to the chaos.

What This Can Look Like at Home

Boundaries don’t have to be rigid. They just need to be intentional:

Routines: Creating predictable moments (meals, check-ins, wind-down time) helps everyone feel grounded. Even when schedules aren’t.

Quiet/Decompression Time: When your loved one comes home, giving them space to reset isn’t rejection. It’s a regulation.
Your Limits Matter Too: You are allowed to say, “I need support too,” or “I can’t carry this alone tonight.”

How Boundaries Strengthen Your Relationship

It may feel like stepping back could create distance—but what it actually does is prevent disconnection.

When both people:

Respect each other’s need to decompress
Communicate expectations
Allow space without taking it personally

You build:

More patience
More understanding
More emotional safety

You’re not pushing each other away. You’re making room to come back together in a healthier way.

A Gentle Reminder for Families

You are not responsible for “fixing” what the job brings home.
And you don’t have to carry it alone.

Supporting a first responder doesn’t mean sacrificing your own mental health.

If you or your family need support, we’re here for you. Call our office to schedule in-person or telehealth: 847.550.4520

Strong boundaries don’t break families, they protect them.

04/09/2026

We’re proud to share that our very own Dr. Liza Franklin was invited to speak today at the Illinois City and County Managers Association luncheon on the important topic of mental health in the workplace.

The event was held at the Northern Illinois University Conference Center, where leaders from across the region gathered to prioritize the well-being of their teams and communities.

A heartfelt thank you to the Illinois City and County Managers Association for the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful conversation. It’s an honor to help support and strengthen mental health initiatives across our communities.

04/06/2026

Happy Monday!

Mental Health Monday: The Transitions No One Prepares You For

In this line of work, you’re trained for critical incidents.
What you’re not trained for are the life transitions that quietly change everything.

Returning after injury.
Stepping away from the job.
Being told you can’t go back.
Moving from the field to a desk.
Losing the crew that felt like family.

These aren’t just schedule changes, they’re changes in identity, purpose, and connection.

What We See Clinically

Transitions in this population often carry unrecognized grief.

Not always grief from death, but grief from:

Losing the version of yourself you once were
Losing the adrenaline, structure, and mission
Losing daily connection with your people
Losing the role that gave you purpose

This can show up as:

Irritability or restlessness
Feeling “off” or out of place
Lack of motivation or direction
Increased isolation
Questioning your value outside the job

The Hard Truth

You can be grateful for your career and still grieve what it meant to you.

You can be physically here and still feel like part of you is missing.

That doesn’t make you ungrateful.
It makes you human.

Common Transition Points
Returning after injury/leave: Feeling behind, disconnected, or not “yourself” on shift
Retirement (planned or forced): Loss of identity, routine, and belonging
Medical disqualification: Sudden loss of purpose and control
Role changes (Field → Admin): Missing the action, the team, the meaning
Loss of camaraderie: Realizing how much the job filled your social world

What Helps (Clinically & Practically)
Name the loss → You can’t process what you won’t acknowledge
Rebuild structure → Your nervous system still needs routine
Find new purpose → Purpose doesn’t retire—it just shifts
Stay connected → Isolation makes transitions heavier
Process, don’t suppress → Avoidance prolongs the adjustment

For Active & Retired

If you’re in transition now—
nothing about these feels “small,” even if others treat it that way.

If you’ve already transitioned—
it’s not too late to rebuild meaning and connection in a way that fits who you are now.

Bottom Line

The job may change—or end, but your identity doesn’t have to disappear with it.

If you or someone you know is navigating a transition, support is available. In-person or telehealth appointments: 847.550.4520.

03/30/2026

🚨 Mental Health Monday: Track 7 — Help-Seeking, Therapy & Peer Support

You don’t have to hit rock bottom to deserve support.

In this line of work, you’re trained to handle chaos, push through pain, and stay mission-focused. But mental health doesn’t work like a call you can clear. It builds quietly, and if ignored long enough, it demands attention.

Let’s break it down:

What therapy is actually like
It’s not lying on a couch talking about your childhood for an hour.
It’s real conversations. Practical tools. A place where you don’t have to filter what you’ve seen, heard, or carried.

Peer Support vs. Therapy
Peer support = someone who gets the job
Therapy = someone trained to help you process it
You don’t have to choose one over the other; they work best together.

First session—what to expect
No pressure. No judgment. No “fixing you.”
Just a conversation to understand where you’re at and what you need.

Confidentiality—let’s clear it up
What you say in therapy stays there (with very few legal exceptions).
It does not go back to your department.

Waiting until a crisis?
That’s like ignoring chest pain until it’s a heart attack.
Earlier support = faster recovery, less damage.

Medication—real talk
It can help stabilize things when needed.
But it’s not the only answer, and it’s never one-size-fits-all.

The truth?
We’ve seen first responders go from:

Not sleeping → Rested and clear-headed
Angry and shut down → Present with their families
Ready to quit → Back to purpose

No spotlight. No names. Just real people doing better.

You take care of everyone else.
Make sure someone’s taking care of you, too.

If you or someone you know needs support, please contact our office to schedule an appointment, in person or via telehealth at 847-550-4520.

03/23/2026

🧩 Mental Health Monday – Track 6: Warning Signs & Early Intervention

For those who run toward what others run from, this one’s for you.
Active or retired, the job doesn’t just turn off. And sometimes, the warning signs don’t look like what you’d expect.

🚩 Red Flags You’re Pushing Too Hard
You’re more irritable. Short fuse. Little things hit harder than they should. You tell yourself it’s just stress, but it’s been weeks… maybe months.

⚠️ When “Functional” Isn’t the Same as Healthy
You’re still showing up. Still doing your job. Still handling business.
But inside? You’re exhausted, disconnected, running on fumes.
Functioning ≠ okay.

👨‍👩‍👧 Changes Your Family Notices First
They see it before you do.
You’re quieter. More distant. Checked out.
Maybe they’ve said something, and you brushed it off.
It might be time to listen.

😴 Sleep Changes Are a Signal
Can’t fall asleep. Can’t stay asleep. Or sleeping too much just to escape.
Sleep is one of the first places stress shows up, and one of the biggest indicators that something’s off.

🧍‍♂️ Isolation Disguised as Independence
“I’m good on my own.”
“I don’t need to talk about it.”
Sound familiar?
Pulling away can feel like control, but it’s often the opposite.

🤝 When Peers Should Step In (and How to Do It Right)
If you notice a shift in your partner, your crew, your people, say something.
Not as a lecture. Not as judgment.
Just real:
“Hey, I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately. I’m here.”

That simple moment can make a difference.

Early intervention isn’t a weakness; it’s a strategy.
You don’t wait for a crisis on the job. Don’t wait for one in your life either.

If you or someone you care about is feeling off, we’re here.
📞 Reach out to our office at 847.550.4520 to get scheduled with one of our providers, in person or via telehealth.

Your mental health matters. On duty, off duty, and long after retirement.

03/20/2026

Family Only Friday – Week 7: Sharing the Load

When your loved one serves on the front lines, it’s not just their job. It becomes part of your life too. And often, without even realizing it, families carry a heavy emotional load behind the scenes.

You may find yourself:
• Holding space for their stress without fully understanding it
• Managing the household, schedules, and responsibilities
• Keeping things “steady” at home, no matter what kind of shift they had
• Pushing your own feelings aside to stay strong for them

This is emotional labor, and it’s real, valid, and often invisible.

Here’s the truth:
You are allowed to need support too.

Sharing the load doesn’t mean adding pressure. It means creating balance.

A few ways to protect your mental health:
• Name it – Acknowledge when things feel heavy instead of minimizing them
• Communicate openly – When the time is right, share how you're feeling without blame
• Create boundaries – It’s okay to say, “I don’t have the capacity for this right now.”
• Find your outlet – Whether it’s a friend, therapist, movement, or quiet time—make space for YOU
• Stay connected – You don’t have to carry this alone

Supporting a first responder is a different kind of strength, but even the strongest people need support.

If you or your family need additional support, please contact our office to get scheduled with one of our providers, either in person or via telehealth at 847.550.4520.

You matter. Your mental health matters. And you don’t have to carry the weight alone.

03/16/2026

🚨 Mental Health Monday for First Responders

Track 5: Coping Skills That Actually Work for This Population

First responders operate in environments most people will never fully understand. Your nervous system is trained to stay alert, react quickly, and move toward danger when others move away from it. Because of that, many common mental health recommendations, like being told to “just relax,” don’t always resonate.

Effective coping for first responders needs to match the demands placed on your mind and body.

Why “Just Relax” Doesn’t Work for You
Your brain and body are conditioned for readiness. After high-adrenaline calls, your nervous system doesn’t simply shut off. Learning how to intentionally downshift your system is more realistic than expecting it to instantly relax.

Movement as Medicine
Physical movement is one of the most effective ways to regulate stress hormones.

Examples that work well for this population:
• Strength training or lifting after shift
• Walking to decompress after a difficult call
• Tactical breathing to lower heart rate and restore focus
• Short bursts of physical activity to reset stress

Cold Exposure & Sensory Reset
Cold showers, cold water on the face, or brief cold exposure can help stimulate the vagus nerve and regulate the nervous system after stress or trauma exposure. Many first responders report this as an effective way to reset after a shift.

Music, Sound, and the Nervous System
Sound has a powerful effect on emotional regulation. Whether it's calming music during decompression time or energizing music during workouts, intentional listening can shift mood and lower stress responses.

Structured Routines for Chaotic Schedules
Shift work and unpredictable calls create instability in daily rhythms. Building small routines, even simple ones like a consistent post-shift decompression ritual, workout schedule, or sleep routine, helps restore a sense of control and stability.

Substances vs. Regulation
Alcohol is often used in first responder culture as a way to “turn the brain off.” While it may temporarily numb stress, it does not regulate the nervous system and can worsen sleep, mood, and long-term stress resilience. Honest conversations about alcohol use are an important part of sustainable coping.

What Healthy Coping Actually Looks Like
Healthy coping isn’t perfection. It’s intentional choices.

Real examples we see working:
✔ Going to the gym instead of isolating after shift
✔ Talking through a difficult call with a trusted peer
✔ Using breathing techniques before entering the home after work
✔ Creating a decompression routine before sleep
✔ Seeking professional support when the weight of the job starts to build

Strength in this profession has always meant showing up when it matters most. That includes showing up for your own mental health as well.

If you or someone you know could benefit from additional support, our clinicians understand the unique stressors of this profession and offer both in-person and telehealth appointments 847.550.4520.

The 911 Wellness Group

05/01/2026

04/27/2026

04/26/2026

04/14/2026

04/13/2026

04/10/2026

04/09/2026

04/06/2026

03/30/2026

03/23/2026

03/20/2026

03/16/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 7pm