01/03/2026
I was recently interviewed by peer in public safety about Project 5:9 for a college project.
I am so thankful they are at a place where they were able to ask these questions. Specifically, for the benefit of their brother and sister first responders.
Interview with Travis Sparks,Founder & Peer Counselor, Project 5:9, Career Law Enforcement Officer
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Q: What led you into peer counseling for law enforcement and military personnel?
A:
For me, the importance of peer support became clear after a couple of decades working in small, specialized units. A traumatic incident brought everything I had carried throughout my law enforcement career to the surface at once.
Through therapy, I realized that most of us don’t necessarily need someone to fix us. We need to be heard.
The challenge in our profession is that there often isn’t a safe place to vent without worrying about how it might affect our career.
That fear is rooted in the culture of public safety, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the cumulative effects of both direct and vicarious trauma.
Project 5:9 was created to address that gap in a way that understands the culture and protects the individual.
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Q: Why is peer support-specifically from someone who has worn the badge or uniform, so important?
A:
We don’t naturally trust people, because we see the worst society has to offer on a daily basis. Over time, that changes how we see the world and how we relate to others.
It’s difficult for someone outside the profession to truly understand that our “average day” often involves scenes most people will never experience. Peer support works because the person across from you already gets it:
the language, the humor, the cynicism, and the weight that comes with the job.
That shared understanding is what allows honest conversations to happen.
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Q: When someone reaches out for peer support, what are they really looking for?
A:
Most of the time, they’re looking for support and reassurance. They want to know that what they’re feeling and thinking is a normal human response to abnormal and repeated exposure to traumatic events.
Many first responders aren’t broken, they’re injured by the work.
Simply normalizing that experience can reduce shame and isolation in a powerful way.
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Q: How do you distinguish between peer support and clinical therapy?
A:
Having experienced both peer support and clinical therapy myself, I understand there are limits to what peer support can do. There are times when peer support alone can’t get to the root of psychological injuries created by the job.
That distinction matters. Peer support is about connection, trust, and normalization NOT diagnosis or treatment.
This is why Project 5:9 works. I’m partnered with Dr. Leah McMillan, who owns and operates a full clinical mental health practice. That partnership allows us to ethically and responsibly bridge peer support to professional care when it’s needed, without abandoning the culture or trust of the responder.
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Q: What cultural barriers make it hard for responders to seek help?
A:
One major barrier is the stigma that struggling to process traumatic incidents somehow makes you weak. There’s an unspoken expectation that we should handle anything and immediately move on.
There’s also an isolation mindset in public safety, what I often describe as “one riot, one ranger.”
We’re expected to handle the call no matter how severe and then go straight to the next one.
Ego plays a role, but it’s rooted in responsibility.
When people call us, they expect answers and solutions. Over time, that expectation makes it hard to admit when something has affected us personally.
Peer support helps reframe that struggle as a normal response, not a failure.
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Q: Confidentiality is a major concern. How do you create psychological safety?
A:
Based on my experiences, there’s very little someone could tell me that would shock me, and that helps people speak freely.
Trust and integrity are central to our culture, and confidentiality is non-negotiable. I’m very clear about that from the start.
In addition to ethical responsibility, peer support conversations are legally protected by statute. In many cases, violating confidentiality can carry criminal consequences, similar to doctor–patient or clergy privilege.
When responders understand both the personal and legal safeguards in place, real psychological safety is created.
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Q: What impact have you seen from effective peer support?
A:
The biggest shift happens when someone realizes that what they’re experiencing is normal and that most other first responders have been there too, even if the culture makes it hard to admit.
That realization reduces isolation and restores confidence. Once people know they’re not alone, they’re better able to work the problem and move forward without shame.
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Q: What role do purpose and faith play in resilience?
A:
Purpose and identity are critical for every first responder. We have to know who we are and why we do this job.
For those who are open to it, spirituality helps place our experiences into a much bigger picture.
Through prayer or meditation, many find clarity and grounding during difficult moments. That sense of purpose can be a powerful anchor in a profession that constantly tests our limits.
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Q: What would you say to someone who is struggling but hesitant to reach out?
A:
Don’t hesitate, get off the X, reach out. Make the call.
This job was never meant to be carried alone. We are in this together, and the only way through is together.
Scripture reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Strength doesn’t come from isolation, it comes from standing shoulder to shoulder.
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About Project 5:9
Project 5:9 exists to support law enforcement and military personnel through culturally competent peer support and responsible pathways to clinical care. Our mission is to protect those who protect others in mind, body, and spirit.
For more information please visit: https://enspirecounselingandwellness.com/project-59/
