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Online  Therapy for First Responders
& Veterans in California

Online therapy across California for first responders and veterans carrying what you’ve experienced and had to push through, and adjusting to life outside the job or active duty, at your own pace.

If you’re here, there’s a good chance you’re used to holding a lot without showing it.

You may be the one people rely on. The one who stays steady in situations that would overwhelm most. You’ve learned how to push through, stay focused, and keep going because that’s what’s been required.

But over time, that kind of pressure doesn’t just disappear. It can build in ways that aren’t always obvious at first.

Sometimes that includes experiences that were intense, repeated, or hard to fully process, and the ways you’ve had to cope with them over time.

You might notice it in your sleep, your reactions, your relationships, or in how hard it is to actually slow down when things are quiet.

This kind of work changes how your nervous system operates. Not because something is wrong, but because your system adapted to what it had to handle.

I’m the spouse of a veteran, and I work with both those who have served and the people who stand beside them.

What this can look like

This doesn’t always look like what people expect. It’s not always obvious, and it doesn’t always show up right away.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes it shows up physically though tension, fatigue, or a constant sense that your body can’t fully relax.
 

Other times, it shows up in your relationships: feeling distant, reactive, or like it’s hard to fully engage the way you want to.

You might notice:​​

  • difficulty turning your mind off or staying present

  • using alcohol or other substances to take the edge off or help come down

  • feeling like you have to manage things on your own, even when it’s wearing on you

  • irritability or feeling on edge, even in normal situations

  • trouble sleeping or staying asleep

  • emotional shutdown or feeling disconnected

  • replaying situations or staying mentally “on”

  • increased reliance on alcohol or other ways to decompress

  • difficulty shifting out of work mode, even at home

Even if it shows up differently for you, it still matters

How I approach this work

My approach is trauma-informed and grounded in understanding how your nervous system has adapted to high-pressure environments over time.

This can include working with trauma responses and the ways coping strategies like overworking, avoidance, or substance use may have developed over time.

This work also often includes the impact on relationships—especially for spouses and partners who have been carrying their own version of this alongside you.

We don’t jump straight into processing or push past your limits. We start by building awareness, regulation, and a sense of control so the work feels manageable and not overwhelming.

This work often includes:

  • understanding how your system responds under stress

  • learning how to come out of constant activation

  • building regulation skills that actually fit your lifestyle

  • identifying patterns shaped by your work and experiences

  • creating space to process what you’ve carried, at your pace

We work with what’s actually there without judgment and without rushing the process.​

This isn’t about breaking you down or forcing you to talk about things before you’re ready. It’s about helping your system recalibrate in a way that feels steady, grounded, and sustainable.

Getting Started

Reaching out can feel unfamiliar, especially if you’re used to handling things on your own or pushing through.

You don’t have to have it all figured out before starting.

Whether you’re the one who served or the one who’s been standing beside them, you don’t have to keep carrying it the same way.

I offer virtual therapy across California, and we can begin with a consultation to talk through what you’re looking for, answer any questions you have, and see if this feels like a good fit.

You can also explore Trauma Therapy for deeper processing support.

Smooth River Stones
Solid Ground TCA logo with therapist name Mary Sidiropoulos Glennan

Mary Sidiropoulos-Glennan | Solid Ground TCA
Online Therapy Across California
Anxiety | Trauma | Addiction | Relationship Patterns

Phone: (424) 235-3260
Email: Mary@SolidGroundTCA.com
Hours: Monday–Sunday (Flexible)

California Associate
AMFT #154230 | APCC #19060

Under the supervision of Caroline McDowell, LMFT #47351
Bay Area MFT, A Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation
Berkeley, California

Solid Ground Trauma Counseling & Addiction operates under Bay Area MFT and is not an independent private practice.

Online therapy across California for trauma, anxiety, addiction, and relationship patterns
Based in Berkeley, CA

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