I’m a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 35995) and the founder of America’s First Responder Services, a practice dedicated to providing evidence-based, culturally competent therapy to first responders, military personnel, other frontline professionals, and their family members. My work centers on providing trauma-informed care and psychological evaluations for a range of concerns—including posttraumatic stress, moral injury, anxiety, depression, occupational burnout, and other complex or high-risk needs.
FOUNDER and clinical psychologist
About Dr. Thalia Nicholson
I’ve trained in VA hospitals, military medical centers, and first responder clinics, including David Grant USAF Medical Center, Sacramento VA Medical Center, Martinez VA Medical Center, and James H. Quillen VA Medical Center—completing over 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work. I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from East Tennessee State University, where I developed the Stigma Reduction and Resiliency Training for First Responders (SRRT-FR) and established the first specialty clinic in rural Appalachia dedicated to first responder mental health. My training was rooted in this underserved region, where I provided care to first responders and veterans navigating repeated exposure to critical incidents, systemic barriers, and deeply ingrained stigma around mental health—an experience that continues to shape my commitment to accessible, real-world care.
Trauma-Informed Therapy Rooted in Experience
Specialized Training with Military & First Responders
As the spouse of a firefighter and part of a long family line of first responders and military personnel, I bring an informed, respectful lens to the work. I’ve been told that I ‘get it’—even without wearing the uniform. Previous clients have described me as someone who understands the culture, speaks the language, and shows up with the kind of authenticity that earns trust in a community that doesn't offer it lightly. That trust is something I never take for granted.
Understanding the Culture
I don’t do fluff, but I do believe in meeting people where they are—with honesty, clinical skill, and the occasional dry sense of humor when it’s needed most. Therapy with me is practical, transparent, and tailored to your needs and goals. I focus on what works, using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and other proven methods to help you move forward.
My role is to offer clear guidance, ask the hard questions when needed, and build a therapeutic relationship based on mutual respect. Whether we’re addressing posttraumatic stress, moral injury, burnout, or crisis-level risk, we’ll work together to create a plan that fits your life—not a generic script.
My Approach
