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After the Call
First Responder Wellness Initiative
Supporting those who answer when our communities call.
You Answer the Call
Every day, first responders step into situations most people hope they never experience.
They answer the call. They respond to emergencies. They provide comfort during tragedy.
We're Here for What Comes Next
They make difficult decisions when every second matters.
But when the emergency ends, the impact doesn't always end with it.
After the Call is a first-responder wellness initiative dedicated to providing accessible, confidential mental health and addiction counseling to the individuals who dedicate their lives to serving others.
Because taking care of yourself matters just as much as taking care of your community.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THOSE WHO SERVE
Your Well-Being Matters. On and Off Duty.
First responders dedicate their time, energy, and lives to protecting their communities. We believe that dedication deserves meaningful support in return.
Through After the Call, Mindful Matters Personal Wellness provides eligible active first responders in participating communities with three complimentary individual therapy sessions.
Whether you're processing a difficult call, navigating personal challenges, experiencing grief, addressing substance use concerns, or simply looking for someone to talk to, support is available.
3 Complimentary Sessions
Three individual counseling sessions dedicated to your mental health, personal wellness, and emotional well-being.
$0 Cost to Eligible First Responders
Your three complimentary sessions are provided without financial obligation to you or your participating municipality or department.
100% Telehealth
Confidential counseling delivered through secure telehealth services, with early-morning, evening, night, and weekend appointments offered based on availability, anywhere in Illinois
No Deadline.
No Need to Be in Crisis.
No Judgment.
The Call Ends.
The Experience Doesn't Always.
First responders are often present during the most difficult moments of another person's life.
They encounter serious injuries, unexpected deaths, violent incidents, overdoses, suicides, and families experiencing unimaginable grief.
They are called upon to remain composed, make critical decisions, provide reassurance, and move forward to the next emergency.
But behind every uniform is a person.
A person who experiences emotions.
A person who has relationships, responsibilities, and challenges outside of work.
A person who may carry memories, questions, or emotions long after an incident ends.
Sometimes those experiences affect sleep, relationships, mood, or the ability to disconnect from work.
Other times, the challenges have nothing to do with the job at all.
After the Call recognizes that first responders deserve the same compassion, understanding, and access to mental health support that they so often provide to others.
Seeking support is not a reflection of weakness or an inability to perform your responsibilities.
It is an opportunity to invest in yourself, your relationships, and your overall well-being.
Because the person behind the uniform matters.
SUPPORT FOR THE PERSON BEHIND THE UNIFORM
You Don't Have to Carry Everything Alone.
First responders face challenges both on and off duty.
After the Call provides individualized counseling that recognizes the demands of emergency response while honoring each person's unique experiences and needs.
Trauma & Difficult Calls
Some calls stay with us longer than others. Counseling provides a supportive environment to process challenging experiences, understand emotional responses, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Grief & Loss
From personal loss to traumatic incidents encountered in the line of duty, grief can take many forms. Support is available for experiences involving unexpected death, suicide, homicide, overdose, and other significant losses.
Stress, Anxiety & Depression
The pressures of emergency response, combined with everyday responsibilities, can affect emotional well-being. Counseling can help address persistent stress, anxiety, changes in mood, and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Alcohol & Substance Use
When alcohol or other substances become a way to manage stress, difficult emotions, or traumatic experiences, confidential counseling can provide an opportunity to explore healthier approaches and work toward recovery.
Relationships & Family Life
The demands of shift work, unpredictable schedules, and emotional stress can affect communication and connection with loved ones. Counseling can help individuals navigate relationship challenges and strengthen personal connections.
Burnout & Personal Wellness
You don't need to be experiencing a mental health crisis to benefit from support. Counseling can help you recognize signs of emotional exhaustion, establish healthy boundaries, and prioritize long-term well-being.
Your experiences are unique.
Your care should be, too.
A PERSONAL COMMITMENT
A Lifetime of Appreciation. A Commitment to Giving Back.
My appreciation for first responders began long before I became a mental health counselor.
Growing up in Seneca, Illinois, I lived with my grandmother next door to the police station and directly across from the fire and ambulance departments.
I remember listening to the scanner with her, hearing the sirens, and knowing that I had better be home before the fire whistle sounded at 9:00 p.m.
I still live in that same house today.
But what those sirens represent to me has changed considerably over the years.
Throughout my professional career, particularly through my clinical work specializing in grief and loss, traumatic death, suicide, homicide, and overdose, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the emotional challenges first responders may experience.
I have come to recognize that behind every emergency response is an individual who may carry the experience long after the call has ended.
In 2024, I began offering three complimentary individual therapy sessions to eligible first responders serving my hometown of Seneca.
That commitment became the foundation for something larger.
After the Call was created to extend that same spirit of appreciation, compassion, and accessible behavioral healthcare to additional Illinois communities.
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Certified First Responder Counselor, I am committed to helping bridge the gap between the unique experiences of first responders and the mental health support they deserve.
This initiative is more than a professional service.
For me, it is personal.
It is an opportunity to give back to the individuals and communities that have been part of my life for so many years.
Dr. Christopher J. Maier, Ed.D., LCPC, CADC, CFRC
Owner & Therapist
Mindful Matters Personal Wellness
SUPPORT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE
Getting Started Shouldn't Be Complicated.
Taking the first step toward counseling can feel unfamiliar, especially when you're accustomed to being the person others turn to for help.
We've designed After the Call to make that first step as straightforward as possible.
Step 1 — Explore the Commitment
Learn about the three complimentary individual therapy sessions available to eligible first responders in participating Illinois communities.
Step 2 — Request Support
Access the secure Mindful Matters Personal Wellness Client Portal to begin the appointment request process. Let us know that you're inquiring about the After the Call initiative so we can review your eligibility.
Step 3 — Find a Time That Works
Choose from available telehealth appointment times, including early-morning, evening, night, and weekend options.
Step 4 — Focus on Yourself
Meet with a licensed mental health professional in a confidential, supportive environment where the conversation focuses on your individual experiences, concerns, and goals.
You don't need to have all the answers before reaching out. You just need a place to begin.
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY.
GROWING THROUGH COMMITMENT.
Supporting Those Who Serve Our Communities.
After the Call grew from a simple belief: those who dedicate themselves to protecting and caring for others deserve meaningful support in return.
Our commitment began in Seneca, Illinois, where three complimentary counseling sessions were offered to eligible active first responders.
Today, our vision is to build upon that foundation by extending opportunities for mental health and addiction wellness support to additional communities throughout Illinois.
We recognize that every department, municipality, and first responder has unique needs. Our approach emphasizes accessible care, respect for individual privacy, and genuine collaboration with community leadership.
GROWING
ACROSS
ILLINOIS
Participating
Communities
FROM SENECA
A STRONGER ILLINOIS TOGETHER
Our goal is simple: Make it easier for first responders to access support before, during, or after life's most difficult experiences.
If your community is interested in learning more about After the Call, we welcome the opportunity to start a conversation.
FOR MUNICIPALITIES & DEPARTMENT LEADERS
Strong Communities Support Those Who Serve Them.
First responders are among a community's most valuable resources.
They protect lives, respond to emergencies, and provide critical assistance during moments of uncertainty and tragedy.
Supporting their mental health and addiction wellness is an investment in the people who make that service possible.
Through After the Call, Mindful Matters Personal Wellness offers eligible first responders in participating communities three complimentary individual therapy sessions, at no cost to the individual or their municipality or department.
Our approach is designed to complement existing employee wellness resources while providing an additional opportunity for individualized, confidential behavioral healthcare.
We welcome conversations with municipal leaders, law enforcement agencies, fire protection districts, emergency medical services, and other first-responder organizations interested in expanding access to mental health support.
Your community takes care of its residents. Together, we can help take care of those who answer their calls.
We're Here for You.
You don't have to wait for a difficult call.
You don't have to reach a breaking point.
You don't have to explain why you're struggling or prove that your experiences are difficult enough to deserve support.
Whether you're navigating the emotional impact of your profession, experiencing challenges in your personal life, or simply wanting to invest in your mental health, you deserve a place where your well-being comes first.
After the Call is here to help make that possible.
Three complimentary individual therapy sessions are available to eligible first responders in Illinois communities.
Because the call may be over, but sometimes the experience isn't.