PTSD Retreat Program for First Responders in Arnprior, Ontario
First Responders United Against PTSD
A 6-day residential retreat for first responders dealing with PTSD and operational stress. Run entirely by former first responders who have been through it themselves.
- Non-profit led entirely by first responders
- Covered by insurance, or free if you have none
- Completely confidential
Note: First Responders United is open to police officers, career and volunteer firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers, 911 dispatchers, parole officers, probation officers, crown attorneys, nurses, other medical professionals, as well serving and former military personnel.
2018
Serving first responders since day one
500+
First responders have completed the program
60+
Retreats successfully completed
The Job Takes a Toll. That’s Not Weakness. That’s Exposure.
Most first responders are exposed to more traumatic incidents in a month than the average person experiences in a lifetime. At some point, that accumulates.
You Can’t Sleep. Or You Can’t Stay Asleep.
The shift ends. Your nervous system doesn’t. You wake up exhausted, and you’ve been waking up that way for a while.
You’re On Edge. Even When You Shouldn’t Be.
Hypervigilance that made sense on the job doesn’t shut off at home. Small things set you off. So do the people around you.
The People Around You Are Feeling It Too.
From your partner. Your kids. Your friends. It’s easier to be alone than to explain something you can’t put into words.
You Feel Like You’re Alone.
But you’re not alone on this recovery path. There’s many of us who have been just where you are and we’re here to help.
What Makes Our Retreat Program Different
Most treatment programs weren’t designed with first responders in mind. FRU was. Every therapist, peer supporter, and volunteer is a former or current first responder who has lived what you are dealing with.
Evidence-Based Treatment
Structured, clinically led, and grounded in what the research actually supports.
By First Responders
No explaining the culture. No translating what the job is actually like. They already know.
More Than Talk Therapy
Addressing sleep regulation, stress response, and the physical toll of cumulative trauma.
All Men or All Women
Separate retreats, small groups of 12 to 14. Easier to be present and honest.
Your Privacy Is Non-Negotiable
No media, no sponsors, no outside affiliations. What happens at FRU stays at FRU.
Continued Support at the End
Every participant is paired with a peer supporter for three months after the retreat.
Location and Accommodations
The Location
The Galilee Center is in Arnprior, Ontario, 40 minutes west of Ottawa. Situated on 45 acres of historic grounds.
The Setting
19th century main house, walking paths, open grounds, and the Madawaska River.
The Rooms
Every participant has the choice of having their own private room or sharing a room with one other participant.
The Meals
Meals are included for the full six days, freshly prepared on site three times a day.
The Cost of the Retreat Is Covered
The full cost of the retreat is $1,800. Most private health insurance plans cover that entirely. If you don’t have coverage, FRU covers the cost. Either way, this does not come out of your pocket.
$1,800
The retreat costs $1,800 in total. Most private health insurance plans cover this in full.
- 6 days of residential retreat
- All meals included
- Private rooms or shared rooms
- Ongoing peer support
- Digital resources
Free
If you don’t have private health insurance coverage, you can still attend at no cost. FRU covers it.
- 6 days of residential retreat
- All meals included
- Private rooms or shared rooms
- Ongoing peer support
- Digital resources
How is It So Affordable?
FRU is a non-profit. Every therapist, peer supporter, and volunteer gives their time for free. That keeps the cost low and the program accessible to anyone who needs it.
Frequently asked questions
The retreat is designed for current and retired first responders who are experiencing the impact of work-related trauma, whether that is PTSD, chronic stress, or the kind of cumulative strain that builds up over a career. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers, 911 dispatchers, parole officers, probation officers, crown attorneys, nurses, other medical professionals, and serving and former military personnel are all welcome.
FRU has no media presence, no outside affiliations, and no sponsors. Participation is completely private. The only people who know you attended are the people in the room with you, and they are bound by the same confidentiality you are. The only people who will be attending First Responders United retreats are people just like you, who have gone through many of the experiences you have gone through: police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers, 911 dispatchers, parole officers, probation officers, crown attorneys, nurses, other medical professionals, as well as former and serving military personnel. All of our therapists and peer supporters are former first responders.
The retreat runs Sunday evening through Friday. Sessions take place in a group format with 12 to 14 same-gender participants, supported by licensed therapists and peer supporters who are all former first responders. The days are structured, with time built in for meals, rest, and informal one-on-one conversations. You will leave with a retreat manual, audio resources, and a peer supporter you stay connected with for three months.
Cost is not a barrier. The full program is $1,800 and is covered by most private health insurance plans. For those without coverage, including volunteer firefighters and correctional officers who often have limited insurance, FRU absorbs the cost entirely.
Not at all. FRU is designed for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers, 911 dispatchers, parole officers, probation officers, crown attorneys, nurses, other medical professionals, as well as former and serving military personnel experiencing the impact of occupational trauma at any stage in their careers. Some participants come after years of struggling. Others come earlier, before things get worse. If your career experience is having a negative impact on your life, this program was built for you.
The retreat takes place at the Galilee Center in Arnprior, Ontario, approximately 40 minutes west of Ottawa. It is a private residential facility on 45 acres of historic grounds along the Madawaska River, with individual rooms and meals prepared on site.
Who Founded First Responders United? And Why?
Edward Murray, Ph.D., Psy.D., M.A, C.Psych.
Clinical Director // Former Detective Sergeant, Ontario Provincial Police
FRU was founded in 2016 by Clinical Psychologist Edward Murray who spent a 20-year career as an Ontario Provincial Police officer before deciding to dedicate himself to the mental health of the people still doing the job as well as other first responders and military personnel.
As a Detective Sergeant with the OPP Behavioural Sciences Section, Edward saw what this kind of work does to people over time. He watched these hard working and dedicated individuals absorb critical incident after critical incident, and push through because that is what these careers demand, and then quietly fall apart, believing conventional psychological treatment could not reach them. When Edward became a clinical psychologist, he brought that understanding into his work.
As a clinical psychologist, what Edward often found in his work with first responders, nurses, and military personnel who had sought help, was that there was something missing. Many of these individuals told Edward of their experiences in treatment programs designed for the general population that did not address the traumatic experiences and unique personal stressors that they went through in their careers as first responders, nurses, and military personnel.
Both of Edward’s doctoral dissertations specifically addressed the subject of PTSD and other Operational Stress Injuries and much of his work as a clinical psychologist has focused on providing psychological services to public safety personnel. First Responders United was built around both his own experiences as a former first responder as well as his training as a clinical psychologist. So far, First Responders United has held over 60 First Responders United retreats that have served over 500 participants who were first responders, nurses, or military personnel.
Attend a Retreat
Ready to attend? Interested but have questions? Fill out this form, and we’ll contact you to set it up!
2026 Retreat Dates
We hold retreats for men and women separately, several times a year. Upcoming dates are below.
Men’s Retreat
- June 14 - 19, 2026
- August 30 - September 4, 2026
- September 27 - October 2, 2026
Women’s Retreat
November 1 - 6, 2026