UCF RESTORES-Trauma Therapy Program

Virtual reality can be more than an immersive experience, it can be a powerful tool for trauma treatment.

At UCF RESTORES, virtual reality is incorporated to help individuals safely and gradually confront trauma-related memories, situations, and environments in a controlled therapeutic setting.

Through VR therapy, clinicians can create immersive scenarios that support exposure work while tailoring treatment to each individual’s needs. The goal is not to relive trauma, but to help patients process what happened, reduce the power of trauma-related symptoms, and regain a sense of safety and control.

By combining innovative technology with culturally informed care, UCF RESTORES continues to explore new ways to make effective trauma treatment more accessible and impactful.

Learn more about types of treatment available at https://ucfrestores.com/treatment/.

This story from Spectrum News 13 highlights the impact of Orange County Fire Rescue’s peer support program, including the important work of Lt. Claudia Fernandez, OCFR’s behavioral health coordinator.

It’s a meaningful reminder of what peer support can provide: a trusted person to talk to, a connection to resources, and the reassurance that no one has to face difficult moments alone.

We’re thrilled to see Lt. Fernandez and the OCFR peer support team receive this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for the important work you do to support the behavioral health and well-being of those who serve our communities.

Read the full story:

Orange County firefighter credits peer support hotline with saving his life Orange County Fire Rescue said its hotline received 245 calls for peer support in 2025.

Built on the nationally recognized Zero Su***de model, UCF RESTORES was part of the statewide effort to develop the Zero Su***de Florida Fire Service framework, establishing a coordinated approach to su***de prevention across Florida's fire service.

The framework is structured around seven core elements – Lead, Train, Identify, Engage, Treat, Transition, Improve – providing a roadmap to help Florida's fire service build a stronger, more connected, and better-prepared approach to mental wellness.

A bank of resources is now available in result of this work, categorized by each framework area. Access it here: https://redlinerescue.org/ZeroSu***de.aspx

UCF RESTORES offers two clinician trainings developed to bridge the gap between fire service or law enforcement officers and the mental health professionals who support them.

The trainings address the unique stressors and cultural nuances of first responder work, equipping clinicians to respond with empathy, insight, and evidence-based care.

Developed by trauma experts and shaped by fire service/law enforcement personnel, these self-paced courses provide 3 CE credits approved by the Psychological Association and fulfill the first step toward registration on Redline or Blueline Rescue, a directory of clinicians trained to serve firefighter and law enforcement officers and their families.

For more on each course, visit:

Fire service - https://ucfrestores.com/training/supporting-firefighter-mental-wellness/.

Law enforcement - https://ucfrestores.com/training/supporting-law-enforcement-mental-wellness/

For many, the trauma of that day didn't end when the smoke cleared. We see it every day in our work: the lasting impact traumatic events can have long after the headlines fade. And we know that while the memory will never disappear, help is available. In this video, UCF RESTORES Executive Director, Dr. Deborah Beidel talks about the impact of trauma and the process of recovery.

9/11: 25 Years | UCF Restores shares hope, resources for those living with PTSD Dr. Deborah Beidel, executive director of UCF Restores, discusses PTSD, its symptoms, and available treatment options, offering support to those affected.

Twenty-five years ago, the world changed in an instant. Today, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and we honor the courage of the firefighters, police officers, EMS workers, and military members who responded that day, and in the years since.

For our team, this day is personal. Retired NYPD sergeant and UCF RESTORES Law Enforcement Liaison Nancy Rosado, MSW, was there – and that experience shaped the path that led her to helping others heal.

9/11: 25 Years | Retired NYPD sergeant reflects on finding peace with the unknown Nancy Rosado, a retired NYPD sergeant and Orlando clinical social worker, recalls a powerful moment from her response to the 9/11 attacks.

What if understanding more about both risk and resilience could help first responders build stronger cultures of support, connection, and well-being?

That question is at the heart of UCF RESTORES’ work to strengthen firefighter behavioral health.

In partnership with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal, UCF RESTORES examined nearly three decades of data that helped develop the Zero Su***de Framework for the Fire Service and translate research into proactive strategies that strengthen support, connectedness, and well-being.

In the article below, UCF RESTORES Deputy Executive Director Kellie O’Dare, Ph.D., and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Ashley Winch, Ph.D., explain that supporting first responder mental health means looking beyond any single diagnosis or experience. It means recognizing the range of factors that can influence well-being, including occupational stress, harmful substance use, and challenges at home, while also recognizing the protective role of strong relationships, connectedness, purpose, and a culture where people look out for one another.

Research helps us better understand where support may be needed. What matters most is how we use that knowledge to strengthen the systems and resources to help first responders stay connected, supported, and well.

Read the full story from UCF Today: https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-restores-study-helps-identify-risk-factors-strengthens-firefighter-su***de-prevention/

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UCF RESTORES Study Helps Identify Risk Factors, Strengthens Firefighter Su***de Prevention By examining nearly three decades of state records, UCF RESTORES researchers are identifying patterns in su***de deaths among Florida fire service members — and using those findings to help strengthen prevention and support.

Behind every person you pass today, there could be a struggle you never see.

Behavioral health touches every community, every profession, every family.

And, in some cases, particular careers or jobs carry an especially heavy, often invisible weight.

For example, firefighters and first responders run toward the worst moments of other people's lives – the fires, the crashes, the calls that don't end the way anyone hoped. Over time, that weight adds up. And too often, the people trained to save everyone else are the ones who go without help themselves.

Making space to talk openly about mental health and making sure no one – no matter their job or their story – carries it alone.

UCF RESTORES recently helped build the Zero Su***de Florida Fire Service framework – created with fire service leaders, behavioral health experts, and peer supporters who understand this job from the inside. It's built around one simple idea: su***de prevention isn't a single training or a single conversation. It's a culture of looking out for each other, before, during, and after a crisis.

As part of that work, we're sharing a new training video to help departments start these conversations: https://redlinerescue.org/files/FLFireZeroSu***deVideo6-19-26.mp4.

If you're struggling, or you're worried about someone who is – reach out. You don't have to have the right words; it’s a matter of taking an initial step to confide in someone else.

Some available resources can be found on ucfrestores.com, as well as utilizing the 988 (call or text) hotline, available 24/7. The UCF RESTORES Single Session Consultation Line is also available Mon–Fri, 8:30am – 5pm at 407-823-1657.

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