Status Code 4 Inc.
A 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization
Free Trauma Therapy for First Responders in Colorado
Status: Code 4, Inc. (SC4i) provides free, confidential trauma therapy for current and former first responders and their immediate family members in Colorado. These are the civilian and military dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. Services are delivered by clinicians who are current or former first responders, in person or via telehealth, at no cost to the client.
Who is eligible
SC4i serves:
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Law enforcement officers
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Firefighters
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EMS personnel (EMTs and paramedics)
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911 dispatchers
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Military service members
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Family members of first responders
Both current and former first responders are eligible, and you do not need to be in crisis to reach out. SC4i works with clients at any stage, from early stress and burnout to acute crisis.
Why trauma therapy matters for First Responders
Repeated exposure to traumatic calls puts first responders at meaningfully higher risk than the general population. Among first responders seeking counseling, studies have found rates of roughly 38% for PTSI (Posttraumatic Stress Injury), 34% for depression, and around 40% for substance use disorder (Jacobowitz et al., 2025, NYS First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment; substance use figure cross-referenced with Beauchamp et al., 2022, American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse). In Colorado, 597 first responders died by suicide between 2004 and 2024, and 43% were veterans (Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment).
Despite this need, access is a real barrier. Over 90% of Colorado departments have less than $8,500 budgeted annually for mental wellness training, and the Colorado Firefighter Benefits Trust caps lifetime mental health benefits at $1,000. As of May 2025, 460 of 600 firefighters covered by that trust had already exhausted the cap (The Colorado Sun). SC4i exists to close that gap with services that are entirely free.
What treatment looks like at SC4i
SC4i's Trauma Healing Therapy program offers evidence-based, individual and group treatment, including EMDR, CBT, neurofeedback, and other trauma-focused modalities. Group options include Code 4 Together, a peer support group for PTSI, and SMART Recovery groups for substance use. All clinical work follows APA guidelines and is supervised by a licensed psychologist.
Since 2017, SC4i has delivered more than 11,900 free counseling sessions to approximately 998 clients, representing roughly $1.79 million in services with no bill to the first responder. Most new clients, 75%, arrive through peer referral, meaning first responders are the ones recommending SC4i to their colleagues based on their own experience.
Is it really confidential?
Yes. Clinical services are confidential and reviewed only by the Clinical Supervisor, COO, and relevant clinical staff. In SC4i's own client survey, 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that services were accessible, that staff returned calls within 24 hours, and that they were seen as often as they felt necessary.
How to get started
Contact SC4i at (719) 822-3387 or contact@sc4i.org, or visit the Services page to learn more about individual counseling, group programs, and training options. If you are in immediate danger, call or text 988.