WHAT IS BREATHWORK THERAPY?

Breathwork therapy is a guided, science-backed practice that uses intentional breathing techniques to calm the body, regulate the nervous system, and create space for emotional healing. For first responders—law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, corrections personnel, and frontline medical workers—breathwork offers a powerful and practical tool for managing the unique and often overwhelming demands of the job.

Every shift exposes first responders to high-stress situations, critical incidents, and emotionally charged environments. Over time, this constant state of alert can take a toll on both mind and body. It can contribute to symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, irritability, and emotional numbness. Breathwork therapy helps break this cycle by teaching the body how to move out of survival mode and return to a place of balance and safety.

At Under the Shield, breathwork therapy is facilitated by Chad Viliborghi, a former first responder who understands these pressures firsthand. After experiencing his own breaking point and hitting rock bottom himself, Chad discovered breathwork and found it to be a life-changing resource for recovering from cumulative trauma. His personal journey fuels his commitment to helping other first responders regain control of their mental and emotional wellbeing.

Facilitated by someone who has walked the same path, this service is designed to empower first responders with skills they can rely on both on duty and at home. Breathwork supports long-term resilience, emotional stability, and a healthier response to trauma. Most importantly, it gives first responders permission—and the tools—to care for themselves with the same dedication they show when caring for others.

Breathwork therapy offers a safe and supportive way to process emotions that first responders are often trained to suppress—grief, anger, fear, guilt, or sadness. Instead of internalizing these reactions, responders learn how to release them in a controlled, confidential environment that promotes healing rather than avoidance.