3.5 Hours / 3.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Cultural Diversity and Cultural Competence in Police & Public Safety Psychology is presented by Joel Fay, PsyD, ABPP & Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D., in partnership with The American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP).

First Responders are not eager clients. It takes a lot for them to seek help and very little to turn them off. Therapists who make mistakes don’t get second chances. The number one error clinicians make treating first responders is failing to understand what they do, why they do it, and the culture in which they work. 

This program examines the differences and similarities between first responders and mental health professionals and what it takes, personally and professionally, to create strong therapeutic alliances. This program also covers personal challenges for the clinician, ways to acquire an insider’s look at the culture, and unique issues affecting women, minorities, and LBTQ responders.

 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe personal biases toward first responders and how these may help or hinder the therapeutic environment
  • 2 Describe issues of transference and counter transference
  • 3 Describe the basic elements of establishing a therapeutic alliance
  • 4 Describe unique aspects of treating first responders such as guns in the office, dual relationships, and boundary issues
  • 5 Describe three ways to gain entry to the first responder culture

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who work with, or are interested in working with, first responder populations such as police, fire, and emergency medical services. The program focuses on building effective therapeutic alliances, understanding the unique culture and challenges faced by first responders, and developing specialized competencies in police and public safety psychology. It is suitable for professionals at all stages of their careers and in a variety of practice settings, including private practice, organizational settings, and within public safety agencies.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

  • Practice Setting

    • Psychologists

    • Social workers

    • Counselors

    • Marriage and family therapists

    • Allied mental health professionals

    • Clinicians working in or with police departments, fire services, EMS, or related organizations

    • Professionals interested in police and public safety psychology

Presented By

Alex Korb, PhD, Neuroscientist, Writer, and Coach

Alex Korb PhD is a neuroscientist, writer, and coach. He has studied the brain for over 15 years, attending Brown University as an undergraduate and later earning his Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA. He has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles on depression, neuromodulation and other topics, and is the author of The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.Outside of the lab he writes a popular blog for Psychology Today called PreFrontal Nudity: Your Brain Exposed, which explores how the tendencies of your brain can ruin or enrich your life. As a scientific consultant he works with biotech companies and other research organizations to help them design and implement and analyze neuroimaging studies. He has coached the UCLA Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team for twelve seasons, and is a 3 time award winner for USA Ultimate’s Coach of the Year. His expertise extends into leadership and motivation, mindfulness, physical fitness, and even stand-up comedy.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Alex Korb, PhD

Presented By

Joel Fay, PsyD, ABPP, Psychologist

Joel Fay Psy.D served as a police officer for over 30 years and retired in 2011. Dr. Fay obtained his Doctorate in Psychology from Argosy University and is now in private practice working with emergency responders from numerous organizations. Dr. Fay teaches Crisis Intervention Training for numerous agencies throughout California, has co-authored a number of articles about emergency service stress and is a co-author of Counseling Cops, What Clinicians Need to Know. Dr. Fay is a co-founder of the First Responder Support Network and is the current Clinical Director. He has received numerous awards for his work including the California Psychological Association 2007 Humanitarian Award and the American Psychological Association 2012 award for Outstanding Contributions to the Practice of Police & Public Safety Psychology. Dr. Fay is Board Certified in Police and Public Safety Psychology.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Joel Fay, PsyD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • The differences and similarities between first responders and mental health professionals

  • What it takes, personally and professionally, to create strong therapeutic alliances

  • Personal challenges for the clinician

  • Ways to acquire an insider’s look at the culture

  • Unique issues affecting women, minorities, and LBTQ responders

We are proud to partner with

American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP)

American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP)

We are proud to partner with The American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP) for this training. ABPPSP became a fully affiliated specialty board of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) on October 21, 2011. Police and Public Safety Psychology is concerned with assisting law enforcement and other public safety personnel and agencies in carrying out their missions and societal functions with optimal effectiveness, safety, health, and conformity to laws and ethics. It consists of the application of the science and profession of psychology in four primary domains of practice: assessment, clinical intervention, operational support, and organizational consultation.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.