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 intended 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. It is designed for those specializing in police and public safety psychology, with a focus on building effective therapeutic alliances and understanding the unique culture and challenges faced by first responders. The program supports the development of specialized competencies for professionals dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of first responder communities.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Marriage and Family Therapists
    • Allied Mental Health Professionals
    • Clinicians working with police, fire, or EMS organizations
    • Professionals interested in police and public safety psychology

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience working with first responders.

    • Beginner: Participants new to working with first responders who seek foundational knowledge of first responder culture, therapeutic alliance basics, and awareness of personal biases.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience treating first responders who wish to deepen their understanding of cultural nuances, address transference and countertransference, and navigate unique clinical challenges such as boundary issues and dual relationships.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience working with first responders who aim to refine advanced skills in cultural competence, address complex personal and professional challenges, and support diverse responder populations, including women, minorities, and LGBTQ individuals.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners work within operational public safety environments and clinical care settings, often embedded onsite or consulting while aligning with shift-based schedules and stringent confidentiality requirements. They engage after critical incidents and in ongoing care, relying on cultural competence, clear boundaries, and rapid rapport-building to serve diverse responder populations.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Embedded wellness/behavioral health units within police, fire, or EMS departments
    • 911/dispatch centers and communications units
    • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and union-affiliated services
    • Hospital emergency/trauma services and outpatient specialty clinics
    • Community mental health and private practices serving responders and families
    • Training academies and in-service training support
    • Critical incident response teams, debriefings, and on-call/mobile crisis
    • Secure telehealth platforms aligned with shift work and rural coverage

Training Instructors:

Ellen Kirschman, PhD

Ellen Kirschman, PhD

Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D. is a California-licensed psychologist. and volunteer clinician at the First Responders Support Network. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and The American Psychological Association. Her work has been recognized by the California Psychological Association’s 2014 award for distinguished contribution to psychology and the American Psychological Association’s 2010 award for outstanding contribution to the practice of police and public safety psychology.

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Joel Fay Psy.D, ABPP

Joel Fay Psy.D, ABPP

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.

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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)

<center>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.

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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).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

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), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #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. Palo Alto University 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. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by 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.