Articles
A Girl’s Letter to Her School
A Girl's Letter to Her School The Daughter of a Police Officer In the 14th year of my law enforcement career, I walked into a murder scene comprised of the bodies of my partner and our sergeant. I eventually descended into the depths of PTSD, and found my way out with the help of a trauma counselor and my family. My 15 year old daughter recently wrote to her school counselor about a PTSD...
Master Police Coaches – Building a Better Cop
Master Police Coaches - Building a Better Cop Marla Friedman, Psy.D. PC Police Psychologist Born out of the academy, the Probationer is a blank slate. Mega assembly is required, running the gamut from appropriate deployment of de-escalation and tactical skills training, mental health and suicide prevention techniques, and development of a mentoring relationship, which transitions throughout...
So-Called “Helpers”
So-Called "Helpers" Jim L. Russell I really like my job. Really, I do. I got into this profession to make a difference in the world and although I have found that the impacts I have made are in individual lives and not on a large scale, they have value and give me a sense of personal fulfillment. Sure, it's not an easy job, but it has not disappointed me in its challenges, moments of pride,...
STIGMA – The Human Stain
STIGMA - The Human Stain Marla Friedman, Psy.D. PC Police Psychologist S-T-I-G-M-A, These 6 powerful letters stop our officers from getting the help they need. In fact it stops a lot of people from seeking mental health treatment. Somehow we leapt into the 21 Century, but brought our 20th Century ignorance and misconceptions with us--like holding on to the idea that the world is flat or that...
Chiefs Lead the Way
Chiefs Lead The Way Marla Friedman, Psy.D. PC Police Psychologist A Top-Down Approach to Addressing Police Trauma and Suicide A 21st century approach to identifying cumulative stress and trauma by allowing chiefs to do what they do best—lead by training and example. Everyone has the responsibility to make sure they are fit for the difficult job of being a peace officer, but acceptance and...
Bring a Buddy
"Bring a Buddy" Marla Friedman, Psy.D. PC Police Psychologist For years I have been training First Responders on the importance of seeking and maintaining good mental health. As you can imagine I’ve come up against a lot of resistance. Fighting the stigma related to pursuing good mental health is an ongoing battle. I do believe my peers and I have made some positive inroads in this area. However...
Cumulative PTSD – A Silent Killer
Cumulative PTSD - A Silent Killer Badge of Life™ staff Cumulative posttraumatic stress disorder is a common enough malady for emergency responders. Unfortunately, it is subtle in its buildup and complex in its symptomatology, and is usually ignored by the responder and his department until it’s too late. Before we get started, let’s define cumulative. Cumulative is “increasing or increased in...















