The Chauvin Verdict and the Future of Policing in America
There is a lot wrong with policing because there is a lot wrong with society.For communities of color, the Chauvin verdict is one winning skirmish in a centuries-old war that shows no signs of slowing.There will be no one-size-fits-all solution but several key changes...
Cops and Shrinks: When to Go to Therapy and Why
Therapy won't make you perfect, but it will help you live a wiser, happier life. In my last post, I wrote that fear about confidentiality is high on the list of reasons cops don’t reach out for help. But there are other reasons like stigma, shame, or the distorted...
Cops & Shrinks: Can You Trust Your Therapist?
What you need to know about confidentiality: when you have it, when you don't. I’ve been blogging about police and first responders with Psychology Today for a couple of years. My most popular post was about cops and PTSD. On the first day of 2021, I saw a comment on...
Goodbye 2020: Don’t Let the Door Hit You in the Butt
Why do we ask cops to stay on the job for decades when many are done in one? 2020 had such a nice sound, so round it rolled right off the tongue. What a metaphor of hope, twenty-twenty vision, the ability to see perfectly without wearing glasses. So much for happy...
Stinking Thinking: How Our Thoughts Determine How We Feel
In police work, thinking the worst can make the job safer and your life harder. “My mind's got a mind of its own It takes me out a-walkin' when I'd rather stay at home Takes me out to parties when I'd rather be alone My mind's got a mind of its own." Music and lyrics...
Calling All Cops: Do You Know Who Has Your Back?
Wisdom from a pioneer cop about connecting to your family during hard times. Dr. Al Benner was a retired police captain, a pioneer in police psychology, co-founder of the West Coast Trauma Retreat for first responders with traumatic stress, and a mentor to many “cop...