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...
Police, Protests, and the Pandemic
Is this the right time to talk to cops about optimism? I recently attended a virtual meeting of Division 18 of the American Psychological Association titled "Current Issues in Police and Public Safety Psychology." There was a range of presentations, all grounded in...
Police, Protests, and the Killing of George Floyd
A police psychologist's 9 ideas for change in these turbulent times. This has been a tough week for me personally. I’ve been fielding calls from friends, relatives, and news outlets. They want to know if I can explain police behavior. They point to the egregious,...
Social Distancing? Not If You’re a Cop: Part 2
I have been a student of Buddhism for more than a decade. It’s been personally useful and has influenced the way I practice psychology. Just this morning, I was reading from The Issue at Hand, Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice by my teacher, Gil Fronsdal. The...
Social Distancing? Not If You’re a Cop
13 tips to help you and your family through this pandemic. As a police psychologist, I am used to responding to crises and offering my help to first responders and families when they need it. It feels bad to be told to stay home, shelter-in-place and even worse to be...