Resiliency Behind the Badge
How to Understand and Manage the Impact of Exposure to Violence and Suffering While on Duty
Law enforcement officers are exposed to violence and suffering every day while on duty. They often are the first to respond to the most painful and terrifying events in citizens’ lives. However, officers often don’t recognize or have the opportunity to handle their own needs related to witnessing these stressful events.
Did you know that experiencing extremely stressful events not only causes emotional stress, but can impact your brain and body, resulting in post-traumatic stress? This training will help understand how stress at work causes responses that can impact your body, mind, emotions, and relationships. It will explain common signs of post-traumatic stress that you may not realize are due to the unique work environment of law enforcement.
In this training, you will learn concrete techniques to notice your own stress warning signs and manage your stress that go beyond the traditional instruction of “make time to exercise and get plenty of sleep”. We will discuss how to talk to fellow officers who may be struggling with traumatic stress symptoms and ways to support them. You will gain understanding of signs it may be time to reach out for help from a professional who can help you manage the effects of encountering violence and suffering while on the job.
This training is perfect for any law enforcement officer who wants to gain a deeper understanding of how their mind and body react to on-the-job stress and learn actionable steps they can take to manage that stress. Trainees will receive a digital certification of completion after successfully finishing all 8 modules.
At the end of this training, trainees will have:
- A framework to understand how witnessing suffering and violence can influence an officer both at home and on the job
- Calming techniques to use when experiencing stressful work situations and their aftereffects
- Tips to discuss post-traumatic stress with fellow officers who may be suffering in silence
- Strategies to distinguish when to seek professional help and how to find help that is right for you
Learn more:
What our training partners have to say: "The stress and trauma law enforcement officers experience on a day-to-day basis is not something that is talked about enough. This innovative program is a positive step in addressing this issue head on and ensuring the proper supports are in place for law enforcement officers." -- Gilchrist County, FL Sheriff Bobby Schultz, president of the Florida Sheriffs Association.
What our trainees are saying:
- "I am a law enforcement officer and it was very important to maintaining a self-observance of the toll everyday crises you can and ultimately will encounter no matter where you work."
- "The course was understandable and personal to LEO work."
- "Good class, good format, have used it extensively, appreciate the opportunity."
Training length: 3 hours
Training type: Interactive, asynchronous
Training cost: $149.99
Need help or have questions? Access answers to frequently asked questions here. For additional help, please contact Amberly Prykhodko at aprykhodko@fsu.edu
For a custom quote for live training, please contact Amberly Prykhodko at aprykhodko@fsu.edu
Trainer: Amberly Prykhodko, LCSW
Amberly Prykhodko (she/her) is the Director of Clinical and Professional Services where she spearheads the development and implementation of IJRD's professional certifications, specialty trainings, and other offerings designed for practitioners and key stakeholders in both correctional and community serviced. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience working directly with individuals who have experienced incredibly overwhelming and stressful, or traumatic events, such as homicide and suicide. Her clinical work has focused on helping people manage the aftereffects of trauma including mental health and substance use disorders, homelessness, and criminal justice system contact including incarceration. Prykhodko frequently treats law enforcement officers in her therapy practice and is passionate about providing real tools that can help manage the impact of their frequent exposure to violence and suffering and the aftereffects of this exposure. She has extensive knowledge on the neurobiology of trauma and she has worked with many nationally recognized experts developing and delivering cutting-edge trauma treatments. Additionally, Prykhodko is a seasoned instructor and trainer – she has trained hundreds of practitioners and clinical service providers, non-profit administrators and staff, and correctional stakeholders to recognize trauma symptoms in themselves, their loved ones, and their coworkers.