Preparing Clinicians to Support Those Who Serve and Protect
UCF RESTORES is dedicated to bridging the gap between mental health clinicians and the law enforcement community. Our Law Enforcement Cultural Competency Training prepares clinicians to address the unique mental health needs of law enforcement officers with evidence-based care.
This course introduces master’s and doctoral-level clinicians to the language, challenges, and culture of law enforcement, focusing on the occupational risks that contribute to PTSD and other mental health concerns. Didactic material is augmented by videos of law enforcement officials discussing various aspects of their job, culture, and challenges, providing real world examples.
The course will address:
- The culture of law enforcement, including its values, dynamics, and unique challenges;
- The unusual and often strained relationship between the effects of chronic occupational exposure to trauma on the physical and mental health of law enforcement officers; and,
- Evidence-based treatments for trauma and the clinician’s role in supporting mental health within the law enforcement community.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Define the role and function of law enforcement in the United States;
- Describe law enforcement culture, including the unique factors that shape public perceptions and internal dynamics;
- Identify the specific physical and mental health effects of police work;
- Discuss various ways in which mental health clinicians can effectively collaborate with law enforcement; and,
- Recognize and apply evidence-based trauma treatments shown to be effective within first responder populations.
The course is approved by the American Psychological Association for 4.25 CE credits, and completion fulfills the first step toward registration on Blueline Rescue, an online directory of clinicians who have completed specialized didactic and practical training to better understand (and better serve) law enforcement officers and their families.
This course will be available in Summer 2025.