Mental Health Intervention and Treatment with Law Enforcement and First Responders

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Overview

This presentation will provide an expansive look into the many unique and specific variables that should be considered when providing mental health treatment and psychological interventions to Law Enforcement. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview for clinicians who are considering providing mental health services or specialization with the Law Enforcement/ First Responder population.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Explain useful qualities and attributes of Mental Health Professionals when working with Law Enforcement professionals.
• Identify the culture of Law Enforcement and will be able to identify factors unique to successful collaboration and treatment with law enforcement personnel in the clinical setting. Presentation will focus on the recent increase in cumulative stress and suicides amongst this population and the increased need for intervention.
• Define Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACES) and the Neurobiology of Trauma
• Describe the i​impacts​ ​of career cumulative traumatic stress on the body and brain. Areas of focus will include metabolic syndrome, fatigue, sleep disorders suicide risk assessment and clinical interventions
• Identify, and provide discussion regarding interventions, challenges and outcomes based treatment. Attendees will be given an overview of Post Critical Intervention Seminars and need for ongoing treatment referrals.
• Improve understanding through round table panel discussion with law enforcement and clinicians.

Workshop Information:

Course Date:

December 9, 2021

Meeting Time:

9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

CEs:

6

Tuition:

• $150 – Regular
• $125 – FI/Alumni Rate
• Free – Students

Faculty Bios

Jim Banish, NYLEAP President

Jim has served 20 years as a patrol officer, working in many different roles along the way. In 2008 his life and career took on a whole new path after his brother Lt. Joseph Banish NYSP took his life on April 1st. For several years after Jim’s life became very tumultuous and he was suffering from deep depression directly related to his job and the traumas that he had experienced over his career. When Jim was beyond the point where he needed to get help, he discovered that it wasn’t as readily available as one would think. Fortunately for Jim he was able to get the help he needed but discovered that this was a problem within Law Enforcement Nationwide. He decided to act by identifying resources in his local area first and also reaching out to fellow officers who Jim knew were struggling as he was, and then directing them to the resources that he had discovered. Over the past 7 years Jim has expanded by helping other officers throughout the country and assisting the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services with educating others and assisting in teaching a class called TRAUMA all over NYS. When requested, Jim even travels to other parts of the Country to share this training with Law Enforcement Agencies. Jim is currently a Patrol Officer and the Peer Support Coordinator with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. His main goal is to continue to help other officers in need by assisting them through their trauma and also by providing education to all Law Enforcement so that signs and symptoms do not go unnoticed and that we break the stigma which comes with getting help. NYLEAP was started for that exact reason and will bring that education and assistance to Law Enforcement agencies all over New York. NYLEAP is working in conjunction with other States and will continue to bring assistance and awareness in an effort to stop Law Enforcement Suicides and provide a better quality of life to Law Enforcement families.

Cathy Menzies, LCSW-R, Founder/Director

Cathy has over 25 years of clinical expertise in the areas of behavioral health and trauma treatment with children, adults, law enforcement and first responders. She has served as a Forensic expert for NY Family and Supreme Courts, as a clinical supervisor for schools, residential treatment, hospitals, and community mental health programs. Cathy specializes as a Certified Trauma therapist utilizing EMDR, (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing psychotherapy) which is an integrative evidence based effective psychotherapy for the treatment of trauma.
Cathy is the Founder of Consultation Treatment Services, a group private therapy practice in Floral Park, NY and Wantagh, NY which specializes in trauma treatment and holds several independent consulting contracts providing assessment, intervention, critical incident response, trauma treatment, supervision, and program development. Cathy is an Adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at Adelphi University and has provided training, and consultation in the field of mental health.
Cathy holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from Fordham University. She has several post master’s certificates in Alcoholism and Addictive Behavior, Trauma, Mindfulness Based Tools and Practices and Nutritional and Integrative Medicine.

Stacey Stevens, MS, LMHC

Stacey has been a clinician since 1997 and focuses on the unique needs of children, teens & adults affected by trauma including sexual abuse, foster care & grief. Stacey also addresses issues related to anxiety & coping concerns. She is an EMDR Approved Consultant and has presented on local, state & national levels regarding clinical issues & challenges regarding anxiety, sexual abuse, trauma & foster care.

Lynda Spiegel, LMHC

Lynda Spiegel is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and certified EMDR therapist. She is a retired lieutenant from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the first woman hired for the road patrol. She was the class counselor for a basic police recruit class, a field training officer and completed a rotation in Community Services. As a sergeant, she spent six years as a road patrol supervisor. She was a sergeant in the training unit where she coordinated and supervised pre-service, field training and in-service training for the police, jail, and court bureaus. As a lieutenant she was assigned to records and then returned to the road as a patrol commander. After retirement, she returned to school where she earned her LMHC and has a private practice and sees only first responders in her office in Buffalo NY.

Christine Sullivan, LMSW

Christine is an EMDRIA approved EMDR trauma therapist in a group practice with offices in Wantagh & Floral Park NY ctstherapy.org and has over 10 years’ experience helping clients to restore balance, calm and well-being back to their bodies, mind and spirit. Christine holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from Adelphi University. She has post master’s certificates in Mindfulness Based Tools and Practices and Nutritional and Integrative Medicine as well as many years in providing an array of healing treatment modalities.

Catherine M. Jacobsen

Ms. Jacobsen has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Marist College, a master’s degree in Counseling from Long Island University and an Advanced Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. She retired from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in October 2019 with 31 years with the Department. When she retired, she was Superintendent of Wallkill Correctional Facility. She held various positions in her career from Correction Counselor/ Senior Counselor/ Deputy Superintendent/ Assistant Commissioner/ Acting Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent. Ms. Jacobsen is currently in Private Practice in Newburgh, NY.

Beth Northup LMHC

Beth has been working as a counselor in substance abuse since 1993 and obtained her LMHC in 2007. Since 2008 she has worked in Corrections in the counseling department. She has a part time private practice. She has been involved with mindfulness before it was cool in 2001. She has been trained in Critical Incident Stress Management, Individual, Advanced and Groups as well as EMDR. Working with people who have experienced traumatic stress and trauma informed care has been an area she has studied and trained staff in for the past 10 years. She firmly believes workplace wellness and self-care is crucial to a work life balance. She is pleased to be a part of this very important initiative.

Panel Presenters

Scott Neff

Scott is a program manager in the Program Services Unit of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Office of Public Safety. He presents across NYS on the topics of law enforcement suicide prevention, PTSD and Officer Wellness. He is the architect of the NYS DCJS T.R.A.U.M.A. program, coordinates the NYS DCJS peer support training efforts, coordinated the development of the DCJS Officer Wellness Curriculum for the Basic Course for Police, developed the Officer Wellness Curriculum Orientation training and was key in the development of last year’s Executive Summit on LE Mental Health and Wellness. He has attended the ICISF Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention classes as well as the ASIST suicide intervention class. He also serves as a peer for NYLEAP Post Critical Incident Seminars. He has served in the LE community for over 30 years.

Elliot T. Boyce, Sr., M.A., M.P.A
New York State Police
Senior Investigator / Director

A native New Yorker, Elliot Boyce began his distinguished 33-year career with the New York State Police in 1987. In 1996, he was appointed to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation as an Investigator, where he was assigned to the Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, working multiple level narcotics cases throughout much of the Central, Southern and Western New York areas. In 1998, Boyce was cross-designated a U.S. Customs Officer by the U.S. Department of Treasury. In 1999, he completed the New York State Police Basic Hate/Bias Criminal Investigations School to become a Bias Crimes Investigator. He was instrumental in furthering recruitment initiatives to maintain and increase diversity within the ranks of the New York State Police. In 2004, Boyce completed Crisis Negotiations School to join the elite group of New York State Police Crisis Negotiators. He was deputized as a Drug Enforcement Agent Task Force Officer to assist with major narcotics investigations. In 2005, he started his tenure as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Justice at the State University College of New York at Oswego. In 2015, Boyce was accepted into the distinguished New York State Police Employee Assistance Program and subsequently promoted to Senior Investigator / Director.

Senior Investigator Boyce earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Justice from the State University of New York at Oswego, a Master’s in Criminal Justice from the School of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Albany and a Master’s in Public Administration at Marist College. In 2021, Elliot obtained a Diversity & Inclusion Certification from Cornell University.

Ronald Schoelerman, LCSW

Ronald Schoelerman is a LCSW and Director Of Intensive Adult Mental Health Services with the Erie County Department Of Mental Health. Ronald is stationed at the Erie County Jail and Supervises other Social Workers in his Unit. Even though they are there to work with the population, they also support and assist staff as well. Ronald is a retired Veteran and has conducted several trainings on the topic of Post-Traumatic Stress; The Neurological impact of Trauma and also Moral Injury.

Adelphi University School of Social Work is an approved provider for continuing education credits for the following:

• NYSED Social Workers
• NYSED LMHC
• NYSED LMFT
• APA Psychology
• NYSED Psychology
• NYSED LCAT
• CASAC Renewal pending approval

Successful completion for the award of approved continuing education credits requires attendance at the entire training/workshop and submission of a completed evaluation form.

See full credentialing information and CEUs

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.