Date of Award
8-24-2024
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
John Holmberg
Second Advisor
Carrie Landin
Third Advisor
Sara Metz
Keywords
First responders, First responder psychology, Law enforcement, Law enforcement officer, Law enforcement psychology, Autoethnography, War stories, Tactical disclosure, Guiding principles
Abstract
Many graduate academic programs at the master’s and doctoral levels offer generalist mental health training that includes specialization specific to services for military and/or public safety members and their families due to the unique factors that impact that segment of the culture which greatly impact psychotherapy and psychological assessment processes and outcomes. For example, increased emphasis on primary and secondary trauma, substance misuse, access to lethal means, hegemonic masculinity, and emotional compartmentalization (Courpasson & Monties, 2017). This paper explores why those in the law enforcement and first responder (LEFR) community appear primed to work especially well with first responder client populations where a past or present shared occupational identity becomes an implicit and/or explicit part of the therapeutic relationship (TR). While historical and current research has confirmed a strong relational bond between therapist and client is critical to the therapeutic process, to date, there is a paucity of research on the degree to which a shared law enforcement and/or first responder identity impacts the TR, treatment processes, or outcomes. To establish a foundation from which to begin work on articulating and studying this area, this paper provides case examples from the author, a former police officer and crisis negotiator turned clinical psychology doctoral intern, to identify clinical dynamics that ostensibly positively impact the TR when clinician and client share a LEFR identity. Inferences made from each case are then supported by the extant literature culminating in the introduction of several guiding principles for clinical practice with LEFR clients in the development of an optimal TR. Strategies to further build a research foundation related to LEFR identity and beneficial therapeutic relationships is provided.
Copyright Date
7-11-2024
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Tyson F. Radons
Provenance
Received from author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
47 pgs
File Size
324 KB
Recommended Citation
Radons, Tyson F., "From Cop to Clinician: Applying an Autoethnography Methodology to Identify the Effects of Law Enforcement Identity on the Development of Therapeutic Relationships with First Responders" (2024). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 524.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/524