CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
IN FIRST RESPONDER PSYCHOLOGY

To learn more about the First Responders Psychology Program or to speak with an admissions counselor, please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

The Wright Institute’s First Responder Psychology program prepares psychologists and other health and mental health clinicians to serve emergency response, disaster recovery workers, and those in other high-risk occupations.

Ours is among the first programs of its kind in the U.S. to address this vital area of service.

The classes—offered individually or as part of the First Responder Psychology Certificate Program—provide instruction aimed at enabling you to perform culturally sensitive first responder psychology services that support resiliency and recovery. The three course curriculum plus an experiential training practicum aims to help build a clinical workforce able to address the needs of our public servants, in areas of trauma, and in addressing racial and social justice conflicts that arise in the course of their work. This growing field needs bright, imaginative psychologists ready to tackle big questions. Will you join us?

STARTING APRIL 18:
ASSESSMENT

ONLINE COURSE
THURSDAYS 5-8PM



Learn to perform pre-employment screening for potential firefighter and police officer candidates, fitness-for-duty evaluations, evaluations for high-risk assignments, direct threat assessments, and emergency consultations concerning the seriously mentally ill.

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Flexible


LEARNING


Choose individual classes or complete the series of three courses to earn the certificate of completion acknowledging advanced preparation for serving the psychological needs of the first responder community. All classes are offered remotely.

First Responder Psychology program classes are open to:

The Program offers certification (pending WASC approval) for practicing psychologists, other licensed clinicians, matriculating doctoral students, and for non-matriculated students who complete the entire series of courses and practicum.

IT’S EASY TO GET STARTED

Through our successful distance learning format, with trimester-long individual classes, you will achieve full certification in as little as a year.

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

Our


CURRICULUM




The comprehensive curriculum incorporates 10 foundational and 55 functional competencies within three domains essential to practicing clinicians who work with emergency responders and public safety organizations*. These three domains are anchored through a three-course curriculum:

OPERATIONS &
CONSULTATION
INTERVENTION

Learn to give strategic, analytic, expert guidance and professional assistance to personnel, groups, and organizations to aid them in their work. Explore ways to consult and assist supervisors, managers, groups, and organizations for the purpose of improving group and organizational functioning. Specific consultation examples include identifying implicit bias, working with the mentally ill, and managing crises.

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INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Mark Kamena, PhD, ABPP, MBA, M.Crim.

COURSE DATES:
Thursdays 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM,
September 7 - December 7, 2023

COST:

$ 750


SEE THE FULL COURSE DESCRIPTION

Explore first responder psychology, intervention issues, and treatment strategies. Learn the ways critical incident stress manifests in first responders, how to formulate an understanding of the clinical picture, and how to develop a treatment plan. Interact with first responders and first responder clinicians to develop skills normally only possible in the field.

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INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Nancy Bohl-Penrod, PhD.

COURSE DATES:
Thursdays 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM,
January 4 - March 28, 2024

COST:

$ 750


SEE THE FULL COURSE DESCRIPTION
ASSESSMENT

Learn to perform pre-employment screening for potential firefighter and police officer candidates, fitness-for-duty evaluations, evaluations for high-risk assignments, direct threat assessments, and emergency consultations concerning the seriously mentally ill.

Learn More ...


INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Casey Stewart, PsyD

COURSE DATES:
Thursdays 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM,
April 18 - June 20, 2024

COST:

$ 750


SEE THE FULL COURSE DESCRIPTION

Each course is worth three credit hours, is one trimester long, and teaches relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to practice in this area. In addition, classes cover the legal, ethical, and cultural issues relevant to this area of practice. A brief, supervised practicum experience will complete the certificate training.

*American Academy of Police & Public Safety, American Board of Professional Psychology, American Psychological Association Div. 18, Int’l Association of Chiefs of Police, Society for Police & Criminal Psychology


Program


FACULTY


Teaching faculty are licensed psychologists who actively work with firefighters, EMTs, police officers, correctional officers, dispatchers, and their families. Guest speakers are recognized experts within the field. Click each course above to learn more.


Get Started

To enroll, or to request more information, please contact:
Cassandra Dilosa, Academic Program Manager
Ph: 510.841.9230 ext. 115
Email: cdilosa@wi.edu
Or fill in the form below: