Holiday survival for law enforcement couples: stop family conflict & create peace this season. Holidays can be tough for police spouses and first responder families. From in-law drama to shift work and mismatched expectations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. This episode gives you tools to handle holiday stress, protect your relationship, and keep the season joyful.

✨ What you'll learn in this episode:

How to talk through expectations and traditions as a couple

Setting boundaries with family and protecting your energy

Practical strategies to handle conflict and triggering comments

Ways to support your spouse when holidays feel overwhelming

How to create your own "happy holiday" as a law enforcement family

👩‍💼 Hosted by Cyndi Doyle, LPC-S, author of Hold the Line and founder of Code4Couples®. As a retired police spouse and counselor, she brings real-life experience and tools that work for first responder couples.

👉 Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship

🎤 Want Cyndi to speak at your department or event? Book here → https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 Holiday stress and "The 12 Pains of Christmas" 02:00 Family expectations & in-law pressure 06:00 Boundaries and "code words" for support 10:00 Handling traditions, rituals & flexibility 16:00 Protecting your energy during the season 20:00 Conflict strategies & handling triggering comments 33:00 Passive aggressive remarks and positive spin 40:00 Leaving or limiting time with toxic family 43:00 Final strategies to create a happy holiday

Being married to law enforcement isn't easy — the stress, the trauma, the long hours, and the silence can leave police spouses feeling invisible and alone. In this episode, Dr. Ellen Kirschman, author of I Love a Cop, shares what every law enforcement couple needs to know about protecting their relationship and building resilience as a first responder family.

Episode Summary (value + takeaways) In this conversation with Dr. Ellen Kirschman, we cover:

Why law enforcement families often feel unsupported and isolated

How trauma and stigma impact police officers and their spouses

The reality of burnout for both officers and partners

Resources like I Love a Cop and the First Responder Support Network retreats

Practical advice for spouses to set boundaries, find balance, and reconnect

Dr. Ellen Kirschman is an award-winning police psychologist, author of I Love a Cop, Counseling Cops, and the Dot Meyerhoff mystery series. She has worked with law enforcement families for over 40 years and volunteers with the First Responder Support Network in California.

📖 Grab your copy of Hold the Line: Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship → https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Want Cyndi to speak at your agency or retreat? Book here → https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 – Welcome & intro 02:00 – Who is Dr. Ellen Kirschman? 06:00 – The origins of I Love a Cop 14:00 – Why police families feel isolated 20:00 – Trauma, PTSD, and first responder retreats 30:00 – Burnout for spouses & families 40:00 – Police marriage advice & communication 55:00 – Closing thoughts

In this episode, Cyndi sits down with Allison Uribe, chaplain, speaker, and author of Because I'm Suitable and Cuffs and Coffee. Allison opens up about the struggles she and her husband faced early in their law enforcement marriage and how faith, perseverance, and intentional choices transformed their relationship. She shares the story of founding Wives on Duty Ministries and how her work now extends to spouses, children, and families of officers nationwide.

Short Episode Summary (Audience Benefits): What you'll learn in this conversation:

Why law enforcement marriages feel so different from civilian ones

How hypervigilance and emotional disconnection impact police family life

The turning point that shifted Allison's marriage from almost over to thriving

How Wives on Duty Ministries and Kids on Duty are supporting families of officers today

Encouragement for spouses who feel alone in the struggle

I'm Cyndi Doyle, licensed professional counselor supervisor, retired police wife, author of Hold the Line, and founder of Code4Couples®. I help first responder couples build stronger relationships and navigate the unique challenges of law enforcement life.

(free resource/book): 📖 Grab your copy of Hold the Line: Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship → https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

Featured Guest Book Link: ☕ Explore Allison Uribe's devotional Cuffs & Coffee → https://www.amazon.com/Cuffs-Coffee-Devotional-Wives-Enforcement/dp/154237195

(speaking/booking): 🎤 Book Cyndi for training, workshops, or keynotes → https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 – Welcome & intro with Cyndi 02:00 – Allison's story: near divorce and turning to faith 07:30 – Founding Wives on Duty Ministries 15:00 – What changed in Allison's marriage 22:00 – Law enforcement family life challenges 30:00 – Support for kids of officers (Kids on Duty) 40:00 – Allison's advice for police spouses 46:00 – Closing & resources

In this episode, Cyndi sits down with Kathy and Javier Bustos, "That Peer Support Couple," to discuss their experiences retiring from law enforcement as a dual-police couple. They share the emotional and practical challenges of leaving the badge behind, including identity shifts, relationship adjustments, and redefining purpose after decades of service.

Short Summary – What You'll Learn:

How Kathy and Javi transitioned from active duty to retirement

The impact of retirement on marriage and family life

Why identity shifts and grief are normal after leaving the badge

Tips for planning ahead and retiring "to something" meaningful

How they now serve first responder families through peer support & training

Hosted by Cyndi Doyle, founder of Code4Couples®, licensed professional counselor supervisor, author of Hold the Line, and retired police spouse. Cyndi helps first responder couples build resilience and protect their relationships.

📖 Grab Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship → https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Book Cyndi to speak at your department, conference, or event → https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 Intro 02:30 Kathy & Javi's law enforcement careers 07:00 Deciding when it's time to retire 15:00 Identity shifts & grief after retirement 22:00 How retirement impacts marriage dynamics 30:00 Peer support and serving after the badge 42:00 Advice for dual law enforcement couples

The holiday season can be challenging for any couple. For law enforcement couples, we know that it's going to bring an absence to regularly scheduled events and rituals. What can be kind of nice is the increased need for off-duty officers at shopping centers and churches, or the overtime that comes with having to work events, or the holidays themselves. That extra dump of income can be really nice and helpful, and even make the separation worth it during the holidays.

It can also get couples in trouble if they plan on the cash to catch them up with bills that they've incurred throughout the years. The OT and off -duty can also have a side effect on officers creating a safety issue and stress and conflict in your relationship.

It's important, especially during the holidays, to decide how you want to take advantage of the situation and honor how you want to celebrate and connect over the holiday season. Overtime and off -duty can be great. Just don't let it be a trap. Today, I'm rebooting one of my favorite episodes with now -retired sheriff's deputy, financial coach, and podcaster Jason Hoshauer, and his wife, Katie, as they talk about the financial trap they've found themselves in and how they recovered.

In this episode, Cyndi sits down with Kate Pieper, LMFT, who specializes in trauma and resilience for first responders. Kate shares her "Holding Onto Happy" resilience model (H.A.P.P.Y.), designed to help law enforcement officers, police spouses, and first responder families build habits, regulate emotions, and recover from trauma. Together, they discuss practical ways officers and couples can "floss their brains," prevent burnout, and stay connected to their why—both individually and as a couple.

👮‍♀️ What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The H.A.P.P.Y. model for resilience and why it works for first responder families

Daily habits that protect mental health (gratitude, exercise, meditation, sleep)

How to "floss your brain" and prevent emotional burnout

The power of perspective, permission, and knowing your why

How law enforcement couples can build resilience together

Cyndi Doyle is the founder of Code4Couples®, licensed professional counselor supervisor, retired police spouse, author of Hold the Line, and host of the Code4Couples Podcast. She helps law enforcement officers and their spouses protect their relationships and build resilience.

📖 Grab Cyndi's Book: Hold the Line

👉 https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Book Cyndi for Training or Speaking

👉 https://code4couples.com/training/

🌐 Connect with Kate Pieper, LMFT

Website: https://katepieperlmft.com

Email: [email protected]

00:00 – Introduction & Kate's background 05:00 – The story behind "Holding Onto Happy" 12:00 – Daily resilience habits: gratitude, sleep, exercise, meditation 20:00 – Flossing your brain: what it means for officers 28:00 – The importance of perspective & permission 36:00 – Knowing your why: building resilient identity 45:00 – Applying resilience habits as a couple 52:00 – Resources & how to connect with Kate

This episode features retired Chief Doug Wyman, who shares his deeply personal story of navigating the opioid epidemic, addiction in his family, his wife's struggles with mental illness and suicide, and the impact of carrying those burdens while leading as a police chief. He opens up about the isolation of leadership, the shame and guilt first responders often face, and the critical role of early intervention and peer support in preventing trauma from becoming destructive.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

How a police chief managed addiction and mental health struggles inside his own family while serving his community

The hidden cost of leadership: loneliness, shame, and the feeling of helplessness law enforcement leaders face

Why early intervention and peer support can mean the difference between trauma and post-traumatic growth

The role of faith, resilience training, and chaplain support in recovery

How Doug turned his pain into purpose, now teaching officer wellness and resilience to future leaders

I'm Cyndi Doyle, founder of Code4Couples®, licensed professional counselor supervisor, retired police spouse, and author of Hold the Line. I help first responder couples protect their relationships, strengthen family resilience, and find connection in a culture that often feels isolating.

📌 Get the Book — Hold the Line: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Book Cyndi for Speaking/Training: 👉 https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Doug's story: addiction, family struggle, and the opioid epidemic 10:00 – Surviving his wife's mental illness and suicide 18:00 – The role of peer support and chaplaincy in recovery 27:00 – Choosing better over bitter: post-traumatic growth 37:00 – Teaching officer wellness and resilience 44:00 – Hope and healing for first responder families

Feeling distant from your spouse? Here's how trauma and shift work quietly disconnect law enforcement couples — and how to rebuild intimacy.

EPISODE SUMMARY This episode dives deep into the unique challenges law enforcement couples face — from emotional disconnection and trauma's ripple effects to rebuilding intimacy and trust. Cyndi Doyle, LPC-S and founder of Code4Couples, joins Adam Davis to unpack how hypervigilance, shift work, and unspoken stress erode connection. Through real stories and practical communication tools, Cyndi explains how to reconnect, rebuild emotional intimacy, and strengthen resilience as a team.

Cyndi Doyle, LPC-S, NCC, is a licensed professional counselor supervisor, author of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship, and the founder of Code4Couples®. She helps first responder couples build strong, connected, and trauma-informed relationships that can thrive beyond the badge.

📘 Get Cyndi's book "Hold the Line" on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Book Cyndi to speak or train your department → https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 Intro & Adam's welcome 01:00 How Code4Couples began 04:00 The truth about "communication problems" in police marriages 08:00 How trauma changes the way couples connect 12:00 Vulnerability and emotional honesty in law enforcement relationships 16:00 When your spouse withdraws — how to approach with empathy 20:00 Physical touch and intimacy after trauma 27:00 Keeping your relationship on "simmer" 29:00 Cyndi's message on living unconquered 31:00 Wrap-up & resources

There are a lot of statistics that go around with law enforcement and domestic violence. "Google 40% in Law Enforcement or maybe just the comment "40%."

Those are the comments I sometimes get in my posts or in my reels on Instagram. I know exactly what it means when I read it. They are referring to the popular statistic that 40% of Law Enforcement engage in acts of violence against their spouse or their children. What many people do not know or share to care, is that this statistic is from two research articles. One from 1991, the other from 1992. This statistic has not been able to be duplicated since that time.

October is Domestic Violence awareness month making it the perfect time to have the conversation. Not only about DV, but a real conversation about what to do if you think you or your spouse might be unintentionally crossing the line.

To help give some clarity to the line between domestic violence and bad behavior, I interviewed Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT Fellow, LCMHC, and LPC, is an expert in domestic violence and an expert witness in PTSD for this podcast.

Is It My Fault? Hope and healing for those suffering from Domestic Violence. By Lindsey Holcomb

National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/

Tabitha's Practice: www.thejourneryandtheprocess.com

Police burnout doesn't have to define you — discover how men's work is helping officers rebuild from the inside out. If you've been feeling disconnected or exhausted by the job, this episode offers a fresh path to resilience, purpose, and brotherhood.

Episode Summary In this episode, Cyndi sits down again with Garrett Law, host of The Squad Room Podcast and a 20-year law enforcement veteran, to talk about men's work—what it really means and why it matters for first responders. Garrett shares his journey from burnout and guardedness to rediscovering purpose and connection through retreats designed specifically for first responders and veterans. Together, they explore how male officers can safely step away from the chaos, reconnect with who they are outside the badge, and build authentic community with other men doing the same work. The conversation highlights how these experiences can transform not only personal wellness but also relationships and leadership back home.

Hosted by Cyndi Doyle, licensed professional counselor supervisor, retired police spouse, and author of Hold the Line, the Code4Couples® Podcast brings real conversations that help law enforcement officers and their spouses build stronger, healthier relationships.

📘 Grab your copy of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship → 👉 https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Book Cyndi for speaking or training events → 👉 https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 – Welcome & introduction with Garrett Law 02:00 – What "men's work" really means 05:00 – Why burnout and isolation hit law enforcement men hard 09:30 – The power of retreats and connection 13:00 – Overcoming guardedness and rediscovering purpose 19:00 – The crisis of disconnection among men 25:00 – How to know if this work is for you 30:00 – Upcoming retreat details and impact 33:00 – Closing thoughts & resources