Police burnout is real—and it's hitting law enforcement couples harder than ever. In this episode, we uncover how to recognize burnout, stop it early, and start healing.

Episode Summary: This episode features licensed marriage and family therapist Deana Kale (aka Cop Shrink), who specializes in supporting law enforcement and first responder families. Together, she and Cyndi dive into the realities of burnout in policing and first responder life, exploring how to recognize the signs, distinguish burnout from PTSD, and understand how it impacts officers and their relationships. Deana shares her personal story of burnout, how it nearly broke her, and what strategies she used to reclaim her health and purpose. The conversation offers both professional expertise and lived experience that first responder couples can immediately relate to.

Hosted by Cyndi Doyle, LPC-S, founder of Code4Couples®, retired police spouse, and author of Hold the Line, the podcast is dedicated to helping law enforcement couples protect their relationships and thrive in the unique culture of first responder life.

📖 Grab Cyndi's book 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 training, workshops, or speaking → https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 – Welcome & intro with Deana Kale (Cop Shrink) 03:00 – What burnout really is and how it shows up for first responders 09:00 – Burnout vs. PTSD: Key differences law enforcement needs to know 16:00 – Deana's personal story of hitting burnout and finding recovery 24:00 – The "how, what, why" framework for fighting burnout 33:00 – Protecting officer wellness and family relationships 45:00 – Advice for spouses noticing burnout in their partners 47:00 – Connect with Deana Kale (Cop Shrink)