In this powerful episode of the Street Cop Podcast, Dennis Benigno, founder and CEO of Street Cop Training, is joined by special guest host and Street Cop Instructor Ely Alfonso, alongside renowned trauma expert Dr. Shauna Springer. Together, they dive deep into the unique challenges that first responders face, both mentally and emotionally. Dr. Springer, a leading psychologist specializing in trauma and resilience, discusses the differences between veterans' and first responders' trauma, effective techniques for managing stress, and the critical importance of mental health support within law enforcement agencies.

They explore the stigma around seeking help, how agencies can better structure mental health support, and why understanding trauma is crucial to helping those who protect and serve. From the need for professional care to the importance of addressing physical injuries related to trauma, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in law enforcement or first response roles.

Listen in for an eye-opening conversation that could make a real difference in how we support our first responders.

Timestamps:

00:00:00:00 - 00:01:05:16Teaser00:01:05:16 - 00:01:36:01Intro00:01:36:01 - 00:03:29:17Dr. Springer’s background00:03:29:17 - 00:05:48:21A veteran’s trauma vs. a first responder’s trauma00:05:48:21 - 00:12:54:04Techniques to relieve stress caused by intense situations00:12:54:04 - 00:14:49:13When should people reach out for professional mental health support?00:14:49:13 - 00:22:03:03How to structure mental health support within police agencies00:22:03:03 - 00:29:22:16Being punished for seeking support in law enforcement00:29:22:16 - 00:34:44:10The lack of understanding about trauma00:34:44:10 - 00:44:02:03Treating the physical injury of trauma00:44:02:03 - 00:48:04:11The need for support amongst first reponders00:48:04:11 - 00:54:46:02How to not break the bank going to Disneyworld00:54:46:02 - 00:56:09:18Optimization00:56:09:18 - 00:57:35:13Outro