ROCKY MOUNTAIN EAPA MARCH SESSION IS IN COLLOBRATION WITH SAN FRANCISCO EAPA!
Please register below for the training to get an email for the day of the training
San Francisco Bay Area Chapter - Monthly Meeting (Virtual)
Our Mission
To Promote Employee Assistance Programs as an effective means of enhancing the well-being and productivity of employees in the workplace, and to facilitate the professional identification of Chapter members and the development of quality Employee Assistance in the San Francisco Bay Area.
March 10, 2026
Joel Fay, PsyD, ABPP
Topic: Counseling Cops: What You Need to Know about Their Culture, Careers, and Stress
Description:
This presentation will provide information about the law enforcement culture, challenges for treatment and treatment approaches that are culturally competent and accepted by responders.
Presentation Schedule:
11:30am-12:00pm PST - Group Introductions
12:00pm-12:30pm PST - Police Attitudes and Careers
12:30pm-1:00pm PST - Clinical Issues in Treating Police
1:00pm-1:20pm PST - Treatment Best Practices
1:20pm-1:30pm PST - Summary/Q&A
Goals:
Develop cultural competency in working with law enforcement personnel.
Recognize the impact of chronic and acute stress on law enforcement personnel.
Understand effective therapeutic approaches for law enforcement personnel.
Objectives:
Participants will be able to identify three unique occupational stressors that impact law enforcement mental health.
Participants will be able to describe at least two evidence-based counseling approaches effective with law enforcement personnel
Outline:
Law Enforcement Attitudes and Careers
Over time, police officers often feel trapped or hopeless about their job, which has important implications for both their personal and professional lives, including their mental health
Police personality traits often prevent them from asking for help and from getting the help they need to live a full and rewarding life
Clinical Issues in Treating Police
There is a significant prevalence of PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorders among active-duty police, much greater than the general population
Treatment approaches with this population must include self-disclosure, experience working with the population, and knowledge of the culture and associated treatment bestpractices
Bio:
Joel Fay Psy.D, ABPP is an Army veteran and worked as a police officer for over 30 years He retired in 2011. In 1999 Dr. Fay obtained his Doctorate in Psychology from American School of Professional
Psychology and is now in private practice working with emergency responders from numerous organizations. Dr. Fay’s specialty areas include psychological treatment for emergency responders, peer support, critical incident stress response, PTSD and police response to persons with mental illness. Dr. Fay teaches a variety of topics for numerous agencies throughout California.
Dr. Fay has authored/co-authored a number of articles and co-authored, “Counseling Cops, What Clinicians Need to Know” published by Guilford. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is on their Psychological Services Committee. Dr. Fay is board certified in Police and Public Safety Psychology. He is a past President of the
Forensic Mental Health Association of California and the First Responder Support Network. Dr. Fay is the current clinical director for the First Responder Support Network. Dr. Fay is a frequent instructor on forensic mental health and trauma reaction/ treatment issues and a guest speaker at numerous conferences throughout the country.
Dr. Fay has received numerous awards for his work including the 2007 Humanitarian Award, presented by the California Psychological Association, the 2012 award for Outstanding Contributions to the Practice of Police & Public Safety Psychology presented by the American
Psychological Association and the 2025 Behavioral Healthcare Professional of the Year award, presented by CIT International.
Citations/References:
Conn, S. M. (2025). Increasing resilience in police and emergency personnel: Strengthening your mental armor (2nd ed.). Routledge
Hofer, Meret & Rineer, Jennifer. (2023). In Consideration of the Behavioral Health of Police. 86. 55-72.
Violanti JM. On Policing—A Matter of Psychological Survival. JAMA NetwOpen. 2020;3(10):e2020231. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.20231
The San Francisco Chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs and/or LEPs. The San Francisco Chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. The Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
The San Francisco Chapter of EAPA can be reached via our website: sfbayeapa.org or by writing us at 32 Madera Blvd, Corte Madera, CA 94925. Contact us for any needed accommodations or to address any grievances. Our CAMFT Continuing Education Provider Number is 57003.
CE Requirements:
Participants will join the course on time and will remain for the entire presentation. Participants will come prepared to learn and participate openly in discussion
Participants will be required to remain 'camera on' the entire presentation.
Participants will be required to submit the course evaluation form before being sent a CE certificate. Any participant with disabilities or other special needs, who need special accommodations in this course are invited to share these concerns or requests at info@sfeapa.org as soon as possible.
Registration is required - If you register and cannot attend, please notify EAPA's administration team at info@eapa.org
CE Unit will only be given for instructional time
We welcome you all to Join our Virtual Monthly Presentation you must register by clicking the 'Virtual Registration' box below.
Once you register you will be sent the Zoom Link