Resources
General Books
Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud
https://www.boundariesbooks.com/collections/all
I Love a Cop by Ellen Kircshman, PhD.
Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement by Kevin M Gilmartin, Ph.D.
Meditation for Warriors by Loren Christenson
Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Coming to Our Senses by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Facing Codependency by Pia Mellody *has a workbook I highly recommend*
Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick
Tapping In by Laurel Parnell
Trainings
Certified First Responder Counselor by Academy Hour
This is the standardization of cultural education and treatment of First responders for psychologists and counselors. It is a must if a clinician is working with first responders.
Couples
Boundaries in Marriage by Townsend and Cloud
https://www.boundariesbooks.com/collections/all
Website on couple activities to improve communication and connection
https://positivepsychology.com/couples-therapy-worksheets-activities/
Apps
Most all of these apps are free and used in my practice on a regular basis. Apps are a helpful way to add to therapy or find resources. Finding good apps that do not cost tons of money or sell your data is vital. This list is always changing, feel leave a comment with any apps that you have found helpful, I’ll try it out for a while and consider adding it to the list.
*No app is meant to be a substitute for therapy itself. *
Insight Timer: a meditation app from the world’s leaders in meditation and mindfulness.
AIMS: A Veterans Administration funded anger management course that can be used by anyone.
DBT Coach: learn, practice and track DBT skills and usage.
Breathe Easy: by Mood Tools, inc. learn how to breathe with structure to enact the body’s natural soothing mechanisms.
Fear Tools: Contains tools to deal with fears, has an exposure hierarchy log, breathing tool, thought diary, helpful videos and self-administered assessments. This is a helpful adjunct to therapy when working on fear-based problems or when exposure is done as homework.
Mood Tools: Focuses on depression symptoms. Provides information about depression, treatment of depression, and coping skills to practice when not in therapy.
Panic Shield: Provides information, grounding techniques, and coping skills for someone that experiences panic attacks.
PTSD Coach: Helpful skills and resources for someone struggling with PTSD. Has extensive coping skills.
Safety Plan: by Blue Bird Technologies. Create a suicide safety plan with or without the help of your therapist. This app allows for your safety plan to be with you all the time and includes interactive coping skills to use in the moment of crisis.
What’s Up?: Provides space for a journal of positive/negative habits, mood, and other notes. It also offers many coping skills, words of encouragement, and information on various mental health concerns. *Not to be confused with social media app Whats app*
Other Resources
Birdwell Foundation
Helpful for first responders, military, and veterans with mental health struggles.
https://www.birdwellfoundation.org
Rise and Respond
Non-profit that provides resources and support for First Responders.
Academy Hour
Provides training, online support groups, and resources to first responders.