Fire Service Psychology Association

08/25/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://firepsychology.org/2026-fire-psychology-conference/, for all the details.

"From Fragmented to Unified: Implementing a Statewide Zero Su***de Framework for the Florida Fire Service,"--Dr. Ashley T. Winch

Dr. Winch is a licensed clinical psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCF (University of Central Florida) RESTORES.

She serves as a lead clinician on the crisis response team, responding to departments in the wake of line-of-duty deaths, su***des, and officer-involved shootings.

Dr. Winch’s research focuses on firearm safety and su***de prevention, with a particular emphasis on identifying risk factors and prevention strategies for first responder su***de.

08/22/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://firepsychology.org/2026-fire-psychology-conference/, for all the details.

"From the Brain to the Backstep: Stress, Survival, and Performance in the Fire Service,"--Ms. Jennifer Laurel Weaver

Jennifer Weaver is a psychotherapist and graduate professor in Rhode Island specializing in first responders; specifically those in the fire service.

With more than 20 years experience in field, Weaver brings her education in neuropsychology and experience in both forensics and child protective services to the treatment of trauma in the fire service.

08/21/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://firepsychology.org/2026-fire-psychology-conference/, for all the details.

"Dr. Skojec is a Licensed Professional Counselor and nurse scientist with over 10 years of community-based trauma-informed care,"--Dr. Theresa Skojec

She completed her Master’s in Clinical Counseling at The University of Baltimore and began her career working in Baltimore City with inner city youth, families, and adults.

Her research interests include understanding the needs of trauma affected individuals in an effort to tailor evidence-based treatment.

08/19/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://firepsychology.org/2026-fire-psychology-conference/, for all the details.

"Restoring Resilience: An Evidence-Based Biopsychosocial Approach to PTSD, Brain Injury, and Chronic Pain in First Responders,"--Battalion Chief (Ret.) David Picone

David Picone is CEO of the Health & Safety Leadership Alliance and a retired Battalion Chief from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Over his 30-year career, he built one of the most comprehensive Health & Safety Office models in the fire service, authoring 34 integrated policies that address prevention, behavioral health, cancer mitigation, injury rehabilitation, and coordinated claims management.

During a decade of operational growth, SDFD’s injury rate per FTE dropped from 32% to 24%, while annual Workers’ WC claims remained stable despite increased presumptive exposures.

He secured over $1.5M in grants to develop a Division I–level Wellness Center and expanded peer, chaplain, and canine-based crisis support services department-wide.

As CEO, Picone now leads a national effort to scale this proof-of-value framework across the fire, EMS, law enforcement, labor, healthcare, and risk sectors—aligning prevention and recovery systems with NFPA, OSHA, Cal/OSHA, IAFF-WFI, MTUS, ACOEM, and law enforcement standards.

08/15/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, , for all the details.

"Decision-Making Under Fire: Cognitive Load, Stress, and Nervous System Effects on Performance,"--Dr. Jeannelle Perkins

Dr. Perkins is an educator, author, and international speaker dedicated to helping individuals, organizations, and communities build resilience and thrive.

As Founder and CEO of Haruki Health, she specializes in emotional resilience, relational intelligence, mental wellness, and trauma-informed care, with a particular focus on high-stress professions and underserved communities.

Dr. Perkins has presented nationally and internationally, including in Kenya, Japan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and beyond. She has been featured in media outlets such as Newsweek, PBS, Vice, TV One, and Charleston Magazine.
Dr. Perkins is the author of two books: Strategic Emotional Resilience: Mastering Your Inner World for a Life of Power, Purpose, and Peace, and Into-Me-See: Mastering Black Intimacy for the Relationship You’ve Always Wanted. Additionally, she’s been published in various academic journals.

Through her clinical work, teaching, writing, and speaking, Dr. Perkins empowers audiences to strengthen their inner world, deepen relationships, and lead lives of greater purpose, performance, and well-being.

08/12/2026

🚒 Many Programs Teach About Firefighters. FSPA Teaches Clinicians to Learn From Them. 🧠

Most cultural competency courses teach clinicians "about" firefighters.
The Fire Service Psychology Association's program requires clinicians to "learn" from firefighters.

Beyond classroom instruction, participants complete a Ride-Along Task Book requiring 40 hours of documented engagement with fire departments, working alongside firefighters and officers to understand the culture, stressors, team dynamics, and realities of the profession.

Because cultural competency isn't something you earn by attending a class.

It's something you develop through experience, relationships, and immersion.
Read the article below to learn why this unique approach is helping bridge the gap between professional psychology and the fire service.
https://firepsychology.org/what-makes-the-fire-service-psychology-associations-fire-service-clinician-orientation-program-different/

FSPA, together with the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office and the Portland (Oregon) Fire Department are running the two-day portion of FSPA's Fire Service Clinician Orientation Program as a Pre-Conference offering October 14th and 17th--the main conference is October 15-16. Everything you need to know about the Pre-Conference and the main Conference is available on the Conference Webpage, https://lnkd.in/gDBJTGnf

08/11/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://firepsychology.org/2026-fire-psychology-conference/, for all the details.

"From SOF to Station: What Operator Performance Science May Offer the Fire Service,"--Dr. Silvia DeGirolamo

Silvia DeGirolamo, Psy.D., MHA, has had the privilege of dedicating her career to purpose-driven, high-performing people and organizations, work that has shaped her deeply both personally and professionally.

Her work centers on sustained human performance: the selection, leader development, and team culture that help people remain effective under chronic stress and high-consequence demands. Grounded in more than two decades of practice, she has spent 18 years supporting active-duty military communities, including extensive embedded work with Special Operations units and healthcare teams.

She co-authored the cognitive performance guidelines for NATO Special Operations, and through Veraforma Advisory brings this work to the fire service, first responder organizations, healthcare, and other high-consequence organizational settings. Across every setting, her work is grounded in a simple belief: sustainable performance begins by taking care of the human at the center of the process.

08/07/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://firepsychology.org/2026-fire-psychology-conference/, for all the details.

Is there room for a Ride Along?—Dr. Monya Cohen

"Since the 2025 Fire Service Psychology Conference in Texas, this has been my mantra. Forty ride-alongs is one of the requirements of certification and one of the most important tasks of being culturally competent and a familiar face at the station. In my experience, riding along is one of the best ways to develop your understanding of the culture and organizational demands of the Fire Rescue Service."--Monya Cohen

Dr. Cohen is a licensed psychologist practicing for over 20 years in Maryland. She developed and teaches a course, “Understanding trauma and PTSD in first responders” at a university in Washington, D.C.

She is the department psychologist at one of the busiest fire/rescue stations (Rescue 2, Wheaton) in Montgomery County, Maryland. Monya is committed to meeting the health and mental wellness needs of the department.

Approved by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Fire Service Psychology Association Conference and the Fire Service Clinician Orientation Certificate Program, aka, cultural competencey training examine the latest research and best practices of fire service psychology, as well as providing a network of experienced clinicians to guide you.

08/06/2026

Next in my continuing series highlighting the presenters for the upcoming 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association, October 15th and 16th, 2026, in Portland, Oregon in collaboration with the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal. See the Conference Webpage, https://lnkd.in/gDBJTGnf, for all the details.

Is there room for a Ride Along?—Dr. Monya Cohen

"Since the 2025 Fire Service Psychology Conference in Texas, this has been my mantra. Forty ride-alongs is one of the requirements of certification and one of the most important tasks of being culturally competent and a familiar face at the station. In my experience, riding along is one of the best ways to develop your understanding of the culture and organizational demands of the Fire Rescue Service."--Monya Cohen

Dr. Cohen is a licensed psychologist practicing for over 20 years in Maryland. She developed and teaches a course, “Understanding trauma and PTSD in first responders” at a university in Washington, D.C.

She is the department psychologist at one of the busiest fire/rescue stations (Rescue 2, Wheaton) in Montgomery County, Maryland. Monya is committed to meeting the health and mental wellness needs of the department.

Approved by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Fire Service Psychology Association Conference and the Fire Service Clinician Orientation Certificate Program, aka, cultural competencey training examine the latest research and best practices of fire service psychology, as well as providing a network of experienced clinicians to guide you.

08/05/2026

Firefighters are increasingly receiving recognition for the mental and behavioral health injuries that can result from cumulative trauma exposure.

But here's a hard truth:
A legitimate injury, a strong diagnosis, and a solid treatment plan do not guarantee access to care.

Too often, claims encounter delays, denials, or prolonged battles because of something few people talk about: Documentation.

Most clinicians are never formally trained on workers' compensation systems, Utilization Review (UR), Request for Authorization (RFA) processes, peer-to-peer reviews, or QME/IME evaluations. Yet these systems often determine whether a firefighter receives timely, evidence-based treatment.

For fire service leaders, this creates an important question:
Do your providers understand firefighters... and the workers' compensation system that governs their care?

In this article, I explore:
✅ Why documentation is often the strongest evidence supporting a firefighter's behavioral health claim
✅ Common friction points where claims get delayed or denied
✅ What cultural and operational competence really looks like in workers' compensation
✅ Why chiefs, health and safety officers, and wellness coordinators should understand these systems
The quality of care matters.
But so does the quality of the documentation supporting it.

The Missing Link in Firefighter Mental Health Claims: Why Documentation Matters More Than Most Leaders Realize Robert Avsec August 5, 2026 0 Comments By: Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.), FSPA Operations Chief Fire service leaders have invested heavily in David PiconeCEO, Health & Safety Leaders...