Fire Service Psychology Association

05/22/2026

In his latest post on CRACKYL Magazine, Kory Pearn, firefighter, founder, and editor of the magazine really “nails it!” IMHO

“Firefighter [mental and behavioral] wellness needs to shift from fear-based messaging toward strength-based systems that aim to sustain, and not diminish, those who serve.”

Thrive Firefighter wellness needs to shift from fear-based messaging toward strength-based systems that aim to sustain those who serve.

05/17/2026

🚨 Deadline Approaching: FSPA Awards Nominations 🚨

The Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) is accepting nominations for its annual awards—presented at the 9th Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon (Oct. 15, 2026).

🏆 Award Categories:

• Psychologist of the Year

• Fire Service Leader of the Year

• Masters-Level Clinician of the Year

⏰ Nominations must be received by June 30, 2026. Submit a nomination today at: https://firepsychology.org/2024-fspa-conference/2026-fspa-award-nominations/

💬 Who comes to mind when you think of someone making a meaningful impact on fire service mental health and leadership—and why?

✅ Call to action: If you know someone who deserves recognition, submit a nomination—and please share this post to help it reach the people who should be celebrated.

2024 HonoreesDr. Carla Moore, PsychologistCaptain Chris Moore, Fire Service LeaderMs. Alison Fienning, Masters-Level Clinician

05/15/2026

🎙️ New Podcast Episode: The Firehouse Yak

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Firehouse Editor, Peter Matthews, is joined by Battalion Chief/Paramedic (Ret.) Robert Avsec and Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski, Ph.D, of the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) for an important and timely conversation on firefighter wellness.

🚒 What’s inside this episode:

Firefighters face unique and cumulative stressors—yet the culture around mental health in the firehouse is evolving. In this discussion:

*** Robert Avsec draws a powerful comparison between mental health support and hazmat response, outlining a structured, four-level approach to care.
*** From breaking the stigma at the awareness level, to developing peer support systems, to ensuring access to trained clinicians, they explore how departments can provide meaningful, layered support.
*** Dr. Hejmanowski shares insights from her work with military and public safety professionals, highlighting how firefighters can seek help—even when they’re the ones used to helping others.

💭 Together, they emphasize the ongoing outreach and mission of FSPA to equip departments nationwide with the tools and resources to support their people—on and off the job.

This is a must-listen for anyone in the fire service, leadership roles, or those committed to advancing first responder wellness.

🔗 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.firehouse.com/safety-health/health-fitness/podcast/55371470/the-firehouse-yak-how-the-fire-service-psychology-association-is-leading-efforts-in-firehouses?utm_source=FH+Safety+%26+Health&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS260419011&o_eid=3353D7437078D5H&rdx.ident[pull]=omeda|3353D7437078D5H&oly_enc_id=3353D7437078D5H

🚒

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

05/15/2026

Celebrate Those Who Are Changing the Fire Service from the Inside Out
At the 9th Annual Fire Service Psychology Association – Admin Conference in Portland, Oregon, FSPA will once again shine a spotlight on extraordinary individuals who are strengthening the mental and behavioral health of the fire service.

We are proud to honor:
A Psychologist of the Year
A Fire Service Leader of the Year
A Masters-Level Clinician of the Year

The FSPA Awards Program recognizes professionals who are truly bridging the gap between psychology and the fire service—leaders and clinicians who are not just doing their jobs, but redefining what excellence looks like.

Do you know someone who is making a real impact? Someone who consistently goes above and beyond to build better mental and behavioral health programs for firefighters and EMS personnel? Someone who is “making things happen” in fire service psychology?

Now is your chance to make sure their work doesn’t go unnoticed.

👉 Nominate them today.
Submit your nomination(s) by June 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EDT.
Use the online nomination portal here:
🔗 https://lnkd.in/g8qYvFYt

Recognition matters. Leadership matters. Impact matters.
Help us honor those who are shaping the future of fire service psychology—nominate someone today.

04/20/2026

Psychological health in the fire service is a matter of ethics, safety, and professional standards.

When topics like trauma, su***de risk, and behavioral health are presented by individuals without psychological training or licensure, the risk of misinformation—and unintended harm—is real.

In this article, I describe the position of the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) that psychological content at major fire service conferences must be delivered by qualified, licensed psychologists, just as clinical, tactical, and engineering content requires credentialed experts.

🔗 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gpxJ5WpH

Ethics matter. Expertise matters. Lives depend on it.

I recently attended a national fire service conference, along with several of my fellow Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) members, where we observed a presentation addressing a critical psychological issue in the fire service that was delivered by individuals who were not psychologists. Thi

04/03/2026

Come Join Us!
FSPA will host a Meet & Greet and Roundtable on Thursday, April 23rd, at 10:30a-12:30p to introduce our organization’s mission, vision, and goals to those who aren’t familiar with us. For those who are, we will continue connecting, networking, and bridging the Gap! RSVP [email protected]

03/26/2026

I’ve seen firsthand how much firefighters and EMS professionals rely on good information—especially when it comes to mental health, trauma, leadership under stress, and resilience.

What many people don’t see is this: some of the most qualified experts in fire service psychology can’t attend conferences simply because their organizations don’t fund travel.

That means the fire service loses access to critical, evidence‑based knowledge.
For the 2026 Fire Service Psychology Association Conference, Presenter Access Scholarships are designed to remove that barrier—so the best minds in this space can actually be in the room, sharing what they know.

I wrote this article to explain why this matters, how sponsorship works, and how organizations can make a direct, measurable impact on firefighter and EMS mental health.

If workforce resilience, community safety, and evidence‑based education matter to you, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read—and consider getting involved.

Presenter Access Scholarships ensure the best minds in fire service psychology can share life‑saving insights—regardless of funding barriers. Sponsorship directly strengthens firefighter mental health, leadership, and resilience nationwide.

03/12/2026

When we come together, we gain clarity—and create change. If you’re doing meaningful work at the intersection of mental health and the fire service, this article explains why your voice belongs at the 2026 FSPA Conference.

🔥 Call for Presenters: 2026 FSPA Conference | Portland, OR | October 15–16, 2026 🔥 Robert Avsec March 12, 2026 0 Comments By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief The fire service is evolving—and so is how we support the minds and hearts of those who serve. At the 2026 FSPA Conference in Po...

03/07/2026

Every year, the Fire Service Psychology Association- Admin (FSPA) pauses to recognize individuals who are making an extraordinary impact at the intersection of psychology, behavioral health, and the fire service.

These professionals and leaders do more than fulfill a role—they change culture, strengthen resilience, and ensure that those who serve our communities are supported in mind as well as body.

The nomination process is now open for FSPA’s annual awards, and we invite you to take part in honoring excellence across three distinct categories:
Psychologist of the Year
Fire Service Leader of the Year
Master’s‑Level Clinician of the Year

2024 HonoreesDr. Carla Moore, PsychologistCaptain Chris Moore, Fire Service LeaderMs. Alison Fienning, Masters-Level Clinician