The parallels between the challenges faced by veterans and law enforcement officers (LEO’s), as well as potential cross-over therapies and programs are beneficial to both communities.
Shared Challenges
- Exposure to trauma
- Combat for veterans, critical incidents for officers.
- Hypervigilance & survival mindset
- Useful in the field, but can be harmful in daily life.
- Sleep disturbances
- Insomnia, nightmares, and disrupted circadian rhythms.
- Substance use
- Often used as self-medication for stress, pain, or trauma.
- Stigma & culture
- The “warrior ethos” often discourages seeking help.
Cross-Over Therapies & Interventions
Peer Support Programs Crisis Intervention:
- Veteran peer groups and police peer support units often mirror each other. Shared experiences help reduce stigma, “battle buddy” concepts adapted into “peer officer support.”
Trauma-Focused Therapies:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) are effective for both populations.
- Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
- Stella Wellness Center
- Sensory Wellness Therapy
- Reality Center
- Rapid Resolution Therapy by Marisa Giuliano
Alternative & Integrative Therapies:
- Equine therapy
- Runestone Ranch (Bay Area)
- Warriors Road
- Art/music therapy provides creative outlets for processing trauma.
- Art Therapy by Samantha Juan USA, USSOCOM
- Meditation, yoga, Rekei and breathwork aids in stress regulation and nervous system balance.
- Cold laser & neurofeedback is sometimes used for TBI/PTSD crossover cases.
- Erchonia
- Stella Wellness Center
- Reality Center
- Rekei
- Conscious Consulting by Renez Bernal
Physical Fitness, Mentoring & Resilience Programs:
- Tactical fitness (lifting, conditioning, martial arts) reduces stress and reinforces identity.
- CrossFit, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and functional strength training are used in both veteran and police wellness programs.
- BJJ and Tactical Fitness offered by Sgt. Steve Odom SLO SO, CA (ret.)
- Breathwork by Detective Jeff Takeda
- Mentoring by James Espinoza Ventura PD, VCO-DA (ret.)
- Veteran Mentor Project
- Corrective Exercise & Stretch Remedy by Sara Butler
Family & Community Support:
- Spousal/family therapy models cross-apply (as families also experience “secondary trauma”).
- PRISM Integration Program
- Runestone Ranch (Bay Area)
- Empowr Wellness
Outreach:
- Outreach is such an important avenue to meeting and reaching those in need. Several of these events have led to introductions that wouldn’t have happened otherwise
- Raven Wing Limited and Sabot Foundation Mil/LEO events
- Events at Corona PD
- Conferences
- Shot Show Las Vegas
- National Night Out
