Police Psychology
Psychological Services
The following clinical psychology services are available to all active LAPD employees, whether sworn or civilian.
Individual Psychotherapy
All active employees (including reserve officers and academy recruits) can receive traditional courses of self-referred psychotherapy for both personal and job-related matters. Sessions are confidential and protected by psychotherapist-patient privilege.
Relationship Counseling
All full-time employees and their significant others are eligible for relationship counseling services. Sessions can be provided in-person or via telehealth to accommodate scheduling and location differences between parties.
Single-Session Appointment
Based on the Single-Session Therapy model, all active employees can obtain one-at-a-time clinical appointments with a police psychologist to tackle in-the-moment concerns.* They are focused, intensive, and to the point.
* Single-Session therapy may not be appropriate for all presenting problems.
To learn more or schedule:
(213) 486-0790
NOTE: Department Volunteers, Cadets, retirees, and children/siblings/parents of employees are not eligible for services. BSS Staff may still assist with guidance on navigating treatment options and by providing appropriate referrals.
History & Overview
What started out as a single department psychologist position at the LAPD in 1968 has developed into a distinct practice area within the broader field of psychology. There are now 16 psychologists on staff at BSS, several of whom were among the first in the nation to become board certified in Police & Public Safety Psychology. They offer assessment and intervention services that include individual and relationship counseling for all employees; responses to critical incidents involving officers, such as mass casualty events or line of duty deaths and injuries; and 24/7 on-call rotations to assist employees with any on- or off-duty related crises, which can include suicide and safety threat assessments. Examples of specialized interventions conducted by psychologists include critical incident stress defusings and debriefings (i.e., after unusual occurrences or major uses of force), Traffic and Juvenile division wellness programs (i.e., related to trauma exposure), psychoeducational groups, military return and readjustment visits, and behavioral sleep medicine and pain management services.
BSS also oversees and trains hundreds of sworn and civilian employees who have volunteered to serve in the LAPD Peer Support Program. The program was established in 1986 after two officers were encouraged to speak with each other about their experiences in officer-involved shootings (OIS). It has since grown to include several unique cadres of personnel, with specialized peer support training tailored to their unique backgrounds. Examples include the Critical Incident, Vet2Vet, and Health & Fitness cadres.
Organizational consultation is another significant component of the police psychologist’s role. Individual psychologists serve as field consultants to each patrol and specialized division, and most specialized sections and units within the Department. Through their personal presence and interactions, they help destigmatize mental health services and demonstrate the real-world value of psychological knowledge and skills for police and civilian employees. This is accomplished by way of providing brief roll-call presentations, participating in ride-alongs and other policing activities, and tailoring consultations to specific divisional needs. They also work closely with command staff, providing guidance on matters related to leadership, employee performance and wellbeing, and workplace health and morale.
An extension of organizational consultation is organizational training. Psychologists teach as core instructors in numerous Department schools and conduct Department-wide physical and mental health campaigns. Examples of schools include the Academy, Command Development, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Crisis Negotiation School, and Watch Commander School. Examples of health campaigns include suicide prevention, alcohol awareness, healthy sleep, cardiovascular disease, and other areas of concern that frequently impact the well-being of law enforcement personnel.
Police psychologists also provide operational support with the aim of assisting the Department in its law enforcement mission. A hallmark of this service is serving as a primary member of the SWAT Crisis Negotiation Team. On a rotational basis, the designated on-call police psychologist responds to any SWAT incident involving a barricaded suspect or hostage negotiation. The psychologist’s role in crisis negotiations ranges from evaluating the mood and behavior of the subject, recommending negotiation strategies, monitoring the team’s stress, monitoring stress in the subject, and consulting with command staff regarding the variables involved and the progress of negotiations. Relatedly, psychologist have played an integral role in working with Department leaders on the development and implementation of de-escalation strategies and policies related to law enforcement contacts with persons in crisis. A final example of operational support provided by police psychologists is criminal case-specific consultation, during which a psychologist works closely with investigators to conceptualize suspects and investigative approaches.
Psychological Services
Psychotherapy/relationship counseling for LAPD employees
Support/educational groups
Substance abuse counseling
Crisis support services (including 24/7 “on call”)
Critical Incident defusing/debriefing
Academy, roll call, and other specialized training
Operational support including SWAT crisis negotiations
Managerial consultation/Executive coaching
Coordinate Peer Support and Critical Incident Response Teams
Perhaps one day in the future “…the psychologist will be less of a rare bird in the police profession.”
— Dr. Martin Reiser, “The Police Department Psychologist,” 1972