It’s already tough to give first responders what they need.
Stigma about being in therapy.
Worry about being seen as unfit for duty.
The logistics of irregular hours, on-call shifts, and constant exposure to crisis …
It all adds up.
But the biggest barrier? Most therapists simply don’t understand the world first responders live in.
The job.
The culture.
The pressure to perform – and keep it all in.
And without that understanding, therapy often falls short.
This training changes that.
Watch Drs. Sarah Stewart-Spencer and Allison Aligata, experts in treating first responders, for this essential training that will give you everything you need to know to effectively treat police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and more. You’ll learn:
PURCHASE TODAY so you’re ready to care for those who care for all of us.
All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after passing the online post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). Instructional methods will include PowerPoint, didactic lecture, and others.
Continuing Education Information: Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Program content is reviewed periodically per accrediting board rules for currency and appropriateness for credit. Credit approvals are subject to change. Please note, your licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education, as well as which credit types are acceptable for continuing education hours. Please refer to your licensing board's rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval.
For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact info@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before purchase.
Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.
For Planning Committee disclosures, please see the statement above. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
Earn up to 6.25 CE hours. Please see below, for more details, as credit amounts vary by jurisdiction and profession.
PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association to offer continuing education for counsellors and psychotherapists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This self-study activity is approved for 6.0 credit hours.
PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This program is approved for 6.0 self-study continuing education hours. Full credit statement at: www.pesi.com/cpa-statement
PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2026 - January 27, 2029. Social workers completing this course receive 6.25 Clinical continuing education credits.
Course Level: Intermediate Format: Recorded asynchronous distance. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.
Canadian Social Workers: Canadian provinces may accept activities offered by providers approved by the ASWB ACE program for ongoing professional development.
This self-study activity qualifies for 6.25 continuing education clock hours as required by many national and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.
This self-study course has been approved by PESI, Inc., as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #77553. PESI, Inc. is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
This self-study course offers 6.0 continuing education contact hours in the Counseling Services skill group. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.
PESI, Inc. is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Nurses completing these self-study materials will earn 6.25 contact hours. Expires: 08/05/2028.
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Therapy for First Responders: Evidence-Based Tools for the Hidden Toll of Duty, Trauma & Chronic Stress (7.2 MB) | 83 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Therapy for First Responders: Evidence-Based Tools for the Hidden Toll of Duty, Trauma & Chronic Stress - French (7.2 MB) | 83 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Therapy for First Responders: Evidence-Based Tools for the Hidden Toll of Duty, Trauma & Chronic Stress - Italian (7.2 MB) | 83 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Therapy for First Responders: Evidence-Based Tools for the Hidden Toll of Duty, Trauma & Chronic Stress - German (7.2 MB) | 83 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Therapy for First Responders: Evidence-Based Tools for the Hidden Toll of Duty, Trauma & Chronic Stress - Spanish (7.2 MB) | 83 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Sarah Stewart-Spencer, PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC, CFRP, is a clinician, consultant, trainer, and author specializing in trauma who has practiced in a variety of roles and settings, including crisis/emergency, forensic, community mental health, inpatient psychiatry, and private practice. She is a creator of the National First Responder Treatment Provider certification training program administered by the International Trauma Training Institute and holds certifications in hypnotherapy and trauma. Dr. Stewart-Spencer maintains a private practice for high-risk trauma exposed populations and owns the Integrated Wellness Institute through which she offers courses for the public and professionals. She is also an Associate Professor at The Chicago School for Professional Psychology and former Dean of Behavioural Sciences at Yorkville University. Author of two books on the use of metaphors in therapy, Dr. Stewart-Spencer is the editor and founder of Therapeutic Speakeasy Quarterly and the former editor of The Humanistic Counselor.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Sarah Stewart-Spencer maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and the International Trauma Training Institute. She receives royalties as a published author. Sarah Stewart-Spencer receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Sarah Stewart-Spencer has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Allison Kanter Agliata, PhD, BCC, CFRP, is a clinician, a board-certified executive coach, and an Air Force veteran with a deep commitment to enhancing mental health and resilience. In her private practice, she provides specialized behavioral health care for high-performance fields including first responders and their families in counseling, critical incident debriefings, peer support training, and executive coaching.
She is the author of Mastering Resiliency: First Responders Edition and is a founding board member of the Suncoast Alliance of First Responders, a nonprofit organization that operates Florida’s First Responder Hope Line and provides essential resources for first responders and their families. Dr. Agliata’s expertise has been secured by the US Special Operations Command and featured on nationally syndicated programs such as The Today Show, Today with Hoda and Jenna, and NBC Nightly News.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Allison Kanter Agliata is the founder and CEO of Dr. A & Associates and has an employment relationship with Integrated Wellness Institute. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Kanter Agliata receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Allison Kanter Agliata has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
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Foundations of Treatment with First Responders
Treatment Strategies for First Responders
PESCE Resilience Model for ongoing trauma exposure:
Additional Clinical & Practice Considerations
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