In an effort to bolster the emotional and psychological support for Minnesota's law enforcement community, a new program is rolling out this week aimed at equipping therapists with the skills needed to better assist police officers and their families. The initiative, heralded by Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) and funded through the state's Department of Public Safety, is set to educate therapists on the unique mental health challenges faced by those in law enforcement. "Police officers regularly walk into dangerous and unpredictable situations in their line of work, and they live with the trauma and mental health struggles that go along with that," Cwodzinski said in a statement obtained by the Senate DFL MN.
According to the Senate DFL MN, the Adler Graduate School will spearhead the training program starting January 19. The president of Adler Graduate School, Solange Ribeiro, underscored the importance of trust between law enforcement officers and the mental health professionals who treat them. "Many officers don’t seek help because most therapists have little understanding of the unique circumstances of police work," Ribeiro said in a Senate DFL MN interview. A directory of trained therapists is expected to be available to Minnesota law enforcement agencies by the spring of 2024 and 2025.
Endorsing the program's launch, Minnetonka Chief of Police Scott Boerboom highlighted that most wellness resources available lack an understanding of the cultural and behavioral landscape specific to law enforcement. "Receiving help from trained counselors will make law enforcement personnel less likely to leave police work, experience fewer family dysfunctions, and reduce the number of police suicides," Boerboom told Senate DFL MN.
LeAnne Renteria, a therapist and former officer who supported the bill, weighed in on the significance of the program. "No one walks away from police work unscathed... It’s a challenge to find people who really understand what it’s like on the job," Renteria said, as told to Senate DFL MN. "We need more therapists trained to give law enforcement the support they need so in turn they can do their best work possible." This program addresses a critical gap identified back in 2022 when Adler Graduate School's task force determined there was a lack of qualified counselors to support police officers throughout Minnesota. The program is set to course-correct this imbalance, facilitating 150 licensed therapists to understand and adeptly navigate the exigencies of law enforcement work and family life.
