Maintaining Inner Stability Under Pressure: Practical Tools for Firefighters and Therapists Who Work with Them—Dr. Ben Bernstein
Performing under pressure isn’t about toughness; it’s about training. In this interactive session, performance psychologist Dr. Ben Bernstein teaches practical tools to stay calm, confident, and focused in high-stakes environments firefighters and therapists face. Participants engage in guided exercises and leave with immediately applicable routines for consistent performance under stress.
Is there room for a Ride Along?—Dr. Monya Cohen
Is there room for a ride along? Since the 2025 Fire Service Psychology Conference in Texas, this has been my mantra. Forty ride-alongs is one of the requirements of certification and one of the most important tasks of being culturally competent and a familiar face at the station.
Approved by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Fire Service Psychology Conference and the Cultural Competency Certificate Training examine the latest research and best practices of fire service psychology, as well as providing a network of experienced clinicians to guide you. In my experience, riding along is one of the best ways to develop your understanding of the culture and organizational demands of the Fire Rescue Service.
From SOF to Station: What Operator Performance Science May Offer the Fire Service—Dr. Silvia DeGirolamo
SOF (The Military Special Operations Forces) has spent decades building human performance science in environments that share fire service’s operational tempo, crew culture, and consequences. This presentation explores what that science may offer fire professionals and clinicians organized around before, during, and after high-stress engagements while examining where the parallels hold and where the differences matter.
Psychological Readiness in a Changing Risk Landscape: Preparing Firefighters for Emerging and Extreme Events—Dr. Jeanelle Perkins
Fireground decisions occur under stress, uncertainty, and fatigue. This session examines how cognitive load and stress affect perception, situational awareness, and judgment. Participants will explore biases and errors, and learn practical, scenario-based training strategies to improve decision-making, maintain cognitive flexibility, and enhance performance in complex, high-pressure fireground environments.
Restoring Resilience: An Evidence-Based Biopsychosocial Approach to PTSD, Brain Injury, and Chronic Pain in First Responders—Battalion Chief (Ret.) David Picone
First responders face intersecting epidemics of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, substance use, cancer, cardiac issues, and suicide, compounded by systemic barriers in workers’ compensation. This presentation introduces the Transdisciplinary Biopsychosocial Therapeutic Community model—a holistic, evidence-based framework integrating biological, psychological, social, and risk management domains.
National Trends in Firefighter Behavioral Health—Dr. Theresa Skojec
Firefighter behavioral health has expanded rapidly, yet gaps remain. Using FEMA national surveys of 635 firefighters and 52 providers we identified high stigma, low resource use, and limited awareness of care pathways. Findings offer real time insight to guide development of accessible, effective, and culturally responsive mental health supports nationwide.
From Fragmented to Unified: Implementing a Statewide Zero Suicide Framework for the Florida Fire Service—Dr. Ashley Winch
Firefighter suicide rates remain disproportionately high despite existing interventions. This presentation describes Florida’s statewide Zero Suicide-informed framework, developed by the Ad Hoc Fire Service Behavioral Health Committee to address this crisis through multidisciplinary collaboration to increase suicide prevention efforts.
From the Brain to the Backstep: Stress, Survival, and Performance in the Fire Service—Jennifer Weaver, LMCH
A neuroscience-backed training that combines the work of psychotherapist specializing in first responders and a current firefighter to present evidence-based practices to clinicians while utilizing firefighters perspectives, expertise, and first hand experience to make the approaches palatable and embraced by the fire service.