Fire Service Psychology Association | Site-Wide Activity

FSPA - posted a new event.

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:31:01 -0700

9th Annual Fire Service Psychology Conference

Theme: Optimizing Firefighter Readiness Join colleagues from across North America for two days of education, networking, and practical solutions that strengthen the psychological health of…

Erin Yarborough started the discussion Advice For Grad Candidate in the forum Students in Fire Service Psychology

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:21:56 -0700

Advice For Grad Candidate

Hello all,

I recently received my BS in psychology and will soon be applying to graduate school. Considering fire psychology is a pretty niche field, I would appreciate any info from fellow fire psych students on any programs/professors who work directly with first responders. So far, I have a good list going with 10 programs, but the last few…

Robert Avsec posted an update: Check out this very good article that came across […]

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:47:26 -0700

Check out this very good article that came across my LinkedIn feed today. Here’s an except:

I’ve spent more than 20 years working closely with military service members, veterans, first responders and other protectors and defenders. One thing I’ve always appreciated about the Special Operations community is that they understand something…

Erin Yarborough joined the group Students in Fire Service Psychology

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:14:48 -0700

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:56:18 -0700

Great post by one of our own FSPA Psychology Students!

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief This from over on LinkedIn from one of our own, Erin (Murphy) Yarborough. During my last year at Western…

Robert Avsec posted an update: One of FSPA's favorite presenters, Dr. Ben Bernstein, […]

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 01:10:07 -0700

One of FSPA’s favorite presenters, Dr. Ben Bernstein, will join us once again for the 9th Annual FSPA Conference in Portland, Oregon, October 15-16, 2026.

Dr. “B” will present, “Maintaining Inner Stability Under Pressure: Practical Tools for Firefighters and Therapists Who Work with Them.” Now here he is in his own words.

I’ve shared Dr. Ben’s…

linkedin.com

Robert Avsec posted an update: In the second instalment of The Long Game, we look at […]

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:15:03 -0700

In the second instalment of The Long Game, we look at the cumulative health risks that come with a career in public safety, why they can go unnoticed for years, and why early documentation and intervention matter.

us.list-manage.com

Firefighter Health: Understanding the Long-Term Impact of the Job — CRACKYL Magazine

Learn how cumulative occupational exposure affects firefighter health, from cancer and injury to sleep disruption and mental health, and why early action matter

Robert Avsec posted an update: From one of FSPA's supporters, CRACKYL Magazine comes […]

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:13:42 -0700

From one of FSPA’s supporters, CRACKYL Magazine comes this article (1 of 2).

The demands of the fire service don’t stop when the call ends. Sleep, recovery, and the cumulative effects of the job all play a role in how we perform today, and how well we sustain a career over the long haul. In this edition of The Hose Line, we take a closer look at…

us.list-manage.com

Firefighter Sleep: The Most Overlooked Performance Enhancer — CRACKYL Magazine

Firefighter sleep is the most overlooked performance enhancer. Learn what elite athletes know about recovery, performance, and lasting longer on the job.

Robert Avsec posted an update: Read this piece by my fire service colleague, John K […]

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:08:09 -0700

Read this piece by my fire service colleague, John K Murphy, from over on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fire-service-odyssey-monsters-temptations-leadership-murphy-esq–yt3hc/

linkedin.com

The Fire Service Odyssey: Monsters, Temptations, Leadership, and the Long Journey Home

Homer's Odyssey is not really about the sea. It is about what it costs a person to leave home, endure the unendurable, lead others through it, and try — decades later — to return to themselves.

Robert Avsec: FSPA Member, Sarah Mildrum, @SarahM, really "hits it […]

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:17:28 -0700

FSPA Member, Sarah Mildrum, @SarahM, really “hits it outta the park” with her latest Substack post on Command Notes. Here’s an excerpt to “whet your appetite” to read more.

Fire departments know how to operationalize almost everything that matters.

They build systems around apparatus checks, turnout times, mutual aid, training hours,…

sarahmildrum.substack.com

Why Do We Keep Treating Behavioral Health Like an Emotional Value Instead of an Operational Capability?

The fire service already knows how to operationalize what matters. Behavioral health should be no different.

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:32:10 -0700

Not Many Days to Go: The Fire Service's Premier Behavioral Health Conference Is Almost Here

The countdown is officially on. FSPA is proud to have the Office of the Oregon Fire Marshal as its Conference Host. In just 60+ days,…

Robert Avsec and Cherilyn Haworth are now connected

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:27:12 -0700

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:21:41 -0700

What Makes the Fire Service Psychology Association’s Fire Service Clinician Orientation Program Different?

By: Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.) and FSPA’s Operations Chief Mental health clinicians who want to serve firefighters have more training options today than ever…

Robert Avsec: FSPA's Board of Advisors Chair, @dr-kristen-wheldon […]

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:47:44 -0700

FSPA’s Board of Advisors Chair, @dr-kristen-wheldon did herself and FSPA proud representing FSPA at this important symposium. I’m sharing her comments from over on LinkedIn:

It has been a true privilege to participate in Wingspread VIII, joining leaders from across the fire and emergency services community to help shape the future of…

linkedin.com

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:45:19 -0700

The Missing Link in Firefighter Mental Health Claims: Why Documentation Matters More Than Most Leaders Realize

By: Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.), FSPA Operations Chief Fire service leaders have invested heavily in peer support, behavioral health programs, resilience initiatives, and access…

Robert Avsec and Dylan Slaughter are now connected

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 03:22:29 -0700

Missi Brown and Elizabeth Ramquist are now connected

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:41:47 -0700

Christina Raes and Missi Brown are now connected

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:54:58 -0700

Robert Avsec and Christina Raes are now connected

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:38:12 -0700

Robert Avsec posted an update: Thank you to everyone who helped get Ms. Raes' survey […]

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:10:05 -0700

Thank you to everyone who helped get Ms. Raes’ survey to adult children raised in a firefighter household. I’ve had several conversations with her about her doctoral research as she works to earn her Doctorate in Psychology and I can tell you without hesitation that she’s going to be a good one whose focus is on firefighters and their families!

Robert Avsec posted an update: I've added a new page, Past FSPA Conference […]

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:09:04 -0700

I’ve added a new page, Past FSPA Conference Presentations, that has all the presentations that were delivered at our FSPA Conference for the years, 2023-2025.

Check it out (I’ll help you to navigate to it on your first try!). From the FSPA Homepage, on the Main Menu,

Clicke on the three dots (…) to the right of the About Us tab
Select…

firepsychology.org

Past FSPA Conference Presentations – Fire Service Psychology Association

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:37:31 -0700

FSPA Psychologist Earns APA Certification!

I saw the following post today over on LinkedIn from one of our FSPA Members, Dr. Erica Birkley, Ph.D. Congratulations Dr. Birkley! After a three…

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 23:05:57 -0700

Suicides: Who Do They Tell (Before doing it)

From a post today over on LinkedIn by Battalion Chief Dena Ali: Less than 5% disclosed their thoughts of suicide to a clinician, less than…

Robert Avsec posted an update: According to neuroscientist and trauma expert Dr. […]

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:22:03 -0700

According to neuroscientist and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry, trauma embeds itself in the lower regions of the brain, the brain stem and midbrain – responsible for survival responses like fight, flight, and freeze.

Logical reasoning cannot pull someone out of survival mode; the brain must first be regulated through sensory, rhythmic, and…

crackyl.com

From the Frontlines to a New Finish Line - CRACKYL

Strive How horses help firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, and other first responders regulate, restore, and reconnect.

Robert Avsec posted an update: Saw this over at LinkedIn from one of my 1st […]

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:37:40 -0700

Saw this over at LinkedIn from one of my 1st level connections, Dr. Rachel Wood, Ph.D., and a real leader in helping us learn more about the intersection of mental and behavioral healh and AI. Check it out.

Grateful to contribute to this American Psychological Association article focused on AI use in therapy.

AI chatbots may be the largest…

Robert Avsec posted an update: I want to give a "shout out" to those FSPA Members […]

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 17:40:30 -0700

I want to give a “shout out” to those FSPA Members who’ve “stepped up” to serve on the Task Groups that will select our honorees for 2026 that will be presented at FSPA’s Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon in October!

Task Group ECHO–Psychologist of the Year

Dr. Silvia DeGirolamo, Task Group Leader

Dr. Rick Boone

Dr. Diana Concannon…

Robert Avsec posted an update: We are so pleased to share our latest publication from our […]

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:28:20 -0700

We are so pleased to share our latest publication from our Family First Responder Inc. project. In this paper, Re: Building families: Evaluating a psychoeducation and support program for spouses of Canadian emergency first responders, we rigorously tested the impacts of the Re: Building Families (RBF) psychoeducation program with…

sciencedirect.com

Page restricted | ScienceDirect

Robert Avsec posted an update: In his latest "Friday Truth" article on CRACKYL Magazine, […]

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:13:31 -0700

In his latest “Friday Truth” article on CRACKYL Magazine, Kory Pearn once again delivers a healthy dose of “truth.” Here’s how it starts…you’ll want to read the whole piece, of that I’m sure! Check out, Sometimes the Shadow Is Our Own.

The greatest burden is often the person we believe we have to be

Early in my career, I spent a lot of…

crackyl.com

Sometimes the Shadow Is Our Own - CRACKYL

Thrive The greatest burden is often the person we believe we have to be.

Robert Avsec posted an update: The United States has one of the highest fire death rates […]

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:10:11 -0700

The United States has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. Not because the firefighters aren’t good enough. Not because the apparatus isn’t fast enough. Because of culture.

Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO has been saying that since 1970. He became a volunteer firefighter that year, a career firefighter two years later,…

Robert Avsec posted an update: Dr. Kelly Dean Schartz is the nominee and this is the […]

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:50:56 -0700

Dr. Kelly Dean Schartz is the nominee and this is the latest from a team he’s on.

Introduction

Emergency first responders (EFR; e.g. police, firefighters, paramedics) are at increased risk for psychological injury because of their repeated exposure to potentially psychological traumatic events.

The impacts of operational stress can also have…

doi.org

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Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:23:26 -0700

Announcing the Nominees for FSPA's Annual Awards!

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief The nominations for FSPA’s Annual Awards are now closed and I’m delighted to share the names of this year’s…

Robert Avsec and Pamela Holens are now connected

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:51:48 -0700

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:28:12 -0700

Complete Your FSPA Member Profile—Because Connections Matter

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief One of the greatest strengths of the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) is the diversity and depth of experience…

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:41:09 -0700

The Cost of Caring: Why Self‑Care Must Be a Priority in the Fire Service and Mental Health Professions

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief In the fire service and in mental health care, we are trained to show up for others on their…

Robert Avsec and Missi Brown are now connected

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:35:23 -0700

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 02:09:26 -0700

How are we doing mid-2026?

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief Can you believe that in just a few days we’ll be halfway through another year? And it’s only a…

Robert Avsec posted an update: Check out my latest post on the subject […]

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 01:18:21 -0700

Check out my latest post on the subject from LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-arent-we-buckling-up-fire-service-contradiction-deep-robert-avsec-csjde/

linkedin.com

Why Aren’t We Buckling Up? A Fire Service Contradiction with Deep Psychological Consequences

As the Operations Chief for the Fire Service Psychology Association- Admin, I spend much of my time working alongside psychologists and master’s-level clinicians who support the mental health of firefighters. In those conversations—whether in training rooms, peer support sessions, or … Continue reading

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 18:14:47 -0700

Podcast featurning FSPA's Dr. Carla Moore, Psy.D.

Twenty-five years in mental health. Over twenty devoted exclusively to law enforcement, firefighters, corrections officers, and 911 operators. Named Psychologist of the Year by the…

Robert Avsec posted an update: Most psychologists who work with first responders come […]

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:09:08 -0700

Most psychologists who work with first responders come from the outside — and spend years earning trust. Dr. Carla Sutton Moore built her career from the inside out.

Twenty-five years in mental health. Over twenty devoted exclusively to law enforcement, firefighters, corrections officers, and 911 operators. Named Psychologist of the Year by the…

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:28:12 -0700

What a great FSPA Kitchen Table Meeting We Had Today!

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief Absolutely the best FSPA Kitchen Table Meeting that I’ve had the pleasure of hosting! Thanks to today’s participants–And boy…

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:19:39 -0700

What Makes Retirement from the Fire Service Different?

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operation Chief Leave it to my fire service colleague, Kory Pearn, to answer that question in a big way! In addition…

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:37:45 -0700

PhD-level Psychologists don’t just “help people”

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief This one came across my LinkedIn feed from my 1st level LinkedIn connections, Dr. Deanna Drahovzal, Clinical Psychologist, Co-CEO,…

Robert Avsec posted an update: This article from FireRescue1 may be almost two years […]

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:46:26 -0700

This article from FireRescue1 may be almost two years old but in the publishing world they call this an evergreen article. Why? Because it’s never going out of vogue! And that’s why the work of Task Group ALPHA, Developing Guidelines for a Fire Department Mental and Behavioral Health Program matters.

Because without guidelines that have… Read more

firerescue1.com

3 steps to creating a successful peer support team in the fire service

Empower and optimize your department’s team by selecting quality members, providing thorough training and future planning to avoid burnout

Robert Avsec posted an update: Dr. Emil Rodolfa and Dr. Lydia McGaffee, a […]

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:36:07 -0700

Dr. Emil Rodolfa and Dr. Lydia McGaffee, a Fire
Service Psychology Association psychologist member, are the tentative guest
editors for the new Special Issue, Mental Health and Psychological
Resilience in Firefighters of the academic journal Fire. Fire (ISSN
2571-6255) is open access and peer-reviewed, and you can learn more about the
scope of…

Robert Avsec posted an update: In his latest post on CRACKYL Magazine, Kory […]

Fri, 22 May 2026 16:29:05 -0700

In his latest post on CRACKYL Magazine, Kory Pearn, firefighter, founder, and editor of the magazine really “nails it!” IMHO

“Firefighter [mental and behavioral] wellness needs to shift from fear-based messaging toward strength-based systems that aim to sustain, and not diminish, those…

crackyl.com

Here’s What We Got Wrong About Firefighter Wellness - CRACKYL

Thrive Firefighter wellness needs to shift from fear-based messaging toward strength-based systems that aim to sustain those who serve.

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:58:27 -0700

Get to Know Your FSPA Operations Chief

FSPA Operations Chief Robert Avsec is a retired fire service professional, author, and advocate focused on firefighter leadership and mental health. Here’s a clear overview…

Robert Avsec posted an update: What happens when an AI chatbot starts to feel personal, […]

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:01:50 -0700

What happens when an AI chatbot starts to feel personal, and then you decide to leave?

In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore a new and increasingly important question in AI: can you take your AI memory, chat history, and personal context with you when you switch models?

As AI assistants become more…

Robert Avsec posted an update: It's a good day for clinical social workers in […]

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:55:36 -0700

It’s a good day for clinical social workers in private practice… the Social Work Interstate Compact has finally been enacted! This starts the countdown for estimated 9-12 months for states to begin issuing multi-state licenses.…

linkedin.com

It's a good day for clinical social workers in private practice... the Social Work Interstate Compact has finally been enacted! This starts the countdown for estimated 9-12 months for states to begin… | Christopher Brown, LICSW | 43 comments

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Wed, 20 May 2026 20:33:05 -0700

From Fitness to Fulfillment: The New Challenge Facing Retired Firefighters

By: Robert Avsec, Batt. Chief/Paramedic (Ret.), FSPA Operations Chief For much of the 20th century, many firefighters in large departments—such as Boston, Philadelphia, and New…

Robert Avsec posted an update: Firefighters and EMS professionals operate in […]

Tue, 19 May 2026 20:43:40 -0700

Firefighters and EMS professionals operate in environments defined by chaos, trauma, and split-second decision-making. Yet, despite these realities, many departments still rely on psychological assessment tools that were never designed for the fire service—or worse, skip them…

fireemsleaderpro.org

Why Fire Departments Need Fire-Service-Specific Psychological Assessments: A Strategic Imperative for Safety, Readiness, and Retention – Fire & EMS Leader Pro