Fire Service Psychology Association | Site-Wide Activity

Robert Avsec and Sydney Williams are now connected

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 16:16:33 -0700

Robert Avsec and Freda Carda are now connected

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:29:15 -0700

Missi Brown and Rick Griggs are now connected

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:31:50 -0700

Robert Avsec posted an update: Check out this informativw and educational article […]

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:26:38 -0700

Check out this informativw and educational article about psychology and the fire service from over on LinkedIn from my fire service colleague, James Johnston PhD, EFO, CEM.

Few professions reflect purpose and tradition as clearly as the fire service. Long before leadership courses or emotional intelligence programs were common, firefighters…

firefighternation.com

Just a moment...

Freda Carda joined the group Career Opportunities

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:52:51 -0700

Robert Avsec posted an update: Like millions of readers, I was drawn into Kristin […]

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:40:57 -0700

Like millions of readers, I was drawn into Kristin Hannah’s “Firefly Lane” by its powerful story of friendship, love, and loss. But it wasnt the emotional ending that stayed with me most. It was the devastating reality of the disease that claimed one of the main characters: inflammatory breast cancer.

Until I read the book, I had never heard…

bobavsec.wordpress.com

The Breast Cancer Many Women Have Never Heard Of

How a novel exposed a deadly disease that often hides in plain sight By: Robert Avsec Like millions of readers, I was drawn into Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane by its powerful story of friends…

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:13:18 -0700

Your FSPA Profile Is More Than a Bio: It’s a Bridge

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief One of the greatest strengths of the Fire Service Psychology Association is the diversity of people gathered around a…

Robert Avsec posted an update: What an awesome leadership assessment tool! Thank you to […]

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:09:31 -0700

What an awesome leadership assessment tool! Thank you to my Leader Transition Institute cohort, Professor Jeff, USAF, (ret), for sharing such a valuable that can enable good leaders and their team to learn how to be BETTER leaders.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/willie-method-leadership-health-check-24-questions-ai-professor–fe0gc/

linkedin.com

THE WILLIE METHOD™ LEADERSHIP HEALTH CHECK, 24 Questions Every Leadership Team Should Ask About Culture, Trust, People, Integrity, Innovation, and AI

FROM PROFESSOR JEFF Leadership teams spend a great deal of time measuring performance. We measure revenue.

Robert Avsec posted an update: Twenty years apart, two firefighter deaths challenge […]

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:57:39 -0700

Twenty years apart, two firefighter deaths challenge the fire service to look at the culture surrounding seatbelt use and what we can do to change it. And FSPA’s own Dr. Burt Clark “reaches back” to the “Bard of Avon” for his latest contribution in his quest to “get firefighters to wear their…

crackyl.com

Shakespeare and Seatbelts: Firefighter Safety and a Culture of — CRACKYL Magazine

Twenty years apart, two firefighter deaths challenge the fire service to look at the culture surrounding seatbelt use and what we can do to change it.

Robert Avsec posted an update: This from over on LinkedIn from my LinkedIn colleague, […]

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:28:13 -0700

This from over on LinkedIn from my LinkedIn colleague, Dr. Rachel Wood:

Are you feeling less satisfied with your human interactions?

Do they feel more effortful?

This June 2026 article gives insight on the role sycophantic AI might be playing:

This study includes:

▪️ 3,075 participants
▪️ 12,766 human-AI conversations

The researchers found that:

…

arxiv.org

| arXiv e-print repository

Robert Avsec posted an update: Teague Cowley will be participating in the FSPA Fire […]

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:42:39 -0700

Teague Cowley will be participating in the FSPA Fire Service Clinician Orientation Program at the FSPA Conference in Portland, Oregon. Teague is missing and arm and a leg.

My medical history, might raise some eye brows :). At the age of 10, I survived a head-on collision with a drunk driver, I sustained burns on 65% of my body, and due to the…

Roxanne Rassti joined the group Career Opportunities

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:30:39 -0700

Robert Avsec posted an update: FSPA founder and Board Chair, Dr. Kristen Wheldon, and […]

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:28:41 -0700

FSPA founder and Board Chair, Dr. Kristen Wheldon, and FSPA Member, Captain Heather Buren (San Francisco Fire) are present among the authors of the following paper published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress yesterday, September 29, 2026!

Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of training first responder peer supporters in trauma… Read more

doi.org

Just a moment...

Robert Avsec posted an update: As an EFOP graduate myself (January 2001), it gratifies […]

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:19:32 -0700

As an EFOP graduate myself (January 2001), it gratifies me when I see how an EFOP captstone project can bring a degree of clarity to an important issue that affects firefighter mental and behavioral health. My fellow EFOP graduate, James Johnston, Ph.D, does just that with his summary of his project that appears in FIREHOUSE Magazine.

Read…

firehouse.com

EFO Research Brief: Beyond Sick Leave—Culture’s Impact on Firefighter Absenteeism

James Johnston's study reveals that factors like firefighter staffing and overtime significantly impact absenteeism, while leadership practices such as transparency and trust ...

Robert Avsec posted an update: Here's another article from one of FSPA's supporters, […]

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:14:48 -0700

Here’s another article from one of FSPA’s supporters, Kory Pearn, Fire Captain and Editor-in-Chief at CRACKYL, that adds “another brick” into the bridge we’re working to build between professional psychology and the fire service” at FSPA. Here’s an excerpt to get you started reading:

Psychologists have been studying this for decades.…

crackyl.com

How Confirmation Bias Shapes Your Thinking (and How to Break the Cycle) — CRACKYL Magazine

A look at how confirmation bias shapes your thoughts, why your brain builds stories so quickly, and how reframing and “considering the opposite” can help you in

Robert Avsec posted an update: Check out my latest post on my blog, Talking "Shop" 4 […]

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:52:21 -0700

Check out my latest post on my blog, Talking “Shop” 4 Fire and EMS! I wrote on this topic–lack of representation of women in the fire service–back in 2016 and unfortunately it’s still a topic that won’t go away.

Read: I’m STILL a Fire Service Feminist!

https://www.fireemsleaderpro.org/2026/09/15/im-still-a-fire-service-feminist/

Robert Avsec posted an update: This from over on LinkedIn by my colleague, […]

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:49:15 -0700

This from over on LinkedIn by my colleague, Lea Sullivan.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/firefighter-suicide-prevention-know-your-people-hits-lea-lpy3f/?trackingId=YvSWOpy%2BQFWcCDmHMrS7NA%3D%3D

linkedin.com

Firefighter Suicide Prevention: Know Your People Before Crisis Hits

My core expertise is firefighter care, but the realities of trauma, stress, connection, and mental readiness apply across the entire first responder world. So, if you’re EMS, law enforcement, chaplain, dispatcher, or someone who loves one of them, I hope … Continue reading

Robert Avsec posted an update: Here's an article from over on LinkedIn from a fire […]

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:30:08 -0700

Here’s an article from over on LinkedIn from a fire service colleague, Rob Reardon, https://www.jems.com/mental-health-wellness/beyond-the-call-leading-ems-professionals-through-the-weight-of-what-they-carry/. Here’s an excerpt from the piece:

Those who work in EMS are repeatedly invited into the worst moments of people’s lives. We enter scenes…

jems.com

Just a moment...

Dr. Kristen Wheldon and Stephen Gerald Bhunu are now connected

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:45:43 -0700

Robert Avsec and Stephen Gerald Bhunu are now connected

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:45:37 -0700

Robert Avsec posted an update: It gives me great pleasure to announce that we've […]

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:22:18 -0700

It gives me great pleasure to announce that we’ve formed Task Group HOTEL and their work got started this past Friday with an introductory Zoom call. TG HOTEL’s assigned goal is to create a white paper on Essential Components of an Effective and Efficient Fire Department Peer Support Program.

The Task Group Leader is Fire Chief, and newly…

Robert Avsec: This from over on LinkedIn from FSPA member and Fire […]

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 15:54:24 -0700

This from over on LinkedIn from FSPA member and Fire Chief, Tim Soule, @tsoule:

My dissertation on firefighter culture, social connection, and resilience was accepted, and I received my PhD from the University of Arizona Global Campus. So, as I look forward to the twilight of my career, I hope to make a difference by focusing on…

Robert Avsec and Richard Franchetta are now connected

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:16:59 -0700

Robert Avsec posted an update: Came across this post by one of our FSPA Members, […]

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:23:09 -0700

Came across this post by one of our FSPA Members, Sarah Mildrum, that’s pertinent to our work at FSPA.

They Don’t Want Strangers on Their Worst Day

Why most behavioral health responses fail in small departments and why relationship must precede…

sarahmildrum.substack.com

They Don’t Want Strangers on Their Worst Day

Why most behavioral health responses fail in small departments and why relationship must precede intervention

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…