Fire Service Psychology Association | Site-Wide Activity

Robert Avsec posted an update: Another fire apparatus crash where firefighters were […]

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 21:40:56 -0800

Another fire apparatus crash where firefighters were ejected from the vehicle because they were not wearing their seatbelts. Another senseless and avoidable tragedy that will only cause grief and anguish for families, a fire department and its members, and a community. How long will fire departments continue to allow this…

linkedin.com

Two ways that culture kills us

Two of the most "gut-wretching" events that happen too frequently in the U.S.

Robert Avsec posted an update: This great news from FSPA psychologist member, Dr. […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:16:00 -0800

This great news from FSPA psychologist member, Dr. Carla Moore:

Another great International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in the books! This year was especially meaningful for me as I stepped into my new role as Chair of the IACP Police Psychological Services Section (PPSS). I am incredibly grateful to my fearless leader and…

Robert Avsec posted an update: This from over on LinkedIn:Whenever Christopher Colwell […]

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 21:33:17 -0800

This from over on LinkedIn:

Whenever Christopher Colwell asks me to talk about Parkland, something deep inside me says no.

And every time I say yes anyway, it helps.

He told me the day of the shooting, “Pete, it’s going to get worse before it gets better, and when you talk about it, it’s all going to come rushing back.” He was 100% right, about…

medscape.com

Doctors and the Lasting Scars of Mass Casualty Incidents

The trauma of an MCI can stay with healthcare workers long after the crisis ends. We talk to those who’ve lived it and examine the need for better training and support.

Robert Avsec posted an update: This year's conference in Portland, Oregon, marked the […]

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:59:28 -0800

This year’s conference in Portland, Oregon, marked the 5th year for FSPA’s Annual Awards that recognize a psychologist, fire service leader, and a masters-levels clinician of the year. And now that list of incredible individuals now have “their own page!”

https://firepsychology.org/past-fspa-annual-award-recipients/

firepsychology.org

Past FSPA Annual Award Recipients – Fire Service Psychology Association

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 20:50:58 -0700

Honoring Excellence: FSPA Announces 2026 Award Recipients at the 9th Annual Conference

One of the most inspiring moments of the Fire Service Psychology Association’s 9th Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, was the presentation of the organization’s annual…

Robert Avsec: If you're not following FSPA member @SarahM you […]

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:59:26 -0700

If you’re not following FSPA member @SarahM you really should because her posts are informative and enlightening. Here’s an excerpt from her latest post:

Every fire department has people who seem to become unofficial peer supporters long before anyone gives them a title. They’re the firefighters others gravitate toward after a difficult call, the…

sarahmildrum.substack.com

What Did You Just Agree To?

The responsibilities nobody thinks to explain when someone volunteers for peer support.

Robert Avsec posted an update: Check out the NEW […]

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:21:51 -0700

Check out the NEW Fire Service Culturally Competent Clinician Certificate Program. Based on feedback from FSPA members who attended this year’s session, the new page has improved SEO (Search Engine Optimization) meaning that it will show up more prominantly in web searches!

And that means potential attendees can learn about the program and make…

firepsychology.org

Fire Service Culturally Competent Clinician Certificate Program – Fire Service Psychology Association

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 23:34:34 -0700

FSPA Members Who’ve Made it Work!

Task Groups and What They’ve Accomplished By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief One of the strengths of FSPA has been the number of FSPA members…

Kimberly Williams Melby joined the group Students in Fire Service Psychology

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:29:12 -0700

Sydney Williams and Kimberly Williams Melby are now connected

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:28:38 -0700

Robert Avsec posted a new post.

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:43:38 -0700

Rising to the Challenge: A Remarkable Display of Leadership and Service

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief The 9th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association in Portland, Oregon was a tremendous success, even in…

Elissa Denton joined the group Career Opportunities

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:55:53 -0700

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