Austin Police Launch Free Trauma Therapy Initiative to Expand Mental Health Care for First Responders
AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Police Department has launched a new initiative aimed at expanding access to specialized trauma therapy for law enforcement officers and other public safety professionals by providing advanced training to local mental health clinicians.
The program, known as the Resiliency Enhanced Support EMDR Therapy (RESET) Project, will offer free advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to licensed clinicians who treat trauma.
“First responders are regularly exposed to high levels of trauma, and access to specialized care is critical,” said APD Wellness Program Manager Roxana Ortega, LCSW-S. “The RESET Project allows us to expand that care by partnering with highly trained clinicians in our community.”
According to the department, police officers and other first responders routinely encounter traumatic and high-stress situations throughout their careers. APD said EMDR therapy has become a widely recognized, research-supported treatment that can help resolve trauma without requiring patients to extensively relive painful experiences.
The RESET Project is seeking licensed clinicians in the Austin area who have already completed EMDR International Association-approved basic training and who are interested in providing trauma-focused treatment to law enforcement personnel.
Eligible participants must have experience incorporating EMDR into their clinical practice and demonstrate a commitment to serving police officers and other public safety professionals.
The training will focus on both traditional EMDR treatment techniques and advanced, research-supported protocols developed for disaster response, including ASSYST, Group ASSYST, IGTP and PRECI.
Clinicians selected for the program will receive:
- Two weekends of in-person advanced EMDR training
- A series of consultation sessions
- A police ride-along to better understand law enforcement culture and job-related stress
In exchange for receiving the training at no cost, participating clinicians must commit to providing 50 pro bono therapy sessions over a two-year period to law enforcement officers and professional staff.
The program is open to therapists interested in treating police officers, dispatchers, 9-1-1 call takers, crime scene analysts, victim services providers and forensic analysts.
The training will be led by internationally recognized EMDR experts, including Dr. Ignacio Jarero, Rick Levinson, LCSW, Dr. Christie Sprowls and Viviana Triana, LCSW-S.
“We are excited about the launch of the RESET Project,” Ortega said. “Through this program, we are helping participating clinicians expand their trauma treatment skills in this critical area of need. At the same time, APD will be significantly increasing the number of therapists in Austin who are well-equipped to provide effective, efficient care for law enforcement personnel and other first responders while also creating easy access for our officers and staff to services at no cost.”
Additional information and application details for the RESET Project are available through the Austin Police Department.
