Cop Doc

Relationships

Romance Scams: Can Senior Citizens Find Love Online?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on February 8, 2024

Looking for love in all the wrong places? Meeting someone online can be dangerous and/or disappointing. Here are some guidelines and warning signs to keep you safe.

Looking for love in all the wrong places? Meeting someone online can be dangerous and/or disappointing. Here are some guidelines and warning signs to keep you safe.

Loneliness

Loneliness: How to Fight It During the Holidays and Every Day

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on December 21, 2023

Combatting loneliness during the holiday season and every day thereafter can be a challenge. See how you feel when you slow down and try to make other people happier.

Combatting loneliness during the holiday season and every day thereafter can be a challenge. See how you feel when you slow down and try to make other people happier.

Trauma

Ignoring the Past: The Cost to Cops and Everyone Else

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on September 21, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Ignoring the past costs us all. Collective trauma is real. Facing it will help everyone—including law enforcement.

A Personal Perspective: Ignoring the past costs us all. Collective trauma is real. Facing it will help everyone—including law enforcement.

Relationships

Do You Do Too Much for Others?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on July 19, 2023

Do you do too much for others and feel resentful? You can stop. You might get a little pushback, but it's worth doing.

Do you do too much for others and feel resentful? You can stop. You might get a little pushback, but it's worth doing.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Cops and PTSD: When the Victim Is a Child

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on June 14, 2023

When police officers deal with child victims, their usual ways of coping don't work. Here's why they don't work and how to heal.

When police officers deal with child victims, their usual ways of coping don't work. Here's why they don't work and how to heal.

Perfectionism

How Do You Live With Yourself When You'll Never Be Perfect?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on May 24, 2023

Striving for perfection is a fool's errand driven by unrealistic beliefs we hold about ourselves. There is a cure. But it takes practice and the willingness to make mistakes.

Striving for perfection is a fool's errand driven by unrealistic beliefs we hold about ourselves. There is a cure. But it takes practice and the willingness to make mistakes.

Trauma

How Family Retreats Can Help Law Enforcement Families Heal

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on March 26, 2023

Behind many cops is a spouse or significant other who is suffering in isolation and often filled with despair. There is a retreat setting designed to help.

Behind many cops is a spouse or significant other who is suffering in isolation and often filled with despair. There is a retreat setting designed to help.

Trauma

Treating Traumatic Stress in First Responders

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on February 8, 2023

How to help first responders and their families.

How to help first responders and their families.

Education

Learning From the Top 5 Regrets of the Dying

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on January 2, 2023

If you or someone you love is a cop, what regrets might you have at the end of your life? You can avoid or minimize some of them.

If you or someone you love is a cop, what regrets might you have at the end of your life? You can avoid or minimize some of them.

Trauma

First Responders: Do You Know the Difference Between Trauma and Tragedy?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on December 6, 2022

Trauma happens to you, tragedy happens to other people. If you are a cop or a first responder, you need to know the difference.

Trauma happens to you, tragedy happens to other people. If you are a cop or a first responder, you need to know the difference.

Career

Leaving the Job: How Cops Can Transition to a New Career

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on October 23, 2022

Asking cops to stay on the job for two to three decades can be a costly mistake. How can we help those who decide to transition to the civilian world?

Asking cops to stay on the job for two to three decades can be a costly mistake. How can we help those who decide to transition to the civilian world?

Suicide

17 Tips to Help Prevent Police Suicide

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on September 9, 2022

Cops are twice as likely to kill themselves than to be killed in the line of duty. Here are steps you might take to prevent one more tragic death.

Cops are twice as likely to kill themselves than to be killed in the line of duty. Here are steps you might take to prevent one more tragic death.

Suicide

Is New Federal Law Encouraging Cops to Commit Suicide?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on August 23, 2022

Does new federal legislation providing benefits to the surviving families of law enforcement officers who have killed themselves contain a hidden danger?

Does new federal legislation providing benefits to the surviving families of law enforcement officers who have killed themselves contain a hidden danger?

Career

Growing Old in a Young Person's Profession

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on July 5, 2022

Police work wears on officers and their families. A few adjustments in perspective can help you age on the job and ease the psychological transition to retirement.

Police work wears on officers and their families. A few adjustments in perspective can help you age on the job and ease the psychological transition to retirement.

Trauma

The Uvalde Massacre: What’s in Store for First Responders?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on May 27, 2022

The Uvalde massacre has affected most of us. As we hurt for the survivors and the grieving families, please remember the first responders who were on the scene.

The Uvalde massacre has affected most of us. As we hurt for the survivors and the grieving families, please remember the first responders who were on the scene.

Career

Growing Old in a Young Person's Profession

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on May 6, 2022

In a career lasting 20-30 years, scholars found that workers in fields ranging from policing to nursing were likely to noticeably decline in their abilities earlier than imagined.

In a career lasting 20-30 years, scholars found that workers in fields ranging from policing to nursing were likely to noticeably decline in their abilities earlier than imagined.

Trauma

Women in Policing: How It Feels to Be a Reluctant Hero

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on March 25, 2022

This is women's history month. Meet Trooper Toni Schuck who is making history now by changing the narrative that women in law enforcement aren't as brave or as dedicated as males.

This is women's history month. Meet Trooper Toni Schuck who is making history now by changing the narrative that women in law enforcement aren't as brave or as dedicated as males.

Relationships

How to Make Love Last Past Valentine's Day and Date Night

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on February 7, 2022

Are you stressing over what to buy your love for Valentine's Day? What he or she wants may surprise you.

Are you stressing over what to buy your love for Valentine's Day? What he or she wants may surprise you.

Stress

Married to a Cop? Their Stress Can Become Yours

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on December 23, 2021

Studies of mice suggest that living with a traumatized mate can cause changes to the brain. Females can repair the damage, but males cannot. Does this apply to humans?

Studies of mice suggest that living with a traumatized mate can cause changes to the brain. Females can repair the damage, but males cannot. Does this apply to humans?

Identity

Is Being a Cop (or Anything Else) a Job or an Identity?

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on October 25, 2021

Are you over-identifying with your job? To tie your entire identity to your profession can set you up for a lifetime of striving followed by inevitable disappointment.

Are you over-identifying with your job? To tie your entire identity to your profession can set you up for a lifetime of striving followed by inevitable disappointment.