Working with First Responders in Therapy
On-demand (recorded) content
2.0 CE credit hours
**Course content will be available on June 21, 2025 (1 day after the live course)**
This course is funded by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health Division through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Use and Mental Health Block Grants.
CE/CEU credits included: 2.0 (see below for approval details). You must view the full webinar and pass the quiz (details below) to receive continuing education credits (partial credit not awarded).
Format: On-demand (recorded/asynchronous)
Quiz: there is a quiz at the end to ensure viewing, which you must pass (75%) within 3 attempts. If you do not pass within 3 attempts, you must repurchase the course for additional attempt (or if you watched the webinar with free registration, you must email us so we can reset your course progress for you to watch it again for additional attempts). It is required by CE/CEU approval organizations.
Investment: Free for North Dakota residents until December 20, 2025 at 11:59pm CT. Non-North Dakota residents may purchase access for $59.
Course access: Free registrants will have access to the course until December 20, 2025 at 11:59pm CT, which means the course must be completed and the CE certificate must be downloaded by that date. After that participants must pay for course access. Paid registrants have lifetime access to this course (for the lifetime of this course and/or course portal).
Presenter: Katie Francis, MSW, LCSW/LICSW (see bio below)
Abstract:
This course is designed to help therapists develop cultural competency when working with first responders. First responders, including firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, and other emergency professionals, face unique challenges that shape their experiences, values, and perspectives. These factors can impact their mental health and how they engage in therapy. Participants will gain an understanding of first responder culture in order to build trust, foster a collaborative therapeutic relationship, and provide effective support. By enhancing cultural competency, therapists will be better equipped to address the needs of first responders, ensuring they receive the care and understanding they need to thrive both professionally and personally. This course is appropriate for licensed mental health professionals and trainees in mental health graduate programs who desire learning more about how to engage with and effectively assist first responders in mental health treatment.
Objectives:
- Describe the similarities and differences in cultural norms and values across various First Responder disciplines
- Identify potential barriers First Responders face in seeking therapy and how to address them
Non-Discrimination:
HPC and ATAGF do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or age.
Conflict of Interest Statements:
There is no known commercial support for this program, nor are there any relationships between the CE sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could be construed as conflicts of interests. Ms. Francis receives an honorarium for instructing this webinar. There is no commercial support or benefits for endorsement of products (e.g., books, training, drugs).
The presenter will inform participants of the utility and validity of content discussed (including the basis for statements about utility/validity), as well as limitations of the approach and the most common and severe risks, if any, associated with program content.
Requests for Accommodations:
HPC and ATAGF are committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all aspects of its continuing education activities. Participants with special needs should contact program organizers so reasonable accommodations can be made.
To request accommodations, contact ATAGF's Continuing Education Vice Chair, Christine Boulton-Olson, PhD, LP, at [email protected].
Presenter: Katie Francis, MSW, LCSW/LICSW
Katie Francis, MSW, LCSW/LICSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2005 and her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Minnesota in 2009. Ms. Francis has over 19 years of experience in the mental health field. She spent her first 15 years in the field in Community Mental Health in a variety of areas including outpatient therapy, school-based services, day treatment, in-home therapy, homeless services, and crisis services. She has spent the last 4+ years working for Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks providing psychotherapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of interest include treating individuals experiencing issues including PTSD/trauma, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship challenges, compassion fatigue, and adjusting to life changes. She has a passion for working with first responders and other helping professionals.
Course Curriculum
Continuing Education Approvals (CE/CEU)
This course is available for 2.0 continuing education hours. Full viewing is required; credit will not be given for partial viewing. You must pass the quiz at the end (75%) within 3 attempts. To get additional attempts, you must repurchase the course (or email us to reset the course if you watched it for free).
This course is co-sponsored by Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC.
Psychologists: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
ND Licensed Social Workers: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC, is approved by the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners (NDBSWE) to sponsor continuing education for social workers in North Dakota (approval through 4/5/25, provider #P-217).
ND Licensed Counselors: This course is approved by the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners (NDBCE) for 2.0 continuing education hours (approval through 2/15/26).
ND Marriage and Family Therapists: This course will be submitted to the North Dakota Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board for 2.0 hours of credit.
ND Licensed Addiction Counselors: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks is an approved continuing education provider for the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (NDBACE; approval through 1/29/26).
Paid registrants have lifetime course access.
To view our workshop policies, including refund policy, please click here.
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