Minnesota has taken the initiative to invest in the mental health needs of law enforcement officers and their families, introducing specialized mental health training programs for aspiring therapists.

The program, hosted by Adler Graduate School in Minnetonka, aims to train 150 licensed therapists over a span of two years, with a specific emphasis on working with law enforcement clients.

LeAnne Renteria, a former police officer turned mental health therapist, said she started the initiative after seeing the gap in mental health services that were tailored to the experiences of law enforcement personnel.

Drawing from her extensive background in law enforcement, Renteria specializes in providing support to officers and their families, aiming to fill this critical void.

“I have spent my whole life in the law enforcement field in one way or another. I have seen what trauma does to officers,” Renteria told KARE11.

“There weren’t enough people in the mental health field that understood what it was like to be a police officer,” Renteria added.

Renteria’s initiative eventually gained traction through the Law Enforcement Specialty Training program, which was established with funding from the state legislature.

The program’s curriculum, spanning 36 hours over four weekends, delves into crucial aspects such as “law enforcement mentality” and “barriers to seeking help,” offering a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement professionals.

“Part of the training is ‘Day in the Life’ of a police officer. They’re getting to understand the field,” Renteria explained. “These people are giving up their Friday evenings, their Saturdays, because they legitimately want to learn more about the field. They want to read books, talk to police officers and find out as much as they can so they can truly help these people — help law enforcement and their families.”

The program also focuses on real-world scenarios, with a special emphasis on helping officers cope with trauma.

Reflecting on the overwhelming demand for the program, Solange Ribeiro, president of Adler Graduate School, said it was important to support law enforcement officers and their families in enhancing public safety.

“If you help law enforcement officers, and you help their families, they are much more able to make better decisions in the spot when they find critical situations. Therefore, public safety is enhanced,” Ribeiro stated.

The initiative has since garnered widespread support, with all 2024 sessions selling out on the first day.

Rachael Peterson, a consultant, therapist and educator, was actively involved in planning for the programs.

According to Peterson, the training is designed to enhance trust between therapists and officers.

“When police officers go to a therapist, if they don’t get a sense early on that they can talk about traumatic or disturbing things, they will feel like it is unsafe for them to talk,” said Peterson. “It takes a different approach and a different tactic than a typical therapist might use to gain a client’s trust.”

Lisa Venable, a retired Adler Graduate School adjunct professor and project coordinator for the Law Enforcement Training Program, agreed with this sentiment.

The programs, according to Venable, broaden therapists’ perspectives and allow for more sympathy when working with those in law enforcement.

“I had no idea that this was what their profession was really like,” Venable reflected. “You just think they are out there protecting us or even shooting people. But there is so much we don’t know until we really start listening and talking to people.”

The program’s significance also extends beyond individual officers, as State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski explained.

Cwodzinski, a proponent of supporting first responders, discussed the broader impact of addressing mental health within law enforcement on public interactions and overall well-being.

By providing therapists with the necessary training and understanding, the program aims to facilitate healthier interactions between law enforcement officers and the community they serve.

According to Minnetonka Police Chief Scott Boerboom, one of the challenges affecting mental health in law enforcement is the stigma of getting help.

“Officers wear many different hats, and they respond to different situations, and sometimes they are not the best suited to respond to that particular situation,” he said, “but they are the first ones there, so they have to step in. It can be a struggle. It can be hard on your mental health. Young officers don’t always know what they are getting into.”

By fostering trust and understanding between police officers and mental health professionals, the program aims to promote healthier coping mechanisms and prevent adverse outcomes such as addiction or leaving the profession.

Looking ahead, program organizers envision a future where mental health support tailored to law enforcement becomes normalized and accessible across Minnesota.

The initiative was funded by Minnesota Department of Public Safety grants totaling $150,000.