Workicide: How the Job Is Killing Law Enforcement Marriages
👉 Learn how toxic police culture, burnout, and identity loss are destroying law enforcement marriages — and what you can do to protect your relationship and mental health.
In this powerful conversation, Cyndi Doyle sits down with Stephanie Keisow — former officer, dispatcher, police spouse, and author of Workicide — to unpack the hidden toll of toxic police culture and burnout on both the officer and their family. Stephanie shares her personal journey through trauma, loss, and recovery, introducing the concept of workicide: "death by career." Together, they explore how isolation, low self-esteem, occupational trauma, and identity devastation slowly erode mental health — and what law enforcement couples can do to recognize and reverse it.
💬 In this episode:
The real meaning of Workicide — "death by career" in law enforcement
4 warning signs: isolation, low self-esteem, occupational trauma, and identity devastation
How toxic leadership and burnout impact your marriage
Practical steps for recovery and reconnection
Why departments need to take organizational trauma seriously
Tools for mental health, identity balance, and family resilience
Cyndi Doyle is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, founder of Code4Couples®, author of Hold the Line, and a retired police spouse. She helps first responder couples create connection, communication, and courage in the face of law enforcement life.
💥 Get Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship →
https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews
🎤 Book Cyndi to Speak
Bring Code4Couples® training to your department or conference →
https://code4couples.com/training/
00:00 – Welcome & guest intro
02:00 – Stephanie's background: from cop to researcher
04:30 – What is Workicide and why it matters
08:00 – The four themes: isolation, low self-esteem, trauma, identity devastation
15:00 – Burnout and compassion fatigue as symptoms
20:00 – Stephanie's personal story of loss and recovery
26:00 – The WARRIOR model for connected wellness
33:00 – Family support and breaking the mental health stigma
38:00 – How departments and spouses can create change
40:00 – Closing encouragement
