This episode features Dr. Katherine Kuhlman, a board-certified police and public safety psychologist, who works exclusively with first responders and their families. Together with Cyndi, she unpacks how extreme events like mass shootings impact not only officers but also their spouses, children, and communities. Dr. Kuhlman explains the unique psychological toll these events take, how families can recognize signs of trauma, and why preparation, communication, and finding purpose are key to resilience.
What you'll learn in this episode:
How extreme events differ from typical critical incidents for law enforcement
The ripple effects on spouses, children, and entire communities
Signs of trauma in officers, partners, and kids — and when to seek help
Why preparation, code words, and drills matter for first responder families
How finding purpose can fuel post-traumatic growth after tragedy
👩⚕️ Dr. Katherine Kuhlman works 100% with first responders and their families, providing expertise in traumatic stress, officer wellness, and family resilience.
📘 Grab Cyndi's book Hold the Line → https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews
🎤 Book Cyndi for department trainings → https://code4couples.com/training/
00:00 Intro & guest intro
02:00 What makes extreme events different from critical incidents
07:00 Spillover stress on families and children
14:00 Media scrutiny and second-guessing
20:00 Preparing families with drills & code words
25:00 Post-traumatic growth and finding purpose
32:00 How spouses can support officers after extreme events
36:00 Signs and symptoms of trauma to watch for
40:00 Closing thoughts & resources
