2026 Minnesota law enforcement wellness Summit agenda
Session 1
Description
This presenter’s personal battle with alcohol and PTSD, coupled with extensive knowledge and experience in the wellness community, offers an interactive presentation that delves into substance use and abuse within the first responder community. By exploring the alarming rates of alcohol use, this presentation delivers a unique perspective on wellness, physiology, and personal experience. The presenter will analyze national data comparisons alongside clinical patterns of behavior to shed light on the reasons behind substance abuse. Key discussions will focus on how self-destructive behaviors like numbing, masking, isolating, and other sabotaging thoughts contribute to the substance abuse pattern. Attendees will also be provided with self-improvement solutions and additional external resources to foster healthy growth for themselves, their family members, or their coworkers. This is particularly relevant in the context of promoting law enforcement mental wellness.
Learning Objectives
- Identify concerns regarding mental health and substance abuse patterns of behavior that can be addressed.
- Discuss the dichotomy of acceptance of alcohol use and the stigma associated with seeking help.
- Explore the relationship between stress-related mental health injuries and self-medication among first responders.
- Review potential resources and self-improvement activities that first responders can implement immediately to mitigate threats to personal and professional goals, particularly in regard to PTSD treatment for first responders.
Biography
Captain Brad Shepherd (Ret.) is the Director of Public Safety for Chateau Health & Wellness, a national first responder residential treatment facility that specializes in treating trauma, suicide, PTSD, substance abuse, depression, and anxiety. After 25 years with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, where he served as a Commander in various roles, including SWAT, Emergency Services Unit, and Peer Support Unit, Brad is now committed to enhancing law enforcement mental wellness. He founded and served as CEO/Executive Director of two nonprofit organizations dedicated to the first responder wellness community. An experienced national presenter and instructor across several disciplines, including ICISF Critical Incident Stress Management, Brad has also rebuilt and commanded his agency's peer support program while advising peer teams throughout the U.S. Having faced his own challenges with stress, trauma, mental health, and alcoholism, Brad is passionate about helping others achieve peace and joy in their personal lives, relationships, and careers. His commitment will also be highlighted at the upcoming wellness summit in Minnesota.
Session 2
Description:
A police officer’s brain is their most critical tactical tool for law enforcement mental wellness. The hypervigilance required for street survival—constantly scanning for threats and rapidly mobilizing the fight-or-flight response—is essential for safety. However, the persistent inability to deactivate this biological response when off-duty significantly contributes to officer burnout, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, and suicide. For many officers, traditional "talk therapy" is insufficient because the core issue extends beyond psychological factors to physiological dysregulation. This 2-hour workshop introduces neuromodulation—a rapidly evolving field leveraging non-invasive technologies to retrain nervous system activity. We will move beyond basic stress management advice to explore practical, evidence-based tools that specifically target the autonomic nervous system. Attendees will learn how neuromodulation techniques (such as advanced Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback, audio visual entrainment, and neurofeedback) can act as a "tactical reset," allowing officers to sustain high operational readiness while safeguarding their long-term biological health.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this 2-hour workshop, participants will be able to: 1. Deconstruct the "Hypervigilance Rollercoaster": Explain the neurobiological mechanisms that trap officers in sympathetic (fight-or-flight) dominance, even when they are safe. 2. Define Neuromodulation in Plain Language: Demystify neuromodulation, framing it as "nervous system training" rather than mere "medical treatment." 3. Evaluate Specific Modalities: Identify the differences among key neuromodulation tools applicable to law enforcement, specifically HRV biofeedback and EEG Neurofeedback. 4. Develop Implementation Strategies: Discuss practical ways to incorporate these technologies into existing departmental wellness programs, peer support initiatives, or individual officer routines as part of a broader strategy for PTSD treatment for first responders.
Biography
Fran is a Licensed Psychologist, Psychophysiologist, and Board Certified in Neurofeedback as an Associate Fellow. She is the Co-Founder of Bhakti Brain Health Clinic and maintains a private psychotherapy practice focusing on first responders' mental health. She has also served as a retired tenured track Professor of Psychology in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. With over 30 years of experience in neuroimaging, neurotherapy services, clinical psychotherapy, mediation services, and college-level teaching, Fran has been actively presenting at various mental health and well-being conferences, including the wellness summit Minnesota, for the past three decades.
Lunch Session
The upcoming wellness summit in Minnesota will focus on crucial topics related to law enforcement mental wellness, including effective PTSD treatment for first responders.
Session Three
Title: Integrating Emotional and Cultural Intelligence
Course Description
Our communities often struggle with healthy dialogue, especially in the context of law enforcement mental wellness and the challenges posed by PTSD treatment for first responders. Integrating emotional intelligence (EI) and cultural intelligence (CI) is essential for enhancing relationships, fostering understanding, and encouraging positive discussions. While abundant information exists on the importance of EI and CI, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the integration of these two concepts. With a growing demand for EI and CI in our communities and workplaces, this presentation aims to explore their integration, particularly in relation to improving societal interactions and addressing issues such as mental wellness among first responders. Join us at the upcoming wellness summit in Minnesota as we work towards bridging divides.
Learning Objectives
Our communities often struggle with healthy dialogue, especially in the context of law enforcement mental wellness and the challenges posed by PTSD treatment for first responders. Integrating emotional intelligence (EI) and cultural intelligence (CI) is essential for enhancing relationships, fostering understanding, and encouraging positive discussions. While abundant information exists on the importance of EI and CI, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the integration of these two concepts. With a growing demand for EI and CI in our communities and workplaces, this presentation aims to explore their integration, particularly in relation to improving societal interactions and addressing issues such as mental wellness among first responders. Join us at the upcoming wellness summit in Minnesota as we work towards bridging divides.
Biography
Jeanine Parolini, Ph.D., MA, MBA, is the MBA Program Director and an Associate Professor at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. With 12 years of experience in corporate strategic sales and consulting, 9 years in key staff positions at two large non-profits, and 23 years in consulting, coaching, and teaching, she has a wealth of knowledge. Dr. Parolini is passionate about fostering principled leaders and learning organizations. Throughout her career, she has developed thousands of leaders within hundreds of organizations worldwide. She specializes in coaching leaders, teams, and organizations to become continuous learners who are self-aware, trustworthy, responsible, collaborative, empowering, and innovative. Dr. Parolini often speaks and writes on various topics related to effective leadership, teams, and organizations. More information is available here: https://www.bethel.edu/academics/faculty/parolini-jeanine
Session Four
Title: EMDR Decoded: Facts, Function, and Field-Tested Outcomes in First Responders
Course Description
In this seminar, we will provide an overview of EMDR, including its development and current understandings of its biological mechanisms for treating trauma and other symptoms in first responders. We will address common beliefs and misconceptions about EMDR, reinforcing its significance in the context of PTSD treatment for first responders. By providing case examples, we will underscore the effectiveness of EMDR for those in high-stress professions such as law enforcement. Participants will receive an overview of resources to locate a qualified clinician and learn to differentiate between a trained versus a certified EMDR clinician. To conclude, all participants will be welcomed to engage in a Group Resource Enhancement Protocol (GREP) exercise designed to demonstrate the mechanisms and intended positive-state outcomes from EMDR.
Learning Objectives
- Develop a foundational understanding of how EMDR works
- Understand the purpose of EMDR, including what it is and what it is not
- Increase comfort in engaging in psychotherapy, particularly with an EMDR provider
- How to find and vet an EMDR therapist
- Install a positive state or resource through group demo/practice
Biography :
Kalee is a licensed therapist specializing in trauma and acute crisis, with experience in law enforcement mental wellness. She has worked with adults, children, couples, and families in outpatient therapy, crisis services including mobile crisis and residential treatment, and intensive residential care. Kalee’s approach to therapy is rooted in EMDR and employs a mix of cognitive and body-based interventions to alleviate distress in both mind and body. She aids individuals facing trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, and other challenges. Outside of therapy, Kalee is an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer and is involved with the Headwaters Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a community coalition dedicated to suicide prevention and building resilience. Shannon is a licensed therapist who focuses on treating adults dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and professional stressors. With a unique understanding of vicarious trauma, she works with professionals in high-risk fields to enhance their overall well-being and daily functioning. Shannon's therapeutic practice involves EMDR, EX/RP, and person-centered approaches. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision, holds an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and has a strong background in law enforcement through her BS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management and AAS in law enforcement, making her insights particularly relevant for attendees of the wellness summit Minnesota.
Session Five
Title: Psychedelic Medication
Course Description :
The presentation will explore the concept of psychedelic medicine, including the current evidence supporting its efficacy in treating mental health issues and substance use disorders. Specifically, it will discuss how these innovative treatments are being implemented in regulated clinical and research environments. Additionally, the session will address the legal status of psychedelic substances, emphasizing the crucial distinction between medical use and recreational misuse. The discussion will also highlight the implications for public safety, policy, and community concerns, particularly in relation to law enforcement mental wellness as this field evolves.
Biography
Dr. Manoj Doss is a physician and founder of the Institute for Integrative Therapies, dedicated to providing innovative mental health care. He serves as an investigator on psychedelic clinical trials that aim to improve conditions such as PTSD, especially focusing on PTSD treatment for first responders. His research includes involvement in COMPASS Pathways’ psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression, atai Beckley’s DMT trial for treatment-resistant depression, and Cybin’s psilocin trial for major depressive disorder, with an upcoming COMPASS Pathways psilocybin trial aimed at PTSD. Dr. Doss brings a unique perspective to the mental health needs of high-stress occupations, having previously practiced occupational medicine where he cared for law enforcement officers and other working professionals. His insights will be valuable at the upcoming wellness summit in Minnesota.