About the Course
Law enforcement has one of the highest divorce rates, with up to 70 percent of law enforcement marriages ending in divorce. When a person enters into a career in law enforcement, they join an agency and become part of that organization’s “family.” The marriage often faces unique challenges. This course provides insight to this problem, as well as ways to approach the issues and open communication between spouses.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understanding Relationship hurdles
- Gain insight on the effect of individual stress from job duties
- Gain insight on the effect of marital stress from job duties
- Recognizing individual stress
- Atypical shifts
- High-risk/high-stress situations
- Post-traumatic stress
- Traumatizing scenarios
- Organizational stress
- Acknowledging impact and marital stress
- Individual stress not dealt with that carries over
- Worry about health/safety of spouse
- Infidelity issues
- Time factor
- Law enforcement “subculture”
- Lack of spousal support during catastrophes/natural disasters
- Strategies for marital stress prevention
- Effective communication
- Code or signals
- Recognition/awareness of the other person
- Therapy
- Intimacy
- Striving for Work/life balance
- Dedicated family time
- Communication
- Interactive Discussions:
- Analyze case studies, including instructor’s personal experiences
- Engage in interactive discussions to share insight and strategies
Price:
$129.00
Meet Your Instructor
Melissa Houston
After packing up 4 children and moving across the country by myself, I had to do something to support my family. The local police department was hiring, and a friend of mine made a bet with me that he would make it further in the hiring process than I would. I won.
During my 21 years at the Sheriff’s Office, I held positions in the following areas:
- Corrections-booking and housing areas
- Road patrol
- Detective assigned to Sex Crimes Unit
- Field Training Officer
- Drug Recognition Expert Instructor
- Drug/alcohol interdiction team
- Joint Criminal Apprehension Team
- Undercover agent on federal task force
- Patrol Sergeant
- Sergeant in Judicial Services
During my career, I was the one people turned to for help in writing search warrants, giving a second set of eyes to a situation, and being the work-wife or work-mother to my coworkers. My car always had a snack and a bottle of water for anyone in need. I kept blankets and first aid supplies, as well as extra forms and evidence bags, to ensure everyone would always have what they needed to succeed.
I was re-married early in my career, and I had 2 more children. I was working and raising a family alone while my husband pursued his PhD. Everyone has unique circumstances that put pressures on their families. How we handle these pressures will either “make or break” our relationships. Mine broke. Hindsight has 20/20 vision.
During my career, I was in a unique position to understand where the “cop wives’” were coming from, and I would often offer advice to my male counterparts. I am not a licensed therapist. I am, however, a woman who can see both sides of the coin and can offer advice/ideas to help both sides flourish. My undergraduate degree was in social psychology, my Master’s degree is in Criminal Justice.
Upcoming Training Dates
Details about registration and how to register