Mindfulness as an Intervention for Police Officer Wellness and Performance: Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT)
Speaker: Brant Rogers, MS, RYT; Lt. Richard Goerling, MBA, Police Lieutenant; Michael Christopher, PhD
Format: Audio & Slides

Intended for professionals from across disciplines, this workshop will present mindfulness as an intervention for police officer wellness and enhanced performance. With both the presentation of information and ample opportunity for collaborative dialogue, this workshop will begin with a strategic look at mindfulness in policing and end with actionable steps each attendee can take back to their community.

To begin, a vision of mindfulness at the center of responder, organizational and community wellness will be shared and discussed. We will propose integrating mindfulness training into the police organization's culture through formal and informal training initiatives.

This workshop will describe the development of Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) at the Hillsboro Oregon Police Department and present a summary of the research and outcomes. Video interviews of officers and police staff members will be shown, sharing unique individual experiences with mindfulness training. We present key ingredients of a successful training program and discuss historical, existing and future challenges moving forward locally, and globally. Additionally, details about the incorporation of mindfulness training into the design of ongoing tactical police training will be described.

Discussion of how MBRT complements the widely adopted and increasingly valuable Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model. We'll look at where these models intersect and how CISM is enhanced through mindfulness training. This workshop will offer break-out sessions for networking, brainstorming and the development of actionable plans. Additionally, other communities that are working to integrate mindfulness-based practices into their communities will be introduced. Through this workshop, we will build an interdisciplinary network of community leaders that can work collaboratively to bring mindfulness to policing, enhance police officer wellness, create healthier police organizations, and work toward healing police-community relations.