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Stop Running on Empty: The Case for Knowing Your Own Worth
A practical look at self-appreciation for people who spend their careers taking care of everyone else.
CMPS Staff
11 hours ago5 min read


What It Takes to Last in Corrections: Burnout, Belonging, and the Case for Mindfulness
A new study from Michigan State University just dropped a title that will resonate with anyone who has spent time inside a correctional facility — not as a research subject, but as the person responsible for keeping it running. "You Are Replaceable."
CMPS Faculty
6 days ago6 min read


What Impermanence Has to Do With Surviving a Career in Public Safety
There's a concept that comes up again and again in contemplative practice that holds some of the most practical wisdom available to anyone working in corrections, law enforcement, or emergency services — and that concept is impermanence.
CMPS Faculty
Mar 166 min read


The Hidden Crisis in Corrections: Trauma, Burnout, and the Path to Resilience
The statistics are staggering — and largely unknown to the public. According to a 2011 survey by Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, 34 percent of correctional officers reported experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By comparison, 14 percent of military combat veterans reported the same. Correctional officers, in other words, are experiencing PTSD at more than twice the rate of Vietnam-era veterans — yet they receive only a fraction of the public aw
CMPS Staff
Mar 55 min read


Nasal Breathing for First Responders: Stress, Sleep & Performance
On the front lines of public safety, stress is not an occasional visitor — it is part of the job description. For law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS providers, and dispatchers, the nervous system is constantly pushed between high-alert calls and rushed attempts at recovery before the next tone drops.
CMPS Staff
Feb 194 min read


Tactical Resets: A First Responder's Tool for Managing Stress in Real Time
n the high-stress environment of public safety work, having quick, practical tools to manage stress isn't just helpful—it's essential. That's where tactical resets come in.
CMPS Faculty
Feb 33 min read


The Beginners Advantage: Why Starting Over Each Day Makes You Better at Your Job
Every shift, you’re expected to be the expert—the one with the answers, the seasoned professional who performs flawlessly based on years of accumulated experience.
You’ve earned that expertise through countless calls, difficult situations, and hard-won lessons.
CMPS Staff
Jan 277 min read


Hypervigilance & Decision Making: How Bias Obscures What Corrections Officers See
You know the drill: constant scanning, always alert, never knowing when that 5% of chaos will erupt from the 95% routine. You've been trained to read body language, assess threats behind every cell door, and make split-second calls that could save your life or a colleague's.
CMPS Faculty
Jan 1410 min read


Belly Breathing for First Responders: Complete Guide to Diaphragmatic Breathing
Belly breathing—also called diaphragmatic breathing or abdominal breathing—is the natural way your body is designed to breathe. Instead of shallow breaths that only move your chest, belly breathing uses your diaphragm to pull air deep into the lower portions of your lungs where oxygen exchange is most efficient.
CMPS Faculty
Dec 17, 20257 min read


Breathing Techniques for Public Safety Professionals
The chronic stress of modern life can feel like a constant state of high alert. We're bombarded by the "noise and the chaos and the speed of modern life," leaving many of us feeling overstimulated and running on a high-arousal state we can't seem to switch off. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. It's a natural consequence of our environment, but it's not a state you have to accept.
CMPS Faculty
Dec 10, 20255 min read


ACEs, Trauma, and Mind-Body Medicine: Essential Skills for Public Safety Healing
Brent Anderson is a seasoned consultant and transformation specialist. The conversation centered on the far-reaching impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and resulting trauma, and how practical mind-body medicine practices can help heal individuals and communities.
CMPS Staff
Nov 24, 20253 min read


Spotlight Speaker: Jimmy Chapman on CIT Mindfulness Training
Spotlight Speaker: Jimmy Chapman, Executive Director of the Virginia CIT Coalition, joins the Mindful Public Safety Hour to discuss how mindfulness can enhance Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). Chapman draws on nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to offer practical insights on the power of attention, self-regulation, and presence in effective crisis response.
CMPS Staff
Nov 12, 20252 min read


Mindful Leadership: Preventing Burnout and Transforming Culture in Public Safety
Discover how mindfulness-based leadership is reshaping public safety culture—reducing burnout and restoring strength through calm, connected presence.
CMPS Staff
Oct 31, 20252 min read


Behind the Bars & Beyond: Readiness Strategies for a Long, Healthy Career in Corrections
This isn’t about limping to retirement—it’s about being ready today and sustainable for the long haul. The strategies below are built for the realities of corrections: rotating posts, unpredictable incidents, and the emotional load of working where people live in crisis.
CMPS Staff
Oct 28, 20253 min read


Presenter Spotlight: Troy Torrence, M.S.
From tactical training to mindful breathing, Troy Torrence has spent more than two decades helping public safety professionals stay strong, centered, and resilient.
CMPS Staff
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Emotional Intelligence at Work: Developing Self-Awareness and Self-Management
Discover how emotional intelligence and mindfulness practices empower corrections and law enforcement professionals to manage stress, improve performance, and enhance emotional wellness at work.
CMPS Faculty
Oct 15, 20253 min read


From “Us vs. Them” to “We”: Mindfulness as a Bridge in Public Safety
Discover how mindfulness helps public safety professionals move beyond the “us vs. them” mindset, fostering empathy, balance, and human...
CMPS Faculty
Oct 10, 20254 min read


Climbing Down the Ladder: Mindful Decision-Making for Public Safety Professionals
MBWR is an evidence-based training for public safety professionals that builds practical resilience, communication, and stress management skills to reduce burnout and improve well-being.
CMPS Staff
Oct 8, 20255 min read


Reframing Negativity Without Denial: A Tool for Public Safety Professionals
Learn science-backed strategies to reframe negativity in public safety work. Explore how mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal help professionals manage stress, build resilience, and respond constructively to challenges.
CMPS Staff
Oct 1, 20253 min read


Cultivating Self-Management: Mastering the Art of Emotional and Physiological Balance
Discover practical self-management techniques to master emotional and physiological balance. Learn mindful strategies like straw breathing, avoid the drama triangle, and cultivate resilience for more clarity, calm, and empowerment every day.
CMPS Faculty
Sep 29, 20253 min read
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