History | The Counseling Team International

In 1985, The Counseling Team International (TCTI) began providing employee support services to law enforcement, fire, emergency services and governmental agencies in the State of California, as well as nationwide. The Founder and Director Nancy K. Bohl-Penrod, Ph.D. began contracting with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to provide Stand by Status (SBS) 24/7/365 Critical Incident Stress Management services (CISM) to Sheriff’s personnel involved in shootings. This immediate intervention decreased Worker’s Compensation claims to such a degree that TCTI was encouraged and asked to expand their services to counseling San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department personnel and their family members for personal problems along with offering many training classes. The Cities of Chino Hills, Colton and Rialto fire departments also wanted services and began contracting with TCTI for their firefighters.

In 1986, Training became very important to TCTI’s success. Training reaches out to many people who otherwise would not have any contact with the mental health field. TCTI created their training division which develops classes to meet the needs of all they serve. TCTI’s Staff are Adjunct Professors for many colleges and universities in Southern California. They have been guest speakers for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), and the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) as well as many police and fire academies. TCTI’s Instructors are certified to teach for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), Law Enforcement Wellness Association (LEWA), Police Officer Standards of Training (POST), Standards and Training for Corrections (STC), Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), Continuing Education Units (CEU), ICEMA for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), paramedics. TCTI also trains for the QPR Institute for suicide prevention and intervention.

In 1987, TCTI’s Employee Support Services Program was created to help the employees of companies and/or departments and their eligible dependents in solving personal and emotional problems. The employees and their eligible dependents can call directly for help without going through a supervisor. TCTI’s counseling has helped in areas such as stress, depression, marriage and family/relationships, substance abuse, weight control, financial difficulties, suicide ideation and career concerns. The Counseling Team International’s Employee Support Program quickly expanded and was offered to many other police and fire departments throughout Southern California.

In addition, in 1987, The Pre-employment Psychological Testing Division was formed by Dr. Larry Davis who was the Director until his retirement. After his retirement in 2005, Dr. Kathleen Wellbrock became the Clinical/Assistant Director. Due to high demand TCTI increased their team of clinical psychologists to help with this division. TCTI’s Clinical Psychologists conducting the oral interviews are incompliance with the California Government Code 1031 (f)(2)(B), which obligates TCTI’s Clinical Psychologists to meet applicable education and training procedures set forth by the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). TCTI Clinical Psychologists build a personal relationship with the departments and provides the contracts with easy access and good communication.

In 1988, Peer Support Programs for law enforcement, fire and other organizations were developed by TCTI. It is one of the most important training programs that TCTI has conducted all over the nation and in Canada. TCTI has trained over 12,000 peer supporters in the Fire, Law Enforcement and EMS Field. TCTI has trained Cal Fire, US Forest Service, California Highway Patrol (CHP), Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), Washington State Patrol (WSP), Canadian Royal Mounted Police (RCMP), Kaiser Hospitals, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), United States Border Patrol (USBP), Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), United States Postal Inspectors (USPI) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Office of Inspector General (OIG) and over 100 local law enforcement and fire agencies throughout California.

TCTI employs a professional support staff to assist the Director and a team of dedicated clinicians and Associates throughout the nation. They are licensed Mental Health Professionals from many disciplines who have responded to major disasters and critical incidents such as:

1987 Pacific Southwest Airlines Crash Flight 1771, Cayucos, California
1989 Train Disaster and Pipeline Explosion, San Bernardino, California
1991 United Airlines Crash, Littleton, Colorado
1991 Riverside County Fire Response to 16 Killed in Skydiving Accident, Perris, California
1992 Hurricane Andrew, Florida
1992 Los Angeles Riots, Los Angeles, California
1993 ATF Raid Incident, Waco, Texas
1994 Northridge Earthquake, Northridge, California
1994 US Air Crash, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1994 US Air Crash, Charlotte, North Carolina
1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1996 ATF Unabomber Bombing at the California Forestry Association, Roseville, California
1996 TWA Flight 800 Airline Accident, Long Island, New York
1998 Springfield High School Shooting, Eugene, Oregon
1998 Riverside City Hall Shooting, Riverside, California
1999 Bridge Creek Tornado, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1999 Alaska Airlines Aviation Accident, Ventura, California
1999 Columbine High School Shooting, Littleton, Colorado
2001 Santee High School Shooting, Santee, California
2001 World Trade Center/911Terrorist Attack, New York, New York
2001 The Pentagon/ 9-11 Terrorist Attack, Virginia
2002 Typhoon, Guam
2003 Old Fire, San Bernardino, California
2005 Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana
2005 Red Lake High School Shooting, Red Lake, Minnesota
2006 Mammoth Ski Patrol Deaths, Mammoth, California
2006 Esperanza Fire – 5 deaths of United States Forest Service Personnel, Riverside, California
2007 Witch Fire, San Diego County
2008 Ski Resort Avalanche, Wrightwood, California
2008 Meritage Hair Solan Shooting, Seal Beach, California
2011 Edison Workplace Violence Shooting, Los Angeles, California
2012 Big Bear Manhunt/Christopher Dorner, Law Enforcement Deaths, San Bernardino, California
2013 Los Angeles International Airport TSA Shooting, Los Angeles, California
2015 Inland Regional Center Terrorist Attack, San Bernardino, California
2017 School Shooting at North Park Elementary, San Bernardino, California
2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting, Las Vegas, Nevada
2017 Tubbs Wildfires, California
2017 Thomas Wildfires, California
2018 Montecito Mudslides, Santa Barbara, California
2018 Yountville Pathway Veteran Home Shooting, Yountville, California
2018 Ferguson Fire in the Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, California
2018 Yolo Fire “County Fire” Yountville, California
2018 Mass Shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California
2018 Carr Fire, Redding, California
2019 Synagogue Shooting in Poway, California
2019 Costco Shooting in Poway, California
2019 Federal Courthouse Shooting in Dallas, Texas
2019 Ridgecrest, California Earthquakes
2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting in Gilroy, California
2019 El Paso Shooting in El Paso, Texas
2019 Kincade Fire, Napa Valley, California
2019 Conception Boat Fire in Santa Barbara, California
2020 Alessandra Apartment Fire, Hemet, California
2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, California
2020 North Complex Fire
2020 August Complex Fire
2020 Schill Fire
2020 Caribou-Targhee Fire
2020 Bishop Fire
2020 Ferris Fire
2020 Walker Fire
2020 Riverside Fire
2020 Silverado Fire, Orange County, California
2020 El Dorado Fire, Yucaipa, California
2021 Imperial County Border Car Crash

In 1994, TCTI formed a Line of Duty Death Response Team (LODDRT). This team consists of mental health professionals, peer supporters, chaplains, Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and works within a collaborative spirit. This team has responded to approximately 125 line of duty deaths (LODD) since 1986. Dr. Nancy Bohl-Penrod has faithfully attended and dedicated her time to police week in Washington, D.C., since 198.

In 2002, TCTI designed a Website with the interactive user in mind! The website contains over 75 articles & handouts, a variety of surveys, tests and measurement tools for self-help on various situations including, Guided Imagery, Visualization, Relaxation Techniques and Breathing Exercises.

In 2020, TCTI made Telehealth services available. Mental health professionals can provide counseling services to their clients from a distance using videoconferencing. It is CONFIDENTIAL in the same way that face to face sessions are, while using