History

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. Founder and Director, Nancy K. Bohl-Penrod, Ph.D., began contracting with the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department to provide Stand by Status (SBS) – 24/7/365 – Critical incident Stress management services (CISM), to Sherriff personnel-involved shootings. This immediate-response type of intervention decreased worker’s compensation claims to such a degree, that TCTI was asked to expand their counseling services to San Bernardino County Sheriff Department personnel and their family members for personal problems, along with offering many training classes.

In 1986, Training became very important to The Counseling Team International’s success. Training reaches out to those who otherwise would not have any contact with the mental health field. The variety of courses offered are constantly updated to meet the needs of those who are served. TCTI’s professionals often teach at Southern California colleges and universities as adjunct professors. In addition, 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), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), paramedics (EMTII) and the QPR Institute.

In 1987, TCTI’s Employee Support Services Program was created to help employees and their family members in solving personal and emotional problems. Such employees work for: private companies, city, county and federal government, school districts, fire and law enforcement agencies. Employees and their family members 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 TCTI Employee Support Program quickly expanded after its initial launch and began working with other police and fire departments throughout Southern California.

A most important addition is the Pre-Employment Psychological Testing Department started in 1987 by retired director, Larry Davis, Ph.D. This division is now one of the collateral duties carried by Assistant Director, Kathleen Wellbrock, Ph. D.

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 nationwide and in Canada. TCTI has trained over 10,000 peer supporters in the first responders field, including: California Highway Patrol (CHP, Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), Washington State Patrol (WSP), Canadian Royal Mounted Police (RCMP0, Kaiser Hospitals, Cal Fire, 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 (USDS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) and various local law enforcement and fire agencies throughout California.

In 1989, The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) for TCTI was formed. Dr. Bohl-Penrod was asked to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Basic and Advanced Hostage Negotiation training in Quantico, Virginia. Since that time, TCTI has recognized the importance of consulting for law enforcement Crisis Negotiation Teams. The majority of TCTI’s mental health professionals have attended both Basic and Advanced Crisis Negotiation Trainings.

In 1994, TCTI formed a Line of Duty Death Response Team (LODDRT). This team consists of mental health professionals, peer supporters, chaplains, and Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and work within a collaborative spirit. This team has responded to approximately 100 line-of-duty deaths (LODD) since 1986. Members of TCTI have faithfully attended and dedicated their time to the annual Police Week in Washington, D.C.

TCTI employs a professional support staff to assist the Director and a team of dedicated mental health professionals and associates throughout the nation. They are licensed mental health professionals from many disciplines who have responded to major disasters and critical incidents including:

• The Oklahoma Bombing in Oklahoma City
• The Unabomber case in Sacramento
• The Tornado in Oklahoma City in 1999
• Hurricane Andrew in Florida
• Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana
• TWA Flight 800 Airline accident in New York
• Alaska/US Airline accident
• The Los Angeles Riots
• The ATF Incident in Waco, Texas
• The Ski Patrol Deaths at Mammoth Ski Lake
• The Avalanche in Wrightwood, California
• The School Shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado
• The School Shooting at Springfield High School in Eugene, Oregon
• The School Shooting at Santee High School in California
• The School Shooting at Cajon High School in California
• The School Shooting at Red Lake High School in Minnesota
• The Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center in New York
• The Terrorist Attack on The Pentagon in Virginia
• The 2002 Typhoon in Guam
• The 2003 Firestorms of Southern California
• The 5 deaths of Riverside County’s US Forest Service Personnel during the 2006 Esperanza Fire
• The 2007 Firestorm of Southern California
• The Seal Beach Beauty Salon Shooting
• 2010 Haiti Catastrophic Earthquake
• 2011Edison Workplace Violence Shooting
• 2012 Big Bear Manhunt Death of Detective Mackay and Officer Crain
• Los Angeles International Airport TSA shooting/death and injuries to TSA officers
• Terrorist Attack at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino