Leading with Empathy: How Stephanie’s Experience Shapes Security Solutions for All

In a world where the role of security professionals is constantly evolving, we find ourselves grappling with some of the most pressing societal issues of our time: mental health, inclusivity, and how our practices affect vulnerable populations. Today, we’re thrilled to spotlight a groundbreaking leader who embodies the spirit of change and dedication needed in our field – meet Stephanie.

Stephanie’s journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. With a robust background as a Navy police officer, she brings a wealth of real-world experience to her role as a psychologist and educator. Her unique blend of expertise drives her commitment to training organizations on effectively?interacting with individuals in the special needs community—a crucial yet often overlooked area in security and law enforcement.

Since founding Spectrum Training Solutions in 2020, Stephanie has made significant strides in educating over 2,500 police, fire, and EMS personnel. She is not just imparting knowledge; she is igniting a conversation about implicit bias, mental health disorders, and the sensitivities required when engaging with those who may be feeling lost or vulnerable. Her extensive certifications, from Mental Health First Aid to ASIST suicide prevention, exemplify her dedication to equipping professionals with the tools they need to make a meaningful impact.

For security professionals, understanding the dynamics of human behavior is essential, especially in high-stress environments. Stephanie’s work challenges us to rethink our approaches, to deepen our empathy, and to broaden our perspectives. This article will explore her insights and experiences, serving as a reminder that the future of safety isn’t just about procedures and policies; it’s about people.

So, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or new to the field, sit back, grab your favorite coffee, and get ready to be inspired by the passion and expertise of a true pioneer in the security landscape. The journey may be just getting started, but with leaders like Stephanie at the helm, the future looks promising indeed.

Welcome to her world, where empathy meets expertise, and every interaction is an opportunity for positive change.

Below our Q&A

1. What inspired you to transition from serving as a police officer in the Navy to starting your own training consultancy, Spectrum Training Solutions?

I struggled transitioning from the military back to being a civilian and realized how different the cultures were. I completed my doctorate degree in 2015 in Business Consulting Psychology but wasn’t exactly sure how I would use it. Fast-forward to 2019, I was working as the Special Needs Director at the Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit and realized what little neutral or positive interaction law enforcement and the special needs population had, yet people with special needs are three times more likely to be arrested. It gave me the idea to teach the local police department in the city I worked in how to interact with individuals with special needs. This gave me the opportunity to work with a demographic that I felt so comfortable in while providing people with special needs the advocacy they need and deserve to be safe, understood, and accepted in their community.

2. How do you leverage your experience as a police officer in your training programs, and what specific skills or insights do you bring to the table?

With any first responder, whether civilian or military, there is a common understanding amongst each other, and some of those things definitely give me leverage in this field. It’s not too common to find a psychologist who work with the special needs population who also was a military police officer. It’s typically one or the other; it’s quite a unique combination. Because I have experience in both the military and psychology/specialed realms, I am able to interact with and teach police officers in a way they understand, prefer, and enjoy. Without giving away the entire recipe for the secret sauce, I will say that officers greatly appreciate the KISS approach to learning about this population and when in an environment they are having fun and laughing, they truly are learning. That’s what makes it stick.

3. Can you share some examples of the types of training programs you've developed and delivered for police, fire, and EMS personnel? How do these programs address the needs of the special needs population?

The training I provide is in-person only. When learning about this population and/or other sensitive topics (i.e. mental health, implicit bias, etc.), there’s nothing that can compare to in-person conversations, eye contact, and face-to-face interactions. While COVID did make that challenging between 2020-2021, most departments understood and agreed with my philosophy when I told them virtual training was not an option. We dealt with the logistics and made it happen. With the amount of distractions in today’s society, it’s challenging to truly benefit from online training. Unfortunately, they all too often are just a ‘check in the box’ for departments for a variety of reasons. One of the most enjoyable components of some of the training I offer is the family panel. In the first half of the class, we spend four hours learning about the population, behavioral characteristics to look for, and communication strategies when responding on scene. After lunch, we have a family panel of parents and their special needs child (adult). There are a number of prompts that are utilized to facilitate the conversation and address topics important to both LE personnel and families with a special needs child(ren). Participants in these classes light up when they see the families; it’s apparent they are more comfortable, have a better understanding of the population, and genuinely want to improve relations with them. Having the opportunity to see and interact with these families provides another perspective and aspect of learning, for those who prefer more hands-on activities.

4. You've earned a wide range of certifications, including Mental Health First Aid, Veterans Behavioral Health, Domestic Violence and Anger Management Treatment Professional. How do these certifications inform your training approach, and which ones have been most influential in shaping your work?

I wouldn’t say these certifications have shaped my approach for training, but they have provided added value when working with this population. Many officers I train are military veterans, and many of them suffer from PTSD. Being a veteran myself, some of the certifications I completed were out of curiosity. Most of these were completed prior to the inception of my business, but I see myself as a lifelong learner and believe that if I am going to be educating one of the most important demographics of people (in my opinion of course), they deserve the most current and relevant information. So that requires me to put in the work to ensure the highest quality training I can provide.

5. As a Nonviolent Crisis Prevention (CPI) instructor, can you describe some of the key takeaways or strategies that you emphasize in your training programs?

One of the biggest takeaways from the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training is that physical interventions are always a last resort. Of course when looking at different industries, that philosophy may or may not go over as well. I think that when people better understand the special needs population and why they do some of the things they do, there is less of a chance of physical interventions being used. People are often quick to respond by going hands-on, and in some situations, that is the best and safest option. But for many interactions with the special needs population (or mental health crises), physical interventions are often used more quickly than they should. Going hands-on with anyone will almost always guarantee the situation escalates very quickly, increasing the likelihood of mistakes, injuries, fatalities, and lawsuits, among other challenges. With more tools in the toolkit (such as the strategies from CPI), officers have other strategies and techniques they can try before going down the hands-on route.

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Abraham Desantiago