Treating Bruised Badges

Policing may lead officers to physical, psychological, and emotional distress. Nonetheless, there is an additional, albeit less studied, threat to officers' well-being. Moral risks, an umbrella term encompassing two interrelated moral struggles—moral distress and moral injury—exacerbate officers' emotional difficulties, spiritual distress, and job dissatisfaction, as well as increase the likelihood of officer misconduct. However, there are psychological interventions that help to minimize the intensity of the psychological and behavioral problems associated with these moral risks and facilitate officers' recovery from these difficulties. This chapter examines the utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and other techniques to treat the moral suffering of law enforcement personnel. It provides practical suggestions for using the strategies of these modalities to increase police officers' well-being.