Interview With a Board Certified Specialist

Maria Galmarini, PsyD, ABPP
Police and Public Safety Psychology

Maria Galmarini, Psy.D., ABPP, is a Florida licensed psychologist. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Boston University (2008), her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling (2010) and Doctorate in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University (2015). Dr. Galmarini first gained experience in the field of police psychology in 2013, completing a clinical externship at Miami-Dade Police Department’s Psychological Services. 

Dr. Galmarini joined Law Enforcement Psychological and Counseling Associates Inc. in 2015. Dr. Galmarini currently conducts pre-employment psychological screenings, fitness for duty evaluations, and critical incident stress debriefings. She also provides individual, couples, and family therapy to law enforcement and civilian personnel through the employee assistance program of various local public safety agencies. In addition to her work in Police and Public Safety, Dr. Galmarini has extensive experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, and currently serves as a forensic evaluator for the 11^th Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County.
 
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. As a woman who has never been employed in law enforcement or any other public safety position, board certification provides agencies assurance regarding my training, education, experience, and ability to provide effective support and services. I am also aware that at this point in my career, the pursuit of board certification not only reflects proficiency of the services I provide, but also facilitates opportunities for continued learning, consultation, and collaboration with those who have established and progressed the field to where it is today.

Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A.  The board certification process was challenging, but extremely rewarding. I learned that I knew much more than I initially believed I did and gained a greater appreciation of the importance and significance of the work I do daily. While I have always had a proactive learning style, seeking out better understanding and doing my own research before asking others for help, this process taught me there was great value in the conversations I had with others who have gone through the process and who were kind enough to listen, give guidance, and provide encouragement when it was most needed. It afforded me the opportunity to think about my work from different perspectives and approaches, and resulted in greater understanding of the legal, ethical, and scientific aspects guiding my practice. This led to identified areas for improvement, including updating consent forms and verifying procedures were consistent with best practices and recent trends.
 
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. Board certification is a personal process. While many will have advice, you need to go at your own pace, and develop a plan that will work best for you. Life continues, work obligations are always present, and unexpected situations arise. Therefore, you need to develop an approach that affords you enough time to complete the tasks, provides flexibility, and incorporates opportunities for self-care. You must also remember there is help and support, formally within the mentoring program offered and informally from the warm and welcoming members of the specialty.
 
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. When first considering pursuing board certification, I was intimidated and convinced I was not prepared. However, in my work, research, and attendance at various conferences, I found a warm and welcoming group of specialists that encouraged my pursuits, offered support, and reminded me that they also started as early career psychologists. Additionally, the process has made me more confident in my skills and abilities, has led to opportunities to collaborate with peers, and will hopefully afford me the opportunity to also one day pay it forward.

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Lou Laguna, PhD, ABPP
Police and Public Safety Psychology

After 10 years of public service as a sworn police officer, Lou left policing to pursue full-time graduate studies in clinical psychology. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln in 1997 and completed his internship at Penn-State Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. In 1999 was hired by Lebanon Valley College in central PA and, for the next 19 years he was a full-time member of the psychology department at LVC.  He balanced his academic position with a private practice specializing in police suitability and fitness for duty evaluations. In 2019 Lou retired from LVC with the distinction of professor emeritus and he has been focusing full-time on his private practice in police psychology.  Lou lives with his spouse in central PA and in their free time they love to travel, often by motorcycle, to visit their children in Colorado and Florida.
 
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. A few things. I have been a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Psychological Services Section for several years and was well aware of the ABPP in Police and Public Safety Psychology. On several occasions I considered seeking board certification but reservations (okay fear…) about being able to follow through with it due to a very busy schedule always got in the way. As I watched the field of Police and Public Safety Psychology expand and become more technical, I found myself spending a lot of time reading articles and case law to keep up on the best practices in my specialty (pre-employment and fitness for duty evaluations (FFDE’s)). I figured that if I am already spending a lot of time and effort to provide the best services I can, I might as well direct it towards the goal of board certification. Also, I attended one of former Board President Dr. McCutcheon’s information sessions about board certification which helped me to feel as if it was doable.

Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A.  I learned that I had a lot to learn! I was pretty confident about the work I was doing but as I began preparing for board certification, I realized that there were many things I could be doing better. The feedback I got from those who reviewed my work was invaluable. It forced me to really think about my assessment work from a variety of perspectives and make some changes improved my work.
 
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. I think the examination manual is pretty intimidating. When I first printed the sizable document and began to read what was involved, I experienced a feeling of dread likely elicited by repressed memories of my doctoral dissertation! What worked for me was to break it up into more digestible components and outline what needed to be done for each. Then, make a realistic schedule and begin your work. Don’t focus too much on the finished product. Look at it as learning process with a very nice reward at the end.
 
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Board certification communicates to my customers that I am recognized by ABPP as a specialist. I think this gives them a sense of confidence that the services they are getting are worth their investment. This is particularly true, I believe, with FFDE’s. The stakes are very high and being board certified helps to convey my dedication to the field of police and public safety psychology.

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Denese Marshall, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP
Police and Public Safety Psychology

Dr. Denese Marshall is a licensed clinical psychologist and a police psychologist practicing in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Marshall has devoted her career to providing psychological services to those in law enforcement and protective services work, and other high stress occupations. She consults with agencies regarding the best practices for promoting health and wellness. Dr. Marshall also specializes in forensic evaluations, and provides clinical services to children, adolescents, and adults.

 Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. I sought board certification to validate my experience in police and public safety psychology to the agencies I provide psychological services to and to demonstrate my commitment to the field as a specialist. I was also motivated to become board certified because this recognition is the highest in our field of work and it confirms that you possess the skills, knowledge, education, and experience to provide this specialty work. 

Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A.  I learned that my practice was using forms that were not conducive to police and public safety psychology and that my report writing had to be modified to better represent this specialty work. I also learned about my weaknesses and strengths in this specialty area and developed stronger relationships with colleagues who I can network with. I also realized that my work in this specialty field is my passion and developed a stronger commitment to the field. 
 
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. Be ready to learn more about this specialty field and be prepared to become a more competent psychologist in this field of work. Also, be ready to become more informed about case law and the legal aspects of this field that may impact your work. Most importantly, do not give up when faced with challenges and obstacles during the board certification process. Turn to your mentor for guidance and participate in seminars and workshops to assist you during the board certification process. Once completed with the process, you will appreciate the hard work and commitment that you have invested in to become board certified in this field. 
 
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Board Certification has made me feel more accomplished in this field of work. It has also validated my experience, education, and skill-set in providing police and public safety psychology work to agencies and organizations who seek my services. I also feel a strong sense of accomplishment and self-fulfillment in myself and more confident when I have to submit proposals for services. It also makes me feel more validated when I have to testify in court regarding my evaluations or testifying before a legislative hearing regarding the psychological services I provide to law enforcement personnel and to agencies in the USVI. 

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