Apr 1, 2003 By: yunews
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Apr 1, 2003 -- In 1958, when Harvey Schlossberg became a New York City police officer, he was one of a handful on the force with a college degree. Thirteen years later, with his doctoral degree from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, he became the only active police officer in the country with a PhD.
Dr. Schlossberg made a habit of being ahead of his time. At the NYPD, he helped introduce the following: a precursor to the FBI鈥檚 serial-killer profiling system, mandatory psychological test for police applicants (now used nationwide), and the use of hypnosis in interviewing witnesses. These innovations sprouted from Dr. Schlossberg鈥檚 psychological training, including his instruction at Ferkauf.
鈥淚 was lucky while with the police department,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 got an opportunity to try things and have them accepted.鈥 He retired from the NYPD in 1978.
Schlossberg鈥檚 interest in terrorism was borne of a rash early 1970s airline hijackings and other terrorist acts, punctuated by the murders of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
鈥淭he one thing I learned is that terrorists have no rules at all,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hey do what they want, how they want, and they don鈥檛 answer to anyone.
鈥淎nd the more damage they do, the better. They want the biggest bang for their buck. That鈥檚 why the destruction of the World Trade Center was such a plum for them 鈥 all the people killed, all the businesses affected, all the money lost.鈥
Dr. Schlossberg says to this day a large number of New Yorkers experience trauma from the events of September 11. He says people are still having difficulty going downtown, riding the subway, driving through tunnels, and going to the top floors of tall buildings.
Dealing with psychological effects of trauma requires that counselors help victims understand that some events are simply unexplainable. 鈥淎 terrorist act is an unnatural act,鈥 Dr. Schlossberg says. 鈥淭he victims are normal people trying to cope with an irrational situation. In psycho-analysis, it鈥檚 usually the opposite 鈥 we鈥檙e working with irrational people trying to cope with normal situations.鈥
After the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, Dr. Schlossberg helped counsel victims. A day after the blast, he says, nobody wanted to go to work, even in temporary offices set up for them. Dr. Schlossberg recommended what he called crisis intervention, today known as critical incident debriefing, a group therapy session. Dr. Schlossberg says it is vital that this is done within 72 hours of a traumatic event.
鈥淚t is important for people to be in a group to share and examine what they went through with others who had the same experience,鈥 Dr. Schlossberg says. 鈥淵ou have to go over the experience inch by inch. Ask people, 鈥榃hat did you feel?鈥 And you have to try to explain that those feelings are normal given the situation.鈥
In addition to helping victims of crisis, whether a bombing or a car accident, Dr. Schlossberg advocates psychotherapy for people who witness such occurrences on a regular basis 鈥 namely, police officers.
He says officers experience the same stress as co-called civilians: mortgage payments, children鈥檚 tuition, personal relationship problems. But police officers also often work under very stressful circumstances. Dr. Schlossberg says the NYPD gets at least 15 bomb threats every day.
鈥淚 think psycho-therapy for the police officers would be a great stress-reducer,鈥 Dr. Schlossberg says. 鈥淎t least one hour a week should be required. If it鈥檚 compulsory, then it doesn鈥檛 carry a stigma.鈥
Schlossberg says therapy for police officers could in the long run improve quality, and 鈥渋t鈥檚 cheaper than paying off lawsuits for police brutality.鈥
Though retired, Dr. Schlossberg continues to search for innovative ways to help others cope with crisis. He is now creating a task force of professional psychologists, police officers, and others who will act as a special emergency response team during instances of trauma.
Apr 1, 2003 -- In 1958, when Harvey Schlossberg became a New York City police officer, he was one of a handful on the force with a college degree. Thirteen years later, with his doctoral degree from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, he became the only active police officer in the country with a PhD.
Dr. Schlossberg made a habit of being ahead of his time. At the NYPD, he helped introduce the following: a precursor to the FBI鈥檚 serial-killer profiling system, mandatory psychological test for police applicants (now used nationwide), and the use of hypnosis in interviewing witnesses. These innovations sprouted from Dr. Schlossberg鈥檚 psychological training, including his instruction at Ferkauf.
鈥淚 was lucky while with the police department,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 got an opportunity to try things and have them accepted.鈥 He retired from the NYPD in 1978.
Schlossberg鈥檚 interest in terrorism was borne of a rash early 1970s airline hijackings and other terrorist acts, punctuated by the murders of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
鈥淭he one thing I learned is that terrorists have no rules at all,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hey do what they want, how they want, and they don鈥檛 answer to anyone.
鈥淎nd the more damage they do, the better. They want the biggest bang for their buck. That鈥檚 why the destruction of the World Trade Center was such a plum for them 鈥 all the people killed, all the businesses affected, all the money lost.鈥
Dr. Schlossberg says to this day a large number of New Yorkers experience trauma from the events of September 11. He says people are still having difficulty going downtown, riding the subway, driving through tunnels, and going to the top floors of tall buildings.
Dealing with psychological effects of trauma requires that counselors help victims understand that some events are simply unexplainable. 鈥淎 terrorist act is an unnatural act,鈥 Dr. Schlossberg says. 鈥淭he victims are normal people trying to cope with an irrational situation. In psycho-analysis, it鈥檚 usually the opposite 鈥 we鈥檙e working with irrational people trying to cope with normal situations.鈥
After the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, Dr. Schlossberg helped counsel victims. A day after the blast, he says, nobody wanted to go to work, even in temporary offices set up for them. Dr. Schlossberg recommended what he called crisis intervention, today known as critical incident debriefing, a group therapy session. Dr. Schlossberg says it is vital that this is done within 72 hours of a traumatic event.
鈥淚t is important for people to be in a group to share and examine what they went through with others who had the same experience,鈥 Dr. Schlossberg says. 鈥淵ou have to go over the experience inch by inch. Ask people, 鈥榃hat did you feel?鈥 And you have to try to explain that those feelings are normal given the situation.鈥
In addition to helping victims of crisis, whether a bombing or a car accident, Dr. Schlossberg advocates psychotherapy for people who witness such occurrences on a regular basis 鈥 namely, police officers.
He says officers experience the same stress as co-called civilians: mortgage payments, children鈥檚 tuition, personal relationship problems. But police officers also often work under very stressful circumstances. Dr. Schlossberg says the NYPD gets at least 15 bomb threats every day.
鈥淚 think psycho-therapy for the police officers would be a great stress-reducer,鈥 Dr. Schlossberg says. 鈥淎t least one hour a week should be required. If it鈥檚 compulsory, then it doesn鈥檛 carry a stigma.鈥
Schlossberg says therapy for police officers could in the long run improve quality, and 鈥渋t鈥檚 cheaper than paying off lawsuits for police brutality.鈥
Though retired, Dr. Schlossberg continues to search for innovative ways to help others cope with crisis. He is now creating a task force of professional psychologists, police officers, and others who will act as a special emergency response team during instances of trauma.
