2026 Minnesota Law Enforcement Wellness Summit -
2026 Minnesota Law Enforcement Wellness Summit
Date: November 6, 2026
Location: Celebration Church in Lakeville, 16655 Kenyon Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
Overview:
The Minnesota Law Enforcement Wellness Summit is a premier conference dedicated to connecting law enforcement and mental health professionals to address mental health challenges affecting law enforcement and correctional personnel. Now in its third year, this is the only conference of its kind in Minnesota, setting it apart from policy-focused summits and co-responder training programs by centering entirely on the mental wellness needs of first responders.
Purpose:
This conference aims to align law enforcement professionals with mental health experts to effectively address and treat mental health issues within the law enforcement and correctional communities. The summit welcomes attendees from criminal justice industries across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and beyond. The 2026 event specifically seeks presentations on PTSD treatment modalities including EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Ketamine therapy, and other cutting-edge approaches, along with innovative discussions fostering connection between therapists and first responders.
Continuing Education:
The event has been approved by all Minnesota licensing boards for continuing education and professional development credits. Research has been conducted into requirements for out-of-state attendees to ensure conference applicability to their professional licenses.
Featured Sessions:
Session 1 - Substance Abuse and Wellness in First Responders
Led by Captain Brad Shepherd (Ret.), Director of Public Safety for Chateau Health & Wellness, this interactive presentation examines substance use and abuse within the first responder community through wellness, physiological, and experiential lenses. The session addresses national data on alarming alcohol use rates, clinical behavior patterns, self-destructive coping mechanisms such as numbing and isolation, and practical resources for personal growth and support for individuals, family members, and coworkers.
Session 2 - Neuromodulation and Nervous System Training
This two-hour workshop, led by Fran, a licensed psychologist and board-certified neurofeedback specialist, explores how the police brain operates as a critical tactical tool. The hypervigilance necessary for street survival can create ongoing physiological dysregulation when officers are off-duty, contributing to burnout, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, and suicide. Participants will learn evidence-based neuromodulation techniques including Heart Rate Variability biofeedback, audio-visual entrainment, and neurofeedback to retrain nervous system activity and achieve tactical reset while maintaining operational readiness.
Session 3 - Emotional and Cultural Intelligence Integration
Dr. Jeanine Parolini, MBA Program Director at Bethel University, explores how integrating emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence can bridge community polarization and foster healthy dialogue. This presentation addresses the growing demand for these competencies in workplaces and communities while examining the gap in literature regarding their integration.
Session 4 - EMDR: Understanding and Application for First Responders
Led by Kalee and Shannon, both licensed trauma therapists, this seminar provides an overview of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), including its development, biological mechanisms, and effectiveness in treating trauma in first responder populations. Participants will learn to distinguish between trained and certified EMDR clinicians, locate qualified providers, and participate in a group demonstration exercise to experience the positive-state outcomes of EMDR.
Session 5 - Psychedelic Medicine: Evidence, Regulation, and Implications
Dr. Manoj Doss, physician and founder of the Institute for Integrative Therapies, presents current evidence for psychedelic medicine in treating mental health and substance use disorders. The presentation covers how these treatments are delivered in regulated clinical and research settings, legal status distinctions, and public safety and policy implications relevant to law enforcement as this field develops.
Additional Information:
A lunch session will be provided during the event. Registration materials are available for download. This summit represents a unique opportunity for law enforcement and mental health professionals to collaborate on evidence-based approaches to first responder wellness.