National Police Association Podcast with Guest, Dr. Trevor Wilkins, PhD, Former LEO and Psychotherapist https://national-police-association.transistor.fm/21

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith welcomes longtime friend and special guest Dr. Trevor Wilkins, also known as The Angry Viking Therapist. Once a high-performing state officer, Dr. Wilkins shares his transformative journey from the front lines of law enforcement to becoming a nationally recognized mental health advocate and trauma therapist for first responders.Dr. Wilkins opens up about the cumulative toll of police work, his battle with anger and isolation, and the career-ending mental health crisis that ultimately set him on a new path. Together, he and Sgt. Smith discuss:🚓 Why he really became a cop (spoiler: it wasn’t about saving the world)⚠️ How trauma, burnout, and organizational stress nearly destroyed his life💡 The reality of feeling helpless, hopeless, and "not good enough"🧠 How he rebuilt his life and found purpose through counseling and trauma care👊 What "The Angry Viking Therapist" represents—and why it resonates🤝 The power of peer support and his work as Clinical Director with The Wounded Blue🔍 New insights into operational vs. organizational stress from his groundbreaking research