Suicide Prevention, Intervention & Postvention

Daniel W. Clark, PhD. is a licensed clinical psychologist, and the Founder of Critical Concepts Consulting. He recently retired from the Washington State Patrol after nearly 28 years. As the WSP Department Psychologist, Dr. Clark provided treatment services, pre-employment psychological screening for multiple agencies, critical incident response, and consultation and training services. He has given numerous presentations and publications related to first responder issues, and specializes in trauma, PTSD, and suicide. He is a past-Chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Psychological Services Section, a Colonel (Ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserves, and has been involved with Concerns of Police Survivors for 20 years.

Dr. Clark is a faculty member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and a recognized instructor for multiple courses, including the Group and Individual Critical Incident Stress Management and the Advanced Group and Advanced Individual Critical Incident Stress Management courses. He is the author of the Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention curriculum, and co-author of the Strategic Response to Crisis curriculum. He is a past editor for the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health & Human Resilience.

Dr. Clark routinely presents on a variety of topics including suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention; critical incident stress management; peer support; death notification; workplace violence; time, anger, and stress management; coping with change; communication skills; grief and loss; and related topics.

Denise J. Thompson, LCSW, received a BSW from Wartburg College, a MSW from Florida State University and is a doctoral student at the University of Northern Iowa. Maj. Thompson is currently Chief, Behavioral Health for the Air Force Reserve Command. She is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the following AFRC programs: Suicide and Violence Prevention, Post-Suicide Review, Critical Incident Stress Management, and Operational and Post-deployment Stress. She has over 11 years of military service, including active duty and reserve service. Maj. Thompson provides oversight and training for over 180 AFRC personnel, military and civilian, who are part of the AFRC CISM team. Prior to her current assignment with AFRC, she was in private practice providing services to adults and children who were affected by traumatic events, was a contract provider for the Veterans’ Administration and was an Employee Assistance Program provider for the US Postal Service. Maj. Thompson presents on a variety of topics for military and civilian personnel regarding suicide prevention, intervention and postvention; workplace violence; Critical Incident Stress Management; and operational stress management.

Dr. Victor Welzant is the Executive Director of Education and Training and past member of the Board of Directors of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Victor is a licensed Psychologist and directs a private consulting and clinical practice in Lutherville MD, where he specializes in treatment of post traumatic and stress related conditions. He consults and provides training in the areas of Critical Incident Stress management, workplace violence, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management, crisis de-escalation, and suicide. Victor’s consulting practice serves public safety, private sector organizations including hospitals, private security, and executive protection programs.
Dr. Welzant also serves as a consultant to the Harford County Sheriff’s Department’s Crisis Negotiation, and Peer Support teams. He serves as the Clinical Director for the Anne Arundel Fire Dept. peer support team.