Elisa Hughes serves as Clinical Director of the Public Safety Family Counseling Group, Inc., specializing in Critical Incident Stress Management. She works to develop, support, and supervise clinicians and ensure that clinical response is both effective and immediately available. Elisa holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. She holds additional certifications and credentials in First Responder Wellness and Resiliency, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, EMDR and Brain Spotting, Peer Support, Psychopharmacology, Gottman Method and Clinical Supervision. Elisa serves on the Officer Safety and Organizational Wellness section for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Elisa is an experienced instructor providing In Service training on CISM, Advanced Officer Training in Resiliency and Wellness, and Academy training on Stress and Peer Support. She is an Approved Instructor with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation on the topics of Assisting Individuals in Crisis, Group Crisis Intervention, Psychological Body Armor, Building Skills for Peer Teams, Suicide Awareness and Peer
Para-Counseling. Elisa also develops and delivers specialized training to agencies on current issues and trends in First Responder populations.

Elisa is a Marriage and Family Therapist trained in the Gottman Method and Gottman Relationship Assessment. This is a brief, evidence-based approach to relationship counseling designed to assess a couple’s baseline functioning and deliver the precise tools and skills that will facilitate improved relationship satisfaction or to navigate the ending of a relationship to allow for continued and successful coparenting.

In counseling individuals, Elisa works using the Strategic, Strength Based method of interventions that build on the client’s inherent resiliency and skills to deliver quick solutions and assist in a reduction of stress and symptoms that allow individuals to return to previous levels of functioning and satisfaction. Elisa believes in the inherent ability of individuals to manage stress and crisis, while at times their typical coping and resources may not be sufficient to overcome the level of demand.

Seeking to support the whole individual, Elisa follows the perspective that until you have served where the badge lives you have not served the badge. If someone is struggling with issues with children, teens or extended family, Elisa assists the individual in identifying resources and information to help the individual access the best care available to their loved ones.