Behavioral Health Services
Caring for the mental health of the HCSO family
Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is the clinical arm of the Personnel Support Division, providing confidential mental health care and expert guidance for Harris County Sheriff's Office personnel and retirees. Established in 2020 under Sheriff Ed Gonzalez's leadership, this in‑house team was created to strengthen operational support and enhance employee well‑being across the agency.
BHS is staffed by doctoral‑level psychologists, professional counselors, and other licensed clinicians who understand the unique demands of law enforcement and public safety work. Through an embedded model, the team supports personnel from the beginning of their careers through retirement, helping build a culture of psychological awareness, resilience, and readiness.
Services
Confidential counseling & wellness visits
Routine clinic and wellness visits are available in person and via telehealth to address concerns such as trauma and PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, family and relationship issues, anger, grief and loss, and life transitions, including retirement. Services are voluntary and confidential, except where disclosure is required by law.
Critical incident support & CISM debriefings
After critical incidents, BHS provides on‑scene and follow‑up support to reduce the short‑ and long‑term impact of trauma exposure. This includes Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) group debriefings, individual psychological debriefings, and consultation with command staff, supervisors, and the Peer Support Network to ensure appropriate follow‑up and referrals.
Post-critical incident & high exposure services
BHS offers structured support after serious incidents and ongoing wellness visits for units with frequent exposure to traumatic content (such as investigative, crime scene, and specialized units). These services promote recovery, prevent burnout, and support healthy functioning throughout a career.
Education, outreach, and training
The team develops and delivers classes and trainings on mental health, stress management, PTSD, family wellness, suicide prevention, and substance‑use risk by working closely with the HCSO Academy and other training units. Outreach occurs in classrooms, during roll calls, during ride‑alongs, and in other operational settings to reduce stigma and encourage early help‑seeking.
Consultation and operational support
BHS provides 24/7 crisis consultation and non‑crisis operational consultation to command staff, supervisors, and specialty units, including collaboration with teams such as Crisis Intervention Response Teams, Crisis Negotiation, chaplaincy, family assistance, and peer support. Clinical staff advises on policies and programs related to human behavior, job performance, and decision‑making.
Pre-employment psychological services
BHS supports pre‑employment psychological evaluations for critical hiring needs, with the long‑term goal of strengthening the agency's capacity for specialized, law‑enforcement‑focused screening.
Impact and innovation
Behavioral Health Services has grown into a nationally recognized program in law enforcement, mental health, and wellness. In recent years, the team has:
- Completed thousands of direct clinic, wellness, and post‑critical‑incident visits for HCSO personnel
- Responded to hundreds of critical incidents and provided extensive hours of post‑incident support
- Delivered more than 50,000 hours of classroom instruction and outreach across the agency
- Expanded the Peer Support Network and other collaborative programs
- Developed academic and community partnerships, grant‑funded initiatives, and an APA‑accredited, embedded law enforcement psychology training program
These efforts reflect strong support from HCSO leadership and a shared commitment to making Harris County a national leader in first responder wellness.
How does this impact the community?
By caring for the mental health and resilience of deputies, detention staff, investigators, and civilian employees, Behavioral Health Services helps HCSO maintain a professional, prepared, and compassionate response for the residents of Harris County. Supporting the people who serve ultimately strengthens safety, trust, and service across the community.