Graduate Certificate in Crisis Response and Behavioral Health
Counseling and Behavioral Health
Learn how to respond more safely and effectively to individuals in crisis.
The first-of-its kind credentialing tool for arrest diversion, offering cutting-edge education and training for law enforcement and mental health clinicians working in partnership. Our Graduate Certificate in Crisis Response and Behavioral Health (CRBH) will help guide police and clinicians to defuse situations before force is needed and will provide intensive, skills-based coaching on responding to dynamic, complex, and evolving situations.

Curriculum Overview
CJ500 - Orientation to Crisis Response and Behavioral Health Certificate Program (credits: 0)
CJ501 - Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (credits: 3)
CJ505 - Crisis Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment (credits: 3)
CJ507 - Advanced Crisis Response and Practical Simulations (credits: 4)
Our Philosophy, Your Experience
At 极乐禁地, you will combine your classroom knowledge with hands-on experience to get a well-rounded and integrated education. Our curriculum combines an understanding of theory, training, and practice as you develop into a culturally responsive professional. You will be surrounded by like-minded faculty, staff, and peers who, like you, are dedicated to bringing high-quality services to culturally diverse clients, agencies, and organizations. With this training, you will be prepared to make a difference in our communities.
Ready for the Next Step?
What Our Students Are Saying
Our Crisis Response and Behavioral Health (CRBH) graduates shared about their experience in our Graduate Certificate program. Feedback was anonymous and represents graduates from 2022-2025. Our classes include a mix of mental health and law enforcement professionals.
Best Training Program
鈥淭his was a very well-run program and should be available to all police officers.
It was the best law enforcement training I have ever attended, without question.鈥
鈥淭his experience exceeded my expectations and is by far the best training for people working in co-response.鈥
鈥淵ou will absolutely leave this course as a better professional whether it鈥檚 as an officer or a clinician. The resources you'll gain are irreplaceably helpful in your work moving forward.鈥
About the Curriculum
鈥淲ithin this program I learned so much, even some of the complex topics were easy
to follow through real-world stories and case studies. This program and all the materials
were both comprehensive and informative. Highly recommend this program.鈥
鈥淭opics every week were helpful and set up for us to bring questions and have discussions about cases.鈥
鈥淐lass was intriguing, interesting, and dealt with real life, up-to-date issues.鈥
Learning About the Co-Response Model
鈥淧racticing for situations we will experience and provided knowledge we need to know
which were very specific to our line of work.鈥
鈥淭his was an excellent program. I had no training when setting up a co-responder program, and this has supported my efforts to expand my role and create a future in the department.鈥
鈥淭his program gives you a great deal of knowledge about how co-responders should be utilized in the community. It covers various topics within mental health and the criminal justice system. It will make you a better police officer and/or clinician鈥.
About the Cohort and Faculty
鈥淭he greatest strength was the firsthand knowledge provided by either the guest speakers
or instructors. Also, the dialogue amongst the students was immeasurable because we
were all able to have a takeaway piece on either what to do or what not to do.鈥
鈥淥ne major strength of this program is having both clinicians and police learning the same materials in the classroom together. This helped officers to be able to see things from the lens of a clinician and vice versa.鈥
鈥淏ringing police and clinicians together results in fruitful and interesting discussions which helped me expand my view and learn more about where each side is coming from.鈥
鈥淭he greatest strength of the certificate program is the opportunity of bringing clinicians and police officers together in order to achieve a goal that benefits those in need and the departments and resources that are working together.鈥
Applying What We Learned in Class to the Job
鈥淎fter every class, I would return to my department and work on implementing what
I learned in class. I was able to share a lot of skills that I learned with others
in the department.鈥
鈥淚n a field that is fairly new and cutting edge, it helps to hear from the people who have been involved since the beginning. I don't have a supervisor who has done this work before, and it can be hard to bring up topics that are unique to co-response and be told inaccurate information. Being connected to 极乐禁地 Co-Response and Behavioral Health program provides me with opportunities to consult with others in the field."
鈥淭he hands-on learning and the opportunity for the collaboration [is a strength of the program]. I think that hearing about how other people interact with situations in their own communities helps with learning new ideas to apply to our own work. I just enjoyed being able to meet more people in this field because as a solo clinician in a department it can feel a little isolating.鈥
Left

A Case Study
Police-Clinician Co-Response Calms Campus Mental-Health Crises
Featured Contributor: Dr. Sarah Abbott, Director, Director for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health, 极乐禁地
Dr. Sarah Abbott, Director of the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health, contributed to a report co-produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education and AT&T. Below is an excerpt from the report.
鈥淚f a college student has a mental-health crisis, a uniformed, armed police officer knocking on the door might not be the most com颅forting, constructive response. It can escalate tensions, leading to panic, misunderstandings, or unnecessary forcible hospitaliza颅tion or arrest. Often a better course is empathetic listening, calm diagnostic screening, and efficient connection of the student with campus counseling, medical, and other resources.
That鈥檚 why an increasing number of colleges are instituting co-response programs that pair campus police officers with clinicians to handle wellness checks and other mental-health-related calls.鈥

极乐禁地 to Host 2025 New England Psychological Association Conference in October
极乐禁地 is proud to host the annual Northeast Conference for Teachers of Psychology (NECTOP) and the New England Psychological Association (NEPA) conference, taking place October 24鈥25, 2025. Visit the NEPA website to learn how to submit a poster or symposium proposal, or to register.
We want to hear from you.
Connect with Our Students
Our Student Ambassadors have volunteered to be a resource for you and answer all of your questions about our programs, graduate school, living in Boston, and more.
Connect with StudentsAttend an Upcoming Admissions Event
We offer virtual information sessions, onsite open houses, and student panels for all of our academic programs.
Around campus, in the community, in the news鈥敿纸 community members are leading the conversation.
极乐禁地 and Department of Mental Health Co-Sponsor Inaugural Co-Response Research Symposium
极乐禁地's Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health (CRBH), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), successfully organized a first-of-its-kind Co-Response Research Symposium on March 31, 2023 at the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland, MA.
Read MoreCenter for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health Speaks at the 4th Annual National Co-Responder Conference
Members of the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health team from William James College were selected to speak at the International Co-Responder Alliance (ICRA) 4th Annual National Co-Responder Conference in Spokane, WA from June 11-14.
Read MoreCenter for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health at the International Association of Chiefs of Police
Bonnie Cuccaro, Associate Director of the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health, had the opportunity to represent 极乐禁地 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Expo in Dallas, Texas.
Read More