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About

Abigail S. Tucker, Psy.D.
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Abigail S. Tucker

Licensed Psychologist

About Abigail S. Tucker, Psy.D.

Abigail S. Tucker, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist in Denver Colorado. In her current role as trainer, consultant and in private practice she works directly with emergency responders, veterans, victims of crime, criminal and juvenile justice entities and behavioral health providers. Dr. Tucker serves as Adjunct Faculty at both Colorado State University Global in their Emergency Responder and Military Psychology Program and at her alma mater Nova Southeastern University in both their College of Psychology and for the Fischer College of Education and Criminal Justice. Her passion to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use inspired her to become certified in the instruction of Adult & Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as well as the Public Safety module of Adult MHFA. Dr. Tucker is also a national training instructor for the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project. Dr. Tucker serves as the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Polara Health in Prescott Arizona and is a co-founder and trainer with Heroes Active Bystandership Training.

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Born and raised in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Dr. Tucker completed her B.A. in psychology at Loyola College, Maryland, and her M.S. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University. After completing her internship at Community Reach Center in Thornton Colorado, she relocated to the East Coast and completed her post-doctoral training at Eastern Shores Psychological Services as the Director of Forensics. In the past she has served as the Chief Clinical Officer at Community Reach Center, Westminster Colorado and as a Psychologist at KidsPeace, Orefield Pennsylvania. She is an Editorial Board Member to the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, she has published journal articles, book chapters, and has presented over 100 times on the role of community mental health in forensics, implementation models for peer support efforts and justice related interventions and on the issue of traumatic stress and resiliency.

Dr. Tucker currently serves on the Colorado Commission Criminal and Juvenile Justice and has had the honor to serve on the Colorado Department of Youth Services Community Board Northeast Region.  Additionally, Dr. Tucker is an active member of American Psychological Association Division 18 (Public Service) and Division 41 (American Psychology-Law Society); with prior roles as APA Division 18 Continuing Education Sponsor and Division 18 Criminal Justice Co-editor for The Gavel. The focus of her on-going research and practice includes emergency responder psychology, the intersection of behavioral health and social justice as well as suicide prevention.

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Community Engagement

Engaging with, listing to, and supporting the community is foundational to Dr. Tucker's philosophy and values. Dr. Tucker serves on Colorado Commission Criminal and Juvenile Justice and in the past has served on the Colorado Department of Youth Services Community Board Northeast Region and other local and state taskforce efforts on matters related to the nexus of justice system and behavioral health. Additionally, Dr. Tucker is an active member of American Psychological Association Division 18 (Public Service) and the American Psychology Law Society; with prior roles as APA Division 18 Continuing Education Sponsor and Division 18 Criminal Justice Co-editor for The Gavel. As a Meals on Wheels volunteer, she also enjoys the chance to hear from older adults in her community. As a volunteer therapist for Give an Hour Dr. Tucker offers ongoing pro-bono services to veterans, military, victims of crime and individuals in the justice system.

  • 2002-2004 - International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Training Basic & Advanced Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
    • Individual Crisis Intervention & Peer Support
    • Law Enforcement Perspective for CISM Enhancement
    • Stress Management for Emergency Responders
  • 2002-2003 - Federal Bureau Investigation, INS Federal Correctional Institute, Miami, FL
    • Basic Hostage/Crisis Negations Training
    • Advanced Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Training
  • 2002 - Specialized Training Services, Inc, Plantation, FL Violence Risk & Threat Assessment, Instructor: Reid Meloy, Ph.D.
  • 2004-2005 - American Academy of Forensic Examiners Conference & Training
    • Certified Medical Examiner, Level I
    • Certified Medical Examiner, Level III
  • 2010 - Division 18 Criminal Justice Section Award for Outstanding Early Career Psychologist
  • 2011 - 10 Day Intensive Training Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
  • 2019 - Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk
  • 2020 - Mental Health First Aid Instructor
    • Youth
    • Adult
    • Public Safety

• Tucker, A., Dvoskin, J., Di Trolio, E. & Parker, D. (2022, March 19). Police Peer Intervention: Demanding Community and Officer Safety. [Conference presentation]. American Psychology - Law Society 2022 Conference, Denver Colorado.

• Batastini, A., Dvoskin, J., Jackson, R., Morgan, R., Tucker, A., Patel, M. (2022, March 18). Corrections Committee: Fixing the rural correctional problem: A practical discussion about where to go from here. [Conference presentation]. American Psychology - Law Society 2022 Conference, Denver Colorado.

• Tucker, A. (2021, November, 3). Harnessing the Power of Positive Psychology & Avoiding the Toxic Positivity Trap [Webinar]. Colorado State Probation Virtual Conference; Probation Overall Wellbeing (POW).

• Tucker, A. Dvoskin, J., & Parson, B. (2021, August, 13). Police Peer Intervention: An Active Bystander Approach and the Role of Psychology [Recorded Webinar]. American Psychological Association 2021 Virtual Convention.

• Simera, R., Heil, P., Tucker, A., Melendrez, B., Smuts, R. and Pang, S. (Presenters). Academic Training to Inform Police Responses and Policy Research Associates, Inc. (Producers). (2021, March 2). Transforming Dispatch and Crisis Response Services: Meeting Challenges with Innovation. [Webinar]. https://www.theiacp.org/projects/academic-training-to-inform-police-responses.

• Gianzero, R., Cannon, C. and Tucker, A. (2020, May). P3- Two Psychologists and a Pastor discuss healthy mental and faith responses to pandemic including topics of grief, habit and ritual, and community. [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMibOe8_L6Ua9q59KofjrQ.

• Abreu, D., Tucker, A., Buckley, L., and Fallen, A. (2018, July 16). From Jail to Community Behavioral Health: Ensuring Continuity of Care [Recorded Webinar].

• Gonzalez, M. (2016, December 12). Suicide in Colorado: Reversing silence and stigma. [Recorded Interview]. https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/insight-surviving-suicide/.

• Tucker, A. and Palmer, L. (2022). Designing a Wellness Program for Smaller Departments that Support Officer Wellness and Community Safety. Police Chief, 89(5) 38-43.

• Van Hasselt, V.B. & Malcolm, A.S. (2005). Special issue on the role of law enforcement in domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence, 20, 1, 1-2.

• Malcolm, A.S., Seaton, J., Perera, A., Sheehan, D.C., & Van Hasselt, V.B. (2005). Critical incident stress debriefing and law enforcement: An evaluative review. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 5, 261-278.

• Malcolm, A.S. (2006). Community Mental Health and Treatment for Juveniles. In Seifert, K. (Ed.), How Children Become Violent: Keeping Your Kids Out of Gangs, Terrorist Organizations, and Cults (202-212). Boston, MA: Acanthus Publishing.

• Malcolm, A.S. (2007). Law Enforcement Officer Stress Survey: The Research and the Reality. (Abstract only). International Journal of Critical Incident Stress.

• Van Hasselt, V.B., Sheehan, D.C., Malcolm A.S., Sellers, A.H., Baker, M.T., & Couwels, J. (2008). The Law Enforcement Officer Stress Survey (LEOSS): Evaluation of Psychometric Properties. Behavior Modification, 32 (1) 133-151.

• Tucker, A.S., Van Hasselt, V.B., Spaulding, T., & Henry, J. (2008). CISM in a Mid-Sized Police Department: A Case Illustration. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 9 (4), 1-6.

• Tucker, A.S., Van Hasselt, V.B., & Russell, S. (2008). Law Enforcement Response to the Mentally Ill: An Evaluative Review. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 9 (3), 236-250.

• Tucker, A.S., Van Hasselt, V.B., Vecchi, G.M., & Browning, S.L. (2010). Dealing with the Mentally Ill: The Law Enforcement Response. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.

• Tucker, A.S. & Capelin, J. (2011). Post-Critical Incident: Considerations. Ireland, C. A., Fisher, M. & Vecchi, G.M. Conflict and Crisis Communication: Principles and Practice.

• Browning, L. , Van Hasselt, V.B., Tucker, A.S., & Vecchi, G.M. (2011). Dealing with Individuals who have Mental Illness: The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) in Law Enforcement. The British Journal of Forensic Practice, 13, (4).

• Tucker, A.T., Van Hasselt, V.B. Mendez, J., Palmer, E. (2012) Critical Incident Training (CIT) in Jail/Detention Setting: A Case Illustration. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 14(3):209-15.

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