Dr. Heather Williams, PsyD

Heather Williams spent the last 25 years working in and around law enforcement. She worked in Probation, Victim Services and started a Crisis Response Team after recognizing that critical incidents create a ripple effect of impact. In 2014, after developing the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Peer Support Program, Heather was hired as their first Regional Peer Support Coordinator. Heather coordinated a team of almost 100 OCSD personnel, responded to critical incidents, provided training, and coordinated an emotional wellness campaign. Heather also co-founded the Orange County Association of Peer Supporters (OCAPS).

After spending 5 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as the Regional Peer Support Coordinator, Heather elected to take her passion to another level and in 2019, established Premier First Responder Psychological Services. In 2023, she acquired Coherence Associates located in Carlsbad, CA. As a licensed psychologist, Heather is providing culturally competent services to individuals and couples working in public safety. Additionally, Heather assists departments develop and sustain peer support programs, provides 24/7 critical incident response, facilitates a 2-step model of critical incident debriefing, provides training on several topics and active shooter response and recovery response services.

Heather provides statewide training on several topics including, but not limited to: Wellness & Resiliency in Public Safety, POST Certified Peer Support Training, Advanced Peer Support, Peer Support Reboot and Critical Incident Response for Peer Support Course. Heather speaks at conferences and to academies about the stressors and traumas of public safety with the goal of increasing awareness, creating a culture of wellness and improving quality of life.

In 2022, Heather was published in Body, Mind & Badge, a book written by Kathryn Hamel, PhD. Heather was asked to write a chapter on cultivating resiliency in law enforcement.

In 2023, Premier and Coherence Associates in Carlsbad, CA joined forces to enhance services to public safety in North San Diego area.

Heather is a Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) certified instructor, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Psychological Services Section (IACP), and is the Vice President/Director of Peer Support & Mental Health for the National Law Enforcement Cancer Support Foundation.