Police peer counseling began in the 1950s when the Boston and Chicago police department began alcohol-related counseling programs. The Los Angeles police department founded an in-house behavior science unit which developed the first fully department-supported peer counseling program, using both officers and civilians as volunteer counselors. This was followed in 1982 by the first peer counseling training program, which has since been used by over 40 departments throughout California. The program addresses the stress endemic to police work by using basic psychological principles of establishing rapport, active listening, and taking action. Peer counselors are also trained to detect problems beyond their abilities and to refer officers with those problems to other resources. This approach to counseling allows officers to express their feelings in a nonjudgemental environment; the counselors are adept at handling problems including stress, post-traumatic stress, relationship problems, and chemical dependency. 3 references.