Brian Bell
Survivor. Educator. Advocate. Twenty-five years with the Calgary Police Service, and a lifetime learning how to heal
Brian Bell
Survivor. Educator. Advocate. Twenty-five years with the Calgary Police Service, and a lifetime learning how to heal
From the front lines to the classroom
I am a native Calgarian, married, with four children and five grandchildren.
I served with the Calgary Police Service for over 25 years - as a Constable, Patrol Sergeant, and Detective. Occasionally, as a Detective, I worked in plain clothes details. Later in my career I was assigned to the Traffic Enforcement / Traffic Investigation Section, as well as the Tactical Support unit.
After leaving the police service, I worked with three companies as a Senior Manager or Manager. In 2007 I created Bell Safety Consulting, providing the services typical of a Safety Manager - insight into provincial and federal legislation, safety management systems, safety training, audit preparation, and incident investigation.
For the last decade, I have worked closely with the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships as one of their instructors, providing safety-related training in and around Calgary, and traveling the province to teach their core safety programs.
Beyond my instructional responsibilities, I created a Business Continuity course, a Critical Incident course, and - lastly - the Surviving PTSD course.
My PTSD started at age five. I was living in a deeply dysfunctional family, where alcohol abuse, emotional trauma, neglect, and on occasion physical violence were a constant problem.
At age seven, an unknown male teen sexually assaulted me. My mother entered the room while this was happening and did not intervene. She said nothing, but put a blanket on us and walked away.
Her failure to come to my aid affected me more than any other traumatic event I suffered. The act of walking away changed the trajectory of my life, leaving me feeling bitterly betrayed, damaged, and ashamed.
Twenty-five years of police work exposed me to the worst we humans can do to each other, which added to the depth of my PTSD.
Like others in deep emotional pain, I turned to alcohol. Excessive alcohol use over my adult life caused many more problems.
Late in life, I finally came to the realization that I needed help to survive, and found an incredible clinician who saved me from myself.
Today, I am sober, clear-eyed, and strong in mind and body.
After years of intensive counselling, coupled with my life lessons and the teachings of professionals in the field of PTSD, I am now in a position to offer support and understanding to help those with various forms of PTSD manage their recovery.
I have dedicated this website to that purpose.
A life in two chapters
Where it began
Growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family - alcohol abuse, emotional trauma, neglect, and on occasion physical violence were a constant problem.
A betrayal that changed everything
An assault, and a mother who walked away instead of stepping in - a moment that left a mark deeper than the event itself.
Calgary Police Service
Constable, Patrol Sergeant, and Detective - including plain clothes details, Traffic Enforcement / Investigation, and Tactical Support.
Bell Safety Consulting
After leaving the force, Brian moved into senior management before founding his own safety consulting practice.
Teaching, and finally, healing
Instructing with the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships, creating new courses, and - after years of intensive counselling - finding sobriety and clarity.
Surviving PTSD
Brian created this course, and this site, to offer the support and understanding he searched for and couldn't find.
You don't have to carry this alone.
Brian built this resource because nothing like it existed when he needed it. Start with the free videos, or join him live.