Colonel James Greenstone’s major focus has been in developing, and in providing, care for service members and their families affected by deployments and redeployments to current war zones. He has worked in this capacity since the Vietnam era and is involved with the Department of Defense in providing some of these services, and was recently tasked by the Texas Adjutant General and the Joint State Surgeon to make recommendations concerning psychological care for returning National Guard Soldiers.

With 40 years of practice, and almost 25 years as a police officer James L. Greenstone, Ed.D., has expertise as a police psychologist, a therapist, a teacher, an author, a police officer, a mediator and negotiator, and as a consultant. The field of Crisis Intervention has been his focus.  For the better part of his career as a police officer, he has worked extensively in the field of hostage and crisis negotiations. As a mental health professional and consultant, and as a trainer of negotiators, as well as a member of hostage negotiations teams, he is knowledgeable about negotiator training, current practices in this area, dealing with suicidal and barricaded subjects, negotiations techniques, team development, and team and negotiator interactions with police tactical units. He has participated in numerous hostage, barricaded and suicidal situations, and has practical experience in all aspects of hostage and crisis negotiations team functioning.

According to the book description of, The Elements of Disaster Psychology: Managing Psychosocial Trauma-an Integrated Approach to Force Protection and Acute Care, “This book is design to aid in practical, day-to-day, on-the-scene disaster response and crisis intervention.  The elements are basics of any discipline and knowledge of them is critical to achieving success.” 

The Elements of Disaster Psychology focuses on those basics that are needed by crisis and disaster responders in the field by providing an integrated approach to force protection and acute care.  The presentation is ordered in such a way as to provide quick and easy access to the information needed from the initial deployment, to final debriefing.”

The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations: Critical Incidents and How to Respond to Them James L Greenstone  More Info The Elements of Disaster Psychology: Managing Psychosocial Trauma-an Integrated Approach to Force Protection and Acute Care James L. Greenstone  More Info Elements of Crisis Intervention: Crises and How to Respond to Them James L. Greenstone  More Info

Dr. James L. Greenstone’s book, The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations, “is designed for day-to-day, on-the-scene use. It is a practical handbook for experienced professionals and novices that can also be used as a supplementary textbook for criminal justice, crisis intervention, and psychology coursework. Each chapter contains useful checklists, procedural notes, tables, strategy worksheets, and forms, and the book includes special indices for quick reference in addition to a traditional index. The book examines the negotiation process from start to finish, including pre-incident preparations, first response responsibilities, responding to the call-out, arriving at the scene, preparing to negotiate, making contact, preparing for the surrender, post-incident tasks, preparing equipment, and more.”