Police · Fire · EMS · Corrections · Dispatch
First Responder Therapy in Mid-Michigan
Confidential, straight-talking counseling for the people who run toward the call — built around the realities of the job, based in Alma and serving all of mid-Michigan.
Counseling that gets the job
You've spent your career being the one who holds it together for everyone else. You deserve a place to set it down.
First responders carry things most people never see — the calls that don't leave you, the hypervigilance that follows you home, the dark humor, the sleepless nights, the strain on your marriage and your health. And the culture often says to bury it, because admitting you're struggling can feel like a risk to your career or your reputation.
Dan Klaasse, M.S., LLPC, works with law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, corrections officers, and dispatchers who are ready to stop white-knuckling it. No jargon, no judgment, no assumptions — just practical, confidential support from someone who understands what the work actually costs.
What we help first responders with
Trauma & PTSD
The calls that replay, the intrusive images, the reactions you can't always control.
Sleep & nightmares
Shift work, call-night adrenaline, and a mind that won't shut off.
Chronic & occupational stress
A nervous system stuck on high alert long after end of watch.
Moral injury
The calls where doing everything right still wasn't enough.
Anger & irritability
A shorter fuse than you used to have, spilling onto the people you love.
Relationship & family strain
Bringing the job home, and the distance that grows because of it.
Why private pay matters in this line of work
For first responders, confidentiality isn't a preference — it's a real concern about fitness-for-duty reviews, promotions, and clearances. Cognitive Edge Counseling is private-pay first by design.
- No mental-health diagnosis on an insurance record unless you choose to bill
- Care that isn't dictated by what a health plan will or won't approve
- Flexibility in how often and how long you're seen
- Insurance is accepted if you prefer it — but the choice, and the privacy, stay yours
Who we serve
Law Enforcement
Officers, deputies, and command staff across mid-Michigan.
Firefighters & EMS
Career and volunteer firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs.
Corrections Professionals
Corrections officers carrying a job few people understand.
Serving first responders across mid-Michigan
Based in Alma, Dan serves departments and agencies throughout central Michigan — including Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Clare, Montcalm, and Clinton counties. In-person sessions are available locally, and secure telehealth means you can be seen from wherever you're stationed.
Communities served include Alma, St. Louis, Ithaca, Mount Pleasant, Midland, Saginaw, Bay City, Clare, St. Johns, Owosso, and the surrounding mid-Michigan region.
Common questions
Will my department find out I'm in counseling?
No. Your care is confidential. Choosing private pay adds an extra layer of privacy by keeping your treatment off insurance records entirely.
I don't really do the "therapy" thing. Is this different?
Yes. Dan is straightforward and practical — no couch clichés. You'll get tools that work and honest conversation, from someone who respects the culture you come from.
Can we meet if I work odd hours or another shift?
Secure telehealth and flexible scheduling are built around shift work and on-call life. Call and we'll find a time that fits.
Do you take insurance?
Insurance is accepted but not required. Most first responders choose private pay for the confidentiality — call and we'll walk you through your options.
You show up for everyone else. Let someone show up for you.
Call for a free, confidential consultation. No commitment required.
(989) 506-1172 Call to ScheduleCognitive Edge Counseling · 524 Liberty Street, Alma, MI 48801 · Serving first responders throughout mid-Michigan, in person and by telehealth.
