Testimonials
Dual Diagnosis
Substance Abuse + PTSD
"My husband struggled with alcoholism manifesting from PTSD. The disease controlled our lives as he became a man I didn’t recognize anymore. Treatment center after treatment center, program after program, we searched for answers. As a former first responder, my husband has difficulties making personal connections and trusting people. None of the programs he participated in were able to break through the walls he had built.
Enter Stepstone Connect. At first, I was skeptical about an online program; I questioned how a counselor could develop a true personal connection with my husband over the internet. As a former online educator, I have first-hand knowledge of how challenging it is to develop trust from a distance.
Stepstone Connect started this connection with my husband from the first phone call with the intake counselor; he felt like someone really cared and understood. The counselor went above and beyond to ensure he felt comfortable as he registered for the program. After the first IOP session, my husband told me that his counselor came across as truly genuine. Stepstone Connect has had a positive impact on my husband and my family. I am thankful every day that he is a part of this program."
- D.M.
After Care + IOP
First Responder
"After spending 30 days at an in-patient treatment for PTSD, I didn’t know what recovery looked like.
Stepstone Connect helped me with the unknowns and was paramount in my aftercare. My clinician and I have grown a deeply personal and professional relationship because of the work we have done during our one on one therapy sessions (to include my wife who is also a Police Officer) and more importantly, during our first responder group therapy sessions.
Treatment saved my life, my marriage, and my career but without a doubt, the aftercare with Stepstone has been instrumental in my continued success in recovery. The love and excitement that I have for helping first responders is my main mission in life. Part of my recovery is sharing my story, spreading the message, being an advocate, and paying it forward. I understand that it’s not easy to ask for help, but it was the most courageous thing I have ever done."
- J.N.
Telehealth Platform
First Responder
"I wanted to take time to thank you and others of Stepstone Connect for the services that they have proved for some of my staff.
Initially, the idea of online counseling services seemed somewhat unorthodox, but after reviewing the platform and comfortableness of participating from the place of your choice it seemed very practical to me.
The officers that have told me about their experiences with your group have been very excited about their participation and the information that they have received."
- M.H.
First Responder
Mental Health
"I am happy to learn that more department leaders are becoming better aware of the chronic and accumulative trauma that EVERY police officer experiences and left unidentified, or in some cases untreated can lead to long-term personal and professional damage.
No one system will fit all clients or issues, but I believe your group has produced an option that can provide confidence and security particularly to the often reluctant law enforcement professional.
I am encouraged that you are expanding to services that include spouses and other significant family or relationship members. As we have often ignored those that were in close proximity of traumatic events, but were not the focus officer, we too have not always included close family members who can detect when their loved ones have been exposed to such a traumatic event or events."
- G.J.
Clinician Quality
Online Therapy
"Stepstone's programs are thoughtful and engaging. They take the time to understand you and put together a plan of action that makes you understand your participation in your recovery.
While they won’t hold your hand, they walk with you the entire way and will not leave you to fight alone. They have just as much buy-in on your therapy and recovery as you do and that means so much!
Our clinician was compassionate but also didn't hold back in ensuring that you are accountable and making sure that you are completely on board. They helped me in so many ways to understand what I’m going through and to make me realize that I can make the changes necessary to promote my recovery and a better more productive and safe lifestyle."
- T.M.
Police Officer
Mental Health
“After my shooting, I was stuck in limbo off the schedule, isolated, and honestly questioning if I’d ever go back to the job that I loved. This program didn’t just give me therapy, it gave me a team, structure, and a clear path forward. I got my confidence back, got my head on right, and returned to the job with a new sense of purpose.”
- T.H.
Retired Firefighter
Online Therapy
“With 22 years as a firefighter, the stress, trauma, and putting the first job took a toll. When I retired, I felt like I lost my identity, and the damage to my relationships was staring me in the face. This virtual IOP gave me the space to process everything, repair what I let the job strain, and finally start showing up for my family the way they always showed up for me.”
- C.S.
Anonymous, Retired Federal Agent
Stepstone IOP + RTC Alumni
“I spent most of my career overseas, in and out of high-risk assignments, responding to critical incidents that most people will never understand. I pushed through it because that’s what my team and I trained to do. But years of putting the job first, missing birthdays, holidays, living off adrenaline, and stuffing everything down broke something in me I didn’t even realize was cracked. After one particularly bad spiral, I ended up in a 60-day residential program. I came out thinking I was good, strong enough to walk away from it all without follow-up care and get back to work. I didn’t want to do IOP, because I felt I didn’t need it. I relapsed within weeks and wound up right back at residential. That’s when Stepstone came into the picture. Their virtual IOP met me exactly where I was and worked with the residential team and my family to make sure the transition to IOP was effortless. Stepstone did it with no judgment and total cultural understanding. They knew what it meant to have served in the shadows and to carry moral injuries you can’t talk about with just anyone. Stepstone helped me process years of cumulative stress, start healing relationships I thought were beyond repair, and accept that stepping away from the job wasn’t failure, it was a new chapter. I thought I was too young to retire. I didn’t want to go through workers’ comp. But Stepstone gave me structure, purpose, and the support I didn’t know I needed. Today, I’m retired, but I’m not broken. I’m present. I’m at peace. And I finally know who I am outside the job.”
Police Officer
IOP Graduate
“I didn’t know this kind of help existed, let alone that workers comp covered it.”
- R.F.
Deputy Sheriff
Mental Health
“They handled everything with my case manager with workers’ comp so I could focus on getting better.”
- C.S.