Collaborative Counseling Group

09/07/2026

This was a particularly difficult post to write. I get emotional thinking about it because this work is not just something we talk about. It is real, and last week, it felt especially close.

This is why I do su***de prevention training.

These speaking engagements and trainings are not about statistics, checklists, action items, or growing a business. They are about people.

People like a young man in the construction industry who recently died by su***de, leaving behind a partner, a young son, and a child on the way. A young man with his whole life and career ahead of him. A young man the same age as one of my sons.

He was not a random person in some distant community. He was part of our construction community and worked for a company where I was already scheduled to speak later that week.

Behind every statistic is a person. A family. Friends. Coworkers. An entire community left grieving.

I do this work because conversations matter. Knowing what to look for matters. Asking someone if they are okay, and being willing to stay, listen, and hear them, matters.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988. You do not have to face it alone.

08/27/2026

The other day I had to say no to something I really didn’t want to. My instinct was to just go along, be agreeable. But deep down, I knew saying yes would’ve cost me energy, focus, time, and peace. Saying no wasn’t comfortable, but it was honest. Sometimes boundaries don’t feel like strength in the moment. They feel like discomfort. But afterwards, there’s clarity and relief. Protecting your well-being isn’t selfish; it’s responsible self-leadership, even when it’s hard.

08/22/2026

Gen X went to therapy. Apparently, “just deal with it” wasn’t an actual mental health strategy.

We were raised on hose water, Saturday morning cartoons, questionable playground equipment, and being told to come home when the streetlights came on.

We learned to suck it up. Walk it off. Figure it out. And whatever you do…don’t talk about your feelings.

Turns out, we may have a few things to unpack.

The good news? Therapy doesn’t have to be awkward, stuffy, or overly clinical. It can be honest, practical, occasionally sarcastic, and even funny.

And before you say, “You’re not going to believe this…”

Trust me, I’ve heard worse.

Collaborative Counseling Group
Helping Gen X talk about feelings since…well, better late than never.

08/02/2026

I’m excited to share that I am transitioning all of my counseling services to Collaborative Counseling Group.

Many of you know Collaborative Counseling Group as the company I founded years ago to provide mental health education, leadership development, and wellness training to organizations throughout the construction industry and beyond. As that work has continued to grow alongside my teaching at Ferris State University, it became clear that it was time to bring my counseling practice under the same name and mission.

After more than 10 years with Alliance Counseling Group, I am grateful for the relationships, opportunities, and friendships that have been such an important part of my professional journey. I will always appreciate the support and experiences I gained there.

This transition allows me to continue the work I love while bringing all aspects of my professional practice together under one organization dedicated to improving mental health, whether that’s supporting individuals and couples in the counseling office or helping organizations build healthier, more resilient workplaces.

I am currently accepting referrals for:
• Individual Counseling (Adults)
• Couples Counseling

If you or someone you know is looking for compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-based counseling, I’d be honored to help.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. I’m excited for this next chapter and look forward to continuing to serve our community.

05/20/2026

I spend a lot of time teaching and speaking about self care and mental health. Today is a reminder that we have to practice what we preach too.

The speaking, training, and travel schedule caught up with me. Voice is gone, energy is drained, and it’s time to go get checked out and slow down for a minute.

I don’t ask my students, clients, or industry partners to do anything I am not willing to do myself. Self care is not weakness. You cannot continue pouring into others if you never stop to refill yourself

05/19/2026

Check it out!

Ferris State University’s Mark D**e and Suzanne Miller are leading the charge of addressing mental health safety, an issue they believe has been overlooked in the construction industry.

05/12/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I am back on the road this week speaking about a topic that continues to matter greatly in the construction industry: mental health safety.

After finishing final exams, commencement celebrations, and hard hat ceremonies last week at , I will now spend the next several weeks providing training and speaking with construction professionals about mental health awareness, stress, burnout, and creating healthier jobsite cultures.

The construction industry is built on hard work, problem solving, and taking care of one another. We have made tremendous progress talking about physical safety over the years, and I believe mental health safety deserves the same attention and investment.

I appreciate every company, organization, and group willing to have these conversations. Mental health is safety.

If your company or organization is interested in mental health safety training, stress and burnout prevention, or construction focused mental health awareness services, I would be glad to connect and continue the conversation.

05/12/2026

Leaving the .brothers Safety Day and sitting in backed up traffic reflecting on conversations around mental health in construction. Don’t worry, we had been completely stopped for some time.

Grateful for the opportunity to speak with their team and even more grateful for the people in this industry who continue pushing these conversations forward. Also appreciated the new hat they sent me home with, this will be a nice addition to my construction company hat collection.

Construction safety is continuing to evolve, and that includes taking care of both the physical and mental well being of the workforce.