Ad Astra Per Aspera — To the stars through hardship.

 

Who We Are

Challenger Point Practice is a trauma-informed mental health and resilience organization founded by Matthew Carlson, LPC, LMHC — a retired firefighter, licensed trauma therapist, filmmaker, and resilience coach. We specialize in working with first responders, military veterans, and trauma survivors, blending clinical expertise with lived experience, humor, and grit.

We don’t just talk about trauma.
We’ve lived it, worked through it, and now we help others do the same — with tools that actually work in the field and in real life.

​

What We Do

• Licensed Therapy — for PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and burnout

• EMDR, Somatic & Adventure Therapy — because healing isn’t one-size-fits-all

• CLIMB Protocol — our flagship trauma reset experience, available in Colorado, Florida, and virtually

• Peer Support & Coaching — for teams and individuals across the U.S. and beyond

• ESA & PSD Evaluations — for travel, housing, and psychiatric support animals

• Resilience Cinema — real stories, told with humor, heart, and purpose

• Undercover Dumpster Fire — the podcast and nonprofit that lights the match of advocacy and action

​

Our Approach

We're grounded in:

• ACA, APA, and NASW ethics

• State and federal privacy laws (HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 when applicable)

• Evidence-based therapy + lived experience

• Faith-informed care when requested (Matthew is a 2012 graduate of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary)

This is not a lecture. This is not a worksheet.
This is presence, practice, and purpose — tailored to your life, not your diagnosis.

​

Where We Work

We serve clients in:

• Florida, Colorado, and Texas (licensed therapy)

• All 50 states and internationally (coaching, CLIMB Protocol, peer support)

• On location at Station Zero (Florida Keys) and Station 7600 (Colorado Mountains)

We’re also building the next phase:

• A mobile disaster resilience unit

• A partial hospitalization program (PHP)

• Media + movement to tell the stories that haven’t been told yet

​

Why Challenger Point?

Because Challenger Point is a real summit — 14,087 feet above sea level.
And at the top is a plaque that says:

“Ad Astra Per Aspera — To the stars through hardship.”

We believe that healing, purpose, and greatness often come through fire, grief, and grit.
We’re not afraid to climb there with you.

​

Built By:

• Matthew Carlson aka Willy Bearden

• Brittany Carlson — admin & logistics

• Matt Pitcher & Eric Reynolds — retired detectives, peer leaders, podcast hosts

• Dozens of partners, peers, and survivors across the country