
ABOUT US
Since December 24, 2018, Challenger Point Practice has been a progressive licensed mental health and substance use treatment facility based in Winter Park, Colorado. This practice is named after "Challenger Point," a 14,087' mountain in Colorado that was named in honor of the astronauts that died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. At the top of the mountain there is a plaque that reads "Ad Astra Per Aspera", which is Latin for "To the Stars Through Adversity." This is the motto and the spirit of all the providers at Challenger Point Practice.
We are currently serving clients in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. Although our providers offer traditional therapy services, they have highly specialized knowledge and experience working with mental and emotional disabilities, and working with US Military Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders.
We are specialized in disability related services. This includes emotional support animals, psychiatric service dogs, along with accommodations for housing, employment, school, and travel. We also work with client's that need to request short-term disability from work to address mental health concerns. We are skilled in working with insurance companies, disability claims processors, human resources, and supervisors to ensure that adequate workplace accommodations are established, thus allowing clients to have equal opportunities as those without disabilities.
We take great care in educating our clients about the use of emotional support animals and psychiatric service dogs along with the applicable laws involved. We also take pride in being able to utilize some our client's health insurance benefits and health savings plans to offset some or all of their costs associated with obtaining clinical recommendations. These services are highly specialized and considered a "niche" area of healthcare that most licensed providers are afraid of offering; however, we understand this process through and through and are thrilled to be able to offer in Colorado, Florida, and Texas.

MATTHEW WILLIAM CARLSON
A Message from the Founder of Challenger Point
Since 2012, I've been counseling clients throughout Colorado, Texas, and Florida. Prior to my career in psychology, I worked as a Firefighter and Driver Operator (Engineer) with the Oshtemo Township Fire Department from 2004-2013. During that time, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the accumulation of several traumatic incidents. After going through the Worker's Comp process to access counseling, and wanting to make treatment easier for first responders and military veterans to get help, I enrolled in a graduate counseling program. I retired from the fire service in 2013, although I keep my certifications and licenses current - just in case!
State of Michigan
Firefighter & Hazmat Specialist
Emergency Medical Responder #1599396
I've been running Challenger Point Practice since December 24, 2018. That was the night it was born, Christmas Eve! Since that time, the Practice has grown tremendously and has served over 6,000 unique clients - mostly working to approve and support clients with emotional support animals, psychiatric service dogs, or those clients diagnosed with PTSD and seeking a medical marijuana prescription. I love to help people and with this Practice, I wake up everyday excited to just that.
Being a licensed mental health professional is not an easy task. However, it is meaningful and necessary. Although my main office is in Winter Park, Colorado and I'm licensed in Colorado as a Licensed Professional Counselor #12306
and Licensed Addiction Counselor #621, in Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor #86425, and also Florida where I'm Licensed Mental Health Counselor #TPMC1178.
(Registered Office Address: 7901 4th St N, Ste 300, St. Petersburg, FL, 33702
For more information: https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/, )
I am proud to say that the Practice is credentialed with almost all major health insurance carriers, allowing us to bill insurance for all or some of the costs for services in Colorado and expanding those credentials in several other states we're licensed to practice in. It is a matter of time before this Practice is serving clients in every state and working to be credentialed with insurance carriers in every state. While insurance isn't always an option, we're happy to be in network with the following Colorado carriers:
Aetna, Beacon, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Apostrophe, Bright Health, Colorado Medicaid, Colorado Access, Cigna, Cigna TPA, Cigna EAP, EBMS, Empathia, Friday Health Plans, Peak Health, Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Permanente EPO, Optum/United-EAP, Oscar Health Plan, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, United Healthcare, United UMR, United All Savers, United BIND, United GEHA/Shared Services, United HealthScope Benefits, United Healthcare, United Healthcare Golden Rule, United Oxford, United Student Resources, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, and Veteran Affairs.
Currently, the Practice only offers individual therapy to first responders, military veterans, and their families. We value all people and offer Emotional Support Animal and Psychiatric Service Dog assessments using teletherapy in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. Feel free to contact me with any comments, questions, or concerns.
Warmly,
Matthew Carlson
970-363-4031 phone
970-360-1011 fax
matthew@challenger-point.com
TEAM
Join Challenger Point Practice!

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL THERAPIST
Licensed Mental Health Professional

THIS COULD BE YOU
Licensed Mental Health Professional

PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG THERAPIST
Licensed Mental Health Professional

THIS COULD BE YOU
Administrative Assistant

COME WORK WITH US
We are always recruiting experienced licensed mental health professionals, especially to provide emotional support animal and psychiatric service dog assessments using teletherapy. We're open to discussing independent contracts, employee opportunities, benefits, and becoming an ESA/PSD therapist. Contact us now!