Letter from Steve: Planning & Building Grounded Therapy Network, LLC
Letter from Steve Wheeler,
Hello Friends,
I have received many questions about the origins of Grounded Therapy Network, my professional history, & why I left my position as Lake City Middle School Counselor. I thought it might be nice to put our history on paper (or the internets), to share a little more about me, GTN and build into what is coming next for 2024!
The idea of Grounded Therapy Network, LLC has been a vision since 2015. I was 3 years post graduation from Central Michigan University with a degree in Recreational Therapy. I had recently proposed to this amazing woman from a little town, I had never really heard of. I started my career working in in-patient Brain Injury Rehabilitation and I experienced for the first time, teamwork, collaboration through an interdisciplinary team of therapists who continue to inspire me to this day. In 2015, I transitioned from inpatient to outpatient, home and community based rehabilitation Recreation Therapy. I immediately saw gaps in community integration needs, accessibility needs, advocacy and so much more. My experience at Mary Free Bed set the tone for my expectation of professional transparency, accountability, vision and patient centered services I have yet to experience in any other setting.
As LeAnn (my partner) and I moved to Mount Pleasant to pursue her career as instructor at Central Michigan University, (I seriously could write a full book on how incredible LeAnn’s journey has been, and the impact she has had on myself & GTN. However, that is not the purpose of this letter, so let's stay focused here) I knew we could attempt a go at home and community Recreation Therapy, it had been successful in more urban communities on the east and west side of the state. I understood the role of Recreation Therapy, the incredible breadth of services offered and the value it would bring to more rural communities, however, most other professionals do not. Outside of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, most other clinicians/administrators don’t yet genuinely understand the scope of Recreation Therapy, therefore, they do not know enough to value the services themselves. Instead of starting this company at that time, I sought to gain more experience and expand my education. I became the Program Manager for Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan while pursuing my masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling at Central Michigan University.
The next few years proved to be… well, interesting. I made a leap of faith, leaving my well established role as program manager of an in-patient psychiatric hospital, to join the Mount Pleasant Public Schools (MPPS) Special Education team as a paraprofessional, (easily the most undervalued position of any setting I have worked). I was able to transition into a School Counselor position, through the SAMHSA Project Aware Grant within MPPS. (Shout out to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, I would not be the therapist or individual I am today without your teachings, wisdom and friendship, Miigwetch). Upon completing my Masters and obtaining my credentials to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I knew I was going to start my private practice and provide tele-health counseling in the evenings and weekends. We founded Grounded Therapy Network, LLC June of 2021. I have since been successfully providing psychotherapy, while serving full time as School Counselor.
My plan had always been to maintain my career as School Counselor while building Grounded Therapy Network, LLC. We decided to move to Lake City, MI and I was invited to join the wonderful team at Lake City Area Schools. As a Recreation Therapist, Professional Counselor and School Counselor, I was excited to join their efforts in building on their long lasting Outdoor Education programming. Camp Rotary, Hiking Trips and providing additional Adventure Based Therapy Programming really appealed to me. The truth is, I loved it. I loved being able to support so many within this amazing town with my role as school counselor. I could have stayed in this position for a very long time, I love the team, the vision and passion for educating youth. However, there was still a gap in community based Mental Health Counseling and zero Recreation Therapy opportunities.
Summer of 2023, I decided to take, yet, another leap of faith. Quit another wonderful, stable role in the community, to make a go at building Grounded Therapy Network, create jobs and provide Professional Counseling and Recreation Therapy to communities throughout Central and Northern Michigan.
I have since taken a part time role as Professional Counselor within Michigan Department of Corrections at a state prison, where I am providing individual & group counselling. This experience allows me to see another side of humanity. I believe this work supports GTN in serving as Mental Health providers for those who routinely find themselves making destructive decisions and criminal behaviors. When I look over my range of settings worked throughout my career, I notice I continue to seek to understand the full spectrum of Mental Health services across a range of settings and disciplines. I have found this range has given me an uncommon perspective which sets me up for success as a professional helper, in turn build a team of individuals who are more curious than judgmental.
And there it is. A brief snapshot into the past 9 years of brainstorming, planning, manifesting, learning, & building the foundation of what I believe to be a wonderful organization. What started out as a whimsical thought, has transformed into a business plan, a clear vision and team members eager to join the hustle and provide Professional Counseling & Recreation Therapy. I am so proud of what we have created and I cannot wait to introduce our team members and share new adventures on the horizon.
The way I see it, we’ve only just begun.
Talk Soon,
Steve
