Has Ryanne actually worked with people in my line of work?
Last updated: September, 2026 | Reviewed by: Ryanne Stellingwerf, LCPC, CCTP
Yes, Ryanne has spent over a decade working specifically with veterans, first responders, and ER professionals, and 7 years living in a combat zone herself.
What is Ryanne's background with combat and high-stress careers?
Ryanne spent 7 years as a civilian military contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan before training as a therapist. That experience, not just textbook knowledge, shapes how she works with clients whose trauma comes from the job.
What kinds of clients does she typically work with?
Women who are used to being the exception: officers, medics, ER nurses, task force members, people who have never let anything stop them until now.
Why does firsthand experience matter here?
It means you don't have to explain your world from scratch. That doesn't mean every client's experience matches hers exactly, it means she starts from a baseline of understanding instead of zero. For more on what that looks like specifically for military service or for first responder work, see those pages.
FAQ
Do I have to be a veteran to work with you? No, first responders and ER professionals make up a large part of her caseload too.
Have you worked with animal control officers? Yes.
Do you understand law enforcement or dispatch culture too? Yes, this comes up regularly in her work with first responders.
