Backing the Blue Line: Counseling Services for First Responders
Counseling services for individuals and families.
Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health Licensed
LPCC
Areas of Experience
Anxiety Therapy
If you're struggling with anxiety, we're here to help. Our therapists specialize in anxiety therapy and can help you learn practical coping strategies to manage your symptoms. We'll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs.
The approach I take to anxiety, is I keep it simple stupid. Looking at stressors in life, coupled with understanding "your" anxiety, and what I call your anxiety cycle.
Depression Therapy
Depression can make it difficult to enjoy life and engage in activities you once loved. Our therapists are here to help you overcome depression and develop a more positive outlook on life. We offer evidence-based treatments that have been proven to be effective for depression.
Your depression is different than anyone else, depression varies, and it is more appropriately considered a continuum. The DSM sets depression in three different severities. Let's see how to help you address the depression.
Trauma Counseling
If you've experienced trauma, it's important to seek help from a qualified therapist. Our trauma counselors are trained to help you work through the trauma and develop healthy coping strategies. We offer a variety of trauma-focused therapies to meet your unique needs.
Couples Counseling
Relationships are an important part of our lives, but they can also be challenging. Our relationship counselors are here to help you and your partner improve communication, build intimacy, and strengthen your relationship. We offer couples counseling and marriage therapy services.
I can also provide support with Discernment Counseling. The overall goal of the counseling is; clarity and confidence in their decision making about the future of the marriage, based on a deeper understanding of what’s happened to their marriage and each person’s contributions to the problems.
Discernment Counseling is A clear distinction between discernment counseling and couples therapy. No couple interventions occur in discernment counseling and no experiential enactments during sessions.
Distinctive structure:
Short term: 1-5 sessions. Preferably weekly. A decision made each time whether to meet again.
Session flow: first part with the couple, then separate conversations with each partner followed by a brief sharing of something learned during the individual time, and then couple together at the end.
Confidentiality guideline for individual conversation: the discernment counselor does not share the specifics of what each spouse says, but is free to share impressions and reactions to each spouse when talking to the other.
I also work with high conflict couples:
1) Divorce - with custody issues
2) Protracted - with custody issues
3) Protracted - with high level of civil or criminal court involvement
4) Reconciliation - with affairs
Stress Management
Stress is a natural part of life, but when it becomes overwhelming, it can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. Our stress management services are designed to help you learn practical strategies to manage stress and improve your overall well-being.
About Dr. Matthew J. Stiehm
Dr. Matt Stiehm has received an Educational Doctorate from Argosy University, where the focus of his research was campus safety and security. The focal point of Dr. Stiehm’s research was the less transit population of full time employees (staff), faculty, and their individual perceptions of safety/security as opposed to student populations, which rotates every 9-12 months at least but more than likely every 2-4 years depending on the degree they are achieving. Out of this research Dr. Stiehm has published articles and has been interviewed on topics related to campus safety, security and law enforcement. Dr. Stiehm holds a Masters of Art’s from Saint Mary’s University in Psychological Services and Counseling, which was conferred in the Spring of 2023. Prior to his graduation Dr. Stiehm spent time at Prairie Center treatment as an intern, working in a residential treatment facility. The facility houses youths dealing with SPMI, depression, transgender issues, self harm, suicidal ideations, and suicidal attempts.
Dr. Stiehm also has a Master’s Degree of Criminal Justice from Central Missouri State University, and a Bachelor’s of Science from Wayne State College, Nebraska. Dr. Stiehm has additional attended and received at one point the CLS designation from the Americans for the Effectiveness of Law Enforcement a non-profit organization that focuses on the legal aspect of use of force, this designation is now expired. Dr. Stiehm has served as a police officer in three states (CA, MN and NE), and keeps current on law enforcement trends. Dr. Stiehm reviews Policeone, Officer.com, Law Officer Magazine, FBI Bulletin and other magazines to maintain relevancy in law enforcement trends. He additionally attended regular law enforcement trainings to keep my skills current. Dr. Stiehm currently holds an valid/inactive Minnesota Peace Officer License and retired from service from the Clearbrook Police Department (MN) in July 2024. Professional over the past 25 years Dr. Stiehm has worked as a licensed commissioned police officer, corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, loss prevention, private security, private investigator and academic professional. Also for a short stint Dr. Stiehm worked in the Oil Fields of North Dakota as a Frac Hand.
Dr. Stiehm has maintained employment with Nystrom and Associates now Sagent as an Out-Patient Clinical Trainee/Pre Licensed Therapist since graduation. Dr. Stiehm recently received an active Minnesota Beahvioral Health License as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. In his capacity as a therapist Dr. Stiehm sees all manner of clients to include those who are on probation, and parole. Dr. Stiehm is one of a handful of therapist with Sagent that works with Sex Offenders, and criminals. Dr. Stiehm also works with those in active psychosis, and schizophrenia.
Dr. Stiehm is an advocate for mental health for and of law enforcement officers. Dr. Stiehm started a boutique mental therapy firm that works specifically with those working in law enforcement/criminal justice and corrections. The firm Minnesota Blue Line Therapy is the third criminal justice related business Dr. Stiehm has started with the expressed interest of support those within the first responder community. Dr. Stiehm also keeps research into police related mental health issues using search terms using the following Boolean terms PTSD + Police, Police + PTSD + Treatment, Police + Substance Use, and Police + Suicide within the academic realms finding around 180 publications. Dr. Stiehm has conducted research using Clinical Trials the government research site, finding around 300 related studies under Drugs, Behavioral, Medical Device, and Other techniques measured, and monitored by the federal government, and the FDA and other trials. As part of his experiences with Minnesota Blue Line Therapy – he will be speaking on the following topics with the Justice Clearing House - Recorded Webinar Release Date: Monday, June 29: Understanding Moral Injury, Depression, and Cops, Recorded Webinar Release Date: Monday, Aug 24: Understanding PTSD and Officers, Live Webinar: Thurs, Oct 22, 3p ET: Anxiety and Force: The Consequences, Realities and Aftermath.
Dr. Stiehm has attended over 250 hrs of professional development commonly referred to as continuing education in areas related to therapy, law enforcement, criminal justice, threat assessment, and various other programs in 2025. Some of those programs have been through Sagent Behavioral Health, and others have been on his own accord, and expense to round out his professional education. Specifically and more pointily Dr. Stiehm has attended the following; What Makes Narcissistic Personalities Disorders and Their Partners Hard to Diagnosis, Internal Family Systems, Powerful Gottman Method Couples Training, Basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, MACH-II Challenges in Assessing Complex Teens, Anxiety Disorders Look-Alikes: Understanding Symptoms of Anxiety, as We head Back to School, Master Differential Diagnosis with the DSM5 TR A Symptoms Based Approaching, Working with Clients in Family Court What you Need to Know, Clarifying the Confusing Truth About BPD and Depression, DBT Skills for non DBT Therapists, ACT Therapy Activating Psychological Flexibility, and other local level CEU’s. Dr. Stiehm is actively looking into trainings, and professional growth opportunities to provide therapy with psychedelics.
Dr. Stiehm was a full time law enforcement program education coordinator at a Minnesota Professional Peace Officer Education Provider. Dr. Stiehm has over seen extensive curriculum development, recruitment, retention of faculty, and students. Dr. Stiehm keeps current on all trends pertaining to the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board learning objectives event since his departure from the Leech Lake Tribal College. In the capacity as a full time coordinator he had regular contact with law enforcement professionals, across Minnesota, the mid-west and the United States.
Dr. Stiehm has presented in front of the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board on at least three different occasion on various topics related to law enforcement training, and accreditation. Dr. Stiehm in his capacity as the Law Enforcement Coordinator has provided for, and coordinated approximately 66 professional development opportunities (law enforcement trainings) to be held on the campus where he was employed full time. employed. In calendar years 2017, through current date (March 2026), Dr. Stiehm has attended an approximate total of 2400 hours of law enforcement training, professional development and continuing education, this amount does not include the aforementioned approximately 200 hours.
Dr. Stiehm has instructed police officers and other professionals in the areas of; peace officer rights, child abuse, use of force, leadership and interviewing for continuing education credit. He is recognized as a subject matter expert in tribal law enforcement where he focused on the disparity of Native American Officers versus Non-Native Officers serving tribal land; he also focused on general training issues in Indian Country Law Enforcement. Dr. Stiehm is also a recognized authority in use of force, corrections use of force, general police practices, training trends, and other standards.
Dr. Stiehm has served as a police practices expert with local (MN) based law firms. Dr. Stiehm has also been retained in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana and New York to provide "expert" opinions for use of force in federal court. Dr. Stiehm has additionally provided reports more recently in Kentucky. Dr. Stiehm also provided support to Saint Paul Police Officers Union and Officer Matt Gorans termination.
Dr. Stiehm has reviewed cases for; also consulted on campus 1st Amendment/Protest Issues surrounding Palestine, corrections use of force, practices and protocol. Dr. Stiehm keeps up on issues facing the Minneapolis Police Department, and law enforcement trends impacting Minnesota. Dr. Stiehm provided the voice for Minnesota Law Enforcement for KSTP Channel Five for an hour-long session on Pattern and Practice related to Use of Force and City of Minneapolis. Dr. Stiehm spends his free time conducting research proactively into the Derek Chauvin use of force incident/event, mental issues and law enforcement, and overall law enforcement trends surrounding modern policing. In the coming 2026 year Dr. Stiehm will be presenting at the AELE Conference on Jail and Prisoner Operational and Legal Issues, Wisconsin Courts Security Conference, AELE Use of Force Seminar, and has been selected to teach at the Wisconsin Corrections Association yearly conference.
Dr. Stiehm has spoken at various conferences within the past two years purely addressing mental health issues, specifically the Minnesota Counseling Association Conference, and the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Conference, on topics related to therapist working with first responders. Dr. Stiehm also has presented webinars on Anxiety for the Justice Clearing House where over 1000+ people signed up for the session (virtual/recorded), Dr. Stiehm also spoke at the Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Conference ,and was invited to speak at the Minnesota Emergency Management Conference in the fall of 2025.
To maintain professional competency within the past 12 months Dr. Stiehm has joined the following professional associations; Minnesota Psychological Association as an Associate Member, American Association of Suicidology, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys Assoc. of Family and Conciliation Courts – Member Assoc. of Family -Conciliation Courts MN Chapter -Member, American Probation and Parole Association – Individual Member, Minnesota Juvenile Officers Association – Member, Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers – Member, Minnesota Corrections Association Member – Member, International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy – member, Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapists- Associate Member, and Minnesota Counseling Association – Member. I was a member of ILEETA, I have been an Associate Member of the IACP, Police Executive Research Forum Subscribing Member and former supporting Member of the MN Chiefs Association, and FBI LEEDA. Dr. Stiehm has sat as an advisory board member of the Clery Center. Dr. Stiehm has been a member of Midwest Criminal Justice Association, Minnesota INFRAGard, and other organizations which support professional growth.
Dr. Stiehm has attended the following professional developments related to use of force training has attended and received instructor certification from the following; Axon Taser Instructor Certification, SPEAR Level II, Blue Shield Tactical Patrol Knife Course, Controlled FORCE Level I and II, LOCK-Up, ASP Handcuff/Batons, ASP Integrated Use of Force Instructor Class, PepperBall Use of Force Instructor, NLETC Use of Force Certifications, SABRE Use of Force Instructor, LOCKUP Managing, and Tracking Use of Force, FLETC Active Shooter Instructor Training Program, SPEAR LEVEL I, Pressure Point and Control Tactics, Minneapolis Community College Use of Force Instructor, RAD-Systems, FLETC Use of Force Instructor Program (16hrs), and AELE Lethal and Less Lethal Training Programs. Which resulted in Certified Litigation Specialist through AELE. Dr. Stiehm also recently attended the Federal Bureau of Investigations basic crisis negotiators course in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Dr. Stiehm was part of a small cadre of officers from around the region that were allowed to attend. Dr. Stiehm attended the 80hrs FLETC Use of Force Instructor Training Program in September 2022 in Pierre, South Dakota.
Dr. Stiehm has consulted with LAAW International on the use of force, body worn camera and other related model policies. Dr. Stiehm routinely provides feedback to this policy group on use of force model policies. Dr. Stiehm can be found on Linkedin.com. Dr. Stiehm has authored articles in POLICEONE, CORRECTIONSONE, Law Officer Magazine, ILEETA Journal, and the IACP Magazine. Dr. Stiehm was a contract instructor with Blue Shield Tactical in the topics of Corrections Use of Force and Management, and 21st Century Use of Force Investigations. Dr. Stiehm self publishes articles on Linkedin on a variety of topics. Dr. Stiehm spoke at the 2025 Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Summit on Anxiety. Dr. Stiehm has submitted courses to a variety of professional conferences on mental health to include the COPS Conference, and IACP.
Dr. Stiehm created, operated, coordinated, and funded the Minnesota Law Enforcement Wellness Summit in November 2024 and November 2025, planning for November 2026. Coordinating 3 national level keynote speakers, and 10 other plenary speakers on the topics related to mental health. Dr. Stiehm related to the conference conducted a research project that is pending publication. Dr. Stiehm is hoping to have this be a yearly conference, he is currently in the planning process for upcoming November event.
