Welcome to General Counseling
Most people who call here have been thinking about it for a while. Weeks, sometimes…
Private counseling in Alma, Michigan
Stop letting anxiety and trauma dictate your life.
You served your country. Now let me serve you. Private, straightforward counseling so you can be in control again.
Free consultation. 100% confidential. No commitment required.
U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Brandon Rickert, DVIDS
U.S. Marine Corps photo, DVIDS
-
U.S. Marine Corps photo, DVIDS
Why Cognitive Edge
Because you've suffered long enough.
The Cognitive Edge is a specialized, practical approach you won't find with most counselors. It offers support for individuals, couples, and families across a wide range of needs, including veterans.
The focus is on leveraging your inner strength, with the tools and techniques you need to overcome challenges, navigate life's complexities, and build lasting well-being.
Private and confidential
Speak freely without fear of career repercussions.
Military cultural understanding
Dan is a combat veteran and Marine Corps Scout Sniper.
Is this for me?
If you can relate, you're in the right place.
You do not need a PTSD diagnosis, or any diagnosis at all, to benefit from therapy. If something feels off, difficult, or harder to manage than it used to, that is enough reason to seek support.
You can't sleep, and it isn't restful.
01
You struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up feeling restored.
How counseling helps →You're always on edge.
02
Your mind and body rarely fully relax, even when you know you are safe.
How counseling helps →Anger shows up more than you'd like.
03
Small things set you off, and you regret how strongly you reacted afterward.
How counseling helps →You feel disconnected from family and friends.
04
The structure, purpose, and identity that came with service can be hard to replace.
How counseling helps →
What to expect from us
Counseling built around people who serve.
Judgment-free
Talk with someone who has actually been in the trenches.
At your pace
Skills and insight that help you feel more grounded, on your terms.
Free consultation
A brief first conversation with no cost and no obligation to schedule.
Rooted in Alma
A private office at 524 Liberty Street, serving clients across mid-Michigan.
Who we support
Specialized support for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families.
We help individuals from all walks of life manage complex trauma, with particular depth in the cultures of service and emergency work.
Serving mid-Michigan: veteran and military therapy and first responder therapy.
All specialties
About Dan
Dan Klaasse, M.S., LLPC
A combat veteran and former Marine Corps Scout Sniper who knows the work from the inside.
Dan is a father with a profound empathy for those who have experienced loss or heartbreak, having faced similar challenges himself. His insights come not only from education but from real-life experience. With years of observing and understanding the dynamics of trauma and mental health, he developed the approach known as the Cognitive Edge.
More about Dan- License
- Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC)
- Education
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Service
- Combat veteran, U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper
- Practice
- 524 Liberty Street, Alma, Michigan
In their words
What clients have shared about their experience.
Dan at Cognitive Edge is an exceptional counselor who truly helps people understand themselves on a deeper level.
If you desire to make changes within yourself and make a positive impact on your life, Dan is the perfect person to assist you.
When life feels chaotic and confusing, I know I can count on Dan to offer solid advice.
If you want someone that has been in the trenches and lived what he has learned, then this is for you.
Dan has an incredible ability to listen deeply and ask the right questions that lead to profound insights.
Areas of support
Support for the challenges you don't have to carry alone.
What to expect
Three simple steps to begin moving forward.
Starting mental health care can feel uncertain. The process is designed to help you feel heard, understand your options, and move forward with a plan that fits your life.
-
01
Reach out
Call or use the contact form to share what you're looking for and ask any questions.
-
02
We talk first
Our first meeting focuses on what you're experiencing, what matters to you, and what you want to work on.
-
03
A personal, practical plan
Care is built around your needs, goals, history, and where you are right now, with a realistic path forward.
Payment
Straightforward, private-pay pricing.
Private pay is the primary option. Insurance is accepted but not required. Call and we'll walk you through your options.
Free consultation
No cost
No obligation to schedule.
- Brief introductory conversation
- A chance to discuss your needs
- Answers to your initial questions
- An explanation of possible next steps
Individual session
$100 per session
Card payments add a $5 processing fee.
- Individual counseling session
- Personalized, collaborative care
- Practical strategies for everyday life
- Clear next steps based on your goals
Contact
Start a conversation.
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Leave your name and the best way to reach you, and we will help you understand the next step.
This form is not a secure clinical intake and is not monitored around the clock. Please leave out diagnoses, medications, and other health details. You can share those privately once we talk. See our Privacy Policy.
In a crisis, call or text 988 (veterans press 1). In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked
Questions people ask before reaching out.
Do I need a PTSD diagnosis to receive care?
No. You do not need a PTSD diagnosis, or any diagnosis at all, to benefit from therapy. Many people reach out because they feel overwhelmed, disconnected, irritable, unable to sleep, or simply unlike themselves.
Who do you work with?
We work with veterans, active-duty service members, military families, first responders, healthcare professionals, and civilians experiencing trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, anger, or major life transitions.
Do you accept insurance?
Cognitive Edge Counseling is private-pay first. Insurance is accepted but not required. Contact the practice to discuss current rates, payment options, and whether documentation can be provided for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
What happens during the first appointment?
The first appointment is a chance to discuss what you have been experiencing, what you would like to improve, and whether the practice is the right fit. You will also have time to ask questions about treatment options and next steps.
Is my care confidential?
Yes. Your privacy is taken seriously, and your information is handled in accordance with applicable professional and legal requirements. There are limited exceptions when disclosure may be legally required, which will be reviewed with you as part of the informed-consent process.
Visit Us
Resources
Practical guidance for mental health, recovery, and life after service.
Articles for veterans, service members, first responders, healthcare professionals, and families navigating stress, trauma, sleep, anger, and major life transitions.
Navigating Life Changes
There is a difference between a change and a transition. The change is the event,…
Support for Military Transitions
The paperwork ends on a specific date. The transition does not. People who got out…
