You built the program. You trained the team. And your people still aren't using it.
That's not a failure of your peer support team. It's a sequencing problem. Right now, the model works like this: something gets bad enough, someone finally reaches out, your peer support team tries to help, and if it's bad enough, you scramble to find a clinician with availability and the right expertise. Which, as you probably know, is its own uphill battle.
The result is a program that only activates in crisis — and a culture where asking for help still signals that something is seriously wrong.
What if your peer support team had something to hand people before the crisis?
Proactive support doesn't mean mandatory check-ins or wellness surveys nobody fills out. It means giving your members practical, tactical skills for managing the weight of this job — before it gets loud. When support means "building tools" instead of "admitting you're struggling," the stigma math changes. People show up differently. And when they do eventually need more, they know themselves well enough to ask for the right thing.
That's what this program is built to do.
The Yeahbut Project
There's a reason your members don't reach out — even when they know support is available. The Yeah But Project is a research initiative focused on understanding exactly that: what stops first responders from seeking help, and what actually moves the needle.
How I Can Help
Whether you’re looking for affordable resources to share or on-site training for your team, my focus is on providing easy-to-use tools with a strong commitment to confidentiality.
Sponsored Program Seats
The most direct way to put proactive tools in your members' hands.
You can sponsor individuals through the full Cairn or Guide cohort, or purchase Trail Map seats for wider distribution across your department.
Completion data is available. Individual content remains confidential.
Department Training
I can bring this curriculum directly to your department. This isn't a one-size-fits-all wellness talk — it's the same structured, evidence-based content from the program, delivered in person and tailored to your team. If you want your people building skills together, this is the option.
Speaking & Conferences
Available for conference keynotes, panel appearances, and podcast guest spots. Topics include proactive first responder mental health, resequencing the way departments seek support, and the research behind the Yeahbut Project.
In this 5-minute sample, Shannon teaches a room full of 900 Ignite-attendees how to build strong teams using silly games.