Return to Baseline, LLC

10/21/2026

Co-founder, Jeremy Espil, recently helped to save a life!  as a former firefighter and advanced EMT, he shows how the skills never really leave you! He really embodies the spirit of selfless service to others, and a dedication to the health and wellness of those around him, even though he’s been out out of that work professionally for a few years.  This kind of service in action is what we are all about!

09/25/2026

National psychotherapy day! Nikki has been doing that work for 20 years now! ⭐️“Let’s normalize seeing a therapist in the same way that we normalize going to the dentist.”  is a favorite thing she says.

Interested in learning more about how therapy or professional consultation could support you? Send us a message.


09/21/2026

🚒 So, Nikki did a thing today! 🔥 Because providing meaningful mental health care starts with understanding the people we serve. ❤️ Nikki had the incredible opportunity to participate in an immersive firefighter experience with the Kenosha Fire Department, designed specifically for mental health professionals!

At Return to Baseline, LLC, we believe that truly supporting first responders means understanding their culture, experiences, and the unique challenges they face.

Today was about stepping outside the therapy office, learning firsthand, and building stronger connections within the firefighter community.

A huge thank you to the Kenosha Fire Department and Savers’ Hope for this amazing opportunity!

09/17/2026

Mental Health First Aid: Supporting Those Who Serve 🇺🇸💙

We were thrilled to host a Mental Health First Aid class at Return to Baseline, LLC!

Supporting veterans is at the heart of what we do, and that mission extends to the people who care for them, work alongside them, and support them in their everyday lives.

We love opportunities like this that bring people together to learn, connect, and strengthen their ability to recognize when someone may be struggling and respond with compassion and confidence.

Because taking care of those who serve also means equipping the people who support them.

A huge thank you to our instructors and everyone who joined us! We’re excited to continue creating opportunities that strengthen our veteran community, promote mental health awareness, and remind people that support is always within reach.

This is exactly the kind of work that makes us love what we do. 💙

09/08/2026

Even the Milwaukee Brewers are sharing information about the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline on 9-8 day!! It’s important to know about the support that is available to you 24/7. You may never need to call, but person next to you might, and it’s important to know how to get them to help and support they might need. 


09/02/2026

🎉 RETURN TO BASELINE, LLC IS OFFICIALLY ONE! 🎉

One year ago, we took a lifelong dream—supporting those who serve and adults who carry a lot—and decided to find out what might happen if we actually pursued it.

What began as an idea and a side gig has grown into something more meaningful and successful than we could have imagined.

In honor of our first anniversary, here are our…

🔟 TOP 10 SIGNS RETURN TO BASELINE IS REALLY A THING:

1. We have official pens. Nothing says “legitimate business” quite like personalized writing utensils. 🖊️

2. We now own enough conference-table supplies to fill an actual conference table.

3. We partnered with Lyra to provide Employee Assistance Program services.

4. We became connected with Military OneSource, expanding access to support for members of the military community.

5. We built stronger relationships with people and organizations serving military members, veterans, first responders, and their families.

6. We have been able to support charitable causes that matter deeply to us and reflect the heart of our mission.

7. We learned that building a business together involves equal parts vision, flexibility, hard work, humor, and asking, “Did one of us remember to bring the pens?”

8. We discovered that a lifelong dream can begin as a side gig—and still make a very real difference.

9. People have trusted us with their stories, their challenges, and their hopes for something better.

10. Most importantly, we have helped improve the quality of people’s lives—and that will always be the greatest measure of our success. 💙

Return to Baseline was created for people who are used to being the ones others rely on: military members, veterans, first responders, healthcare professionals, educators, caregivers, leaders, parents, and other adults carrying significant responsibility.

To every client, colleague, community partner, friend, family member, and supporter who has encouraged us, referred someone, shared a post, stopped by our table, or believed in what we are building: thank you for being part of our first year.

We are incredibly proud of how far this dream has come—and we cannot wait to see what takes root in 2027.

Happy first anniversary to Return to Baseline, LLC! 🌳

— Nikki & Jeremy

08/30/2026

We are learning so much more  every day about taking care of our first responders! Our founders are first responders & we’re here if you need us 🖤💙🖤 

After more than two decades in law enforcement, and after experiencing my own mental health struggles, there are things I wish I had understood earlier in my career.

For years, I believed that being strong meant being able to handle anything. I wore the badge, responded to traumatic calls, and continued showing up for work while struggling internally. I convinced myself that because I was functioning, I was fine. I wasn't.

My own journey taught me that mental health is not black and white. It is a continuum. You can feel okay one day and struggle the next. You can be successful, respected, experienced, and outwardly appear strong while privately fighting a battle no one else can see.

I also learned that anyone can experience a mental health challenge. Rank doesn't protect you. Years of service don't protect you. Training, education, physical strength, and experience don't make you immune. Sometimes the people who appear to be handling everything are the ones struggling the most.

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that mental strength and mental health are not the same thing. Asking for help doesn't mean you're weak. In fact, I now believe it takes incredible strength to acknowledge that something isn't right and take the first step toward healing.

I spent years suffering in silence after my critical incident because I was afraid of what others would think. I worried about my career, my reputation, and whether people would see me differently, but seeking help ultimately helped save my life and gave me an opportunity to rebuild myself.

There is also more than one way to get help. For me, healing involved professional therapy, EMDR, DBT, peer support, and learning healthier ways to cope with what I had experienced. What works for one person may not work for another. The important thing is finding support and continuing to take steps forward.

Finally, I want officers to know that mental health conditions are treatable, and recovery is possible. I know because I have lived it.

My journey hasn't been easy. There were times when I wasn't sure what my future would look like, but today, I am still here. I returned to law enforcement, became a Certified Peer Specialist, and now share my experiences in the hope that another officer might recognize themselves in my story and realize they are not alone.

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: You don't have to wait until you reach a breaking point to take care of your mental health.

Take care of your mind. Check on your people. Start the conversation.

By Stop The Threat - Stop The Stigma Founder and Wisconsin Police Captain Adam Meyers, CPS - www.stopthethreatstopthestigma.org

08/17/2026

Sound familiar?

We see men and women every day who reach that point of asking, “What do I do now?”

Sometimes you don’t need to have the answer yet. You just need a place to start sorting it out.

Let’s chat.

— Return to Baseline, LLC

08/16/2026

You know how to call 911 in a physical emergency — but would you know what to do if someone you care about is struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or thoughts of su***de?

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, we’re hosting an Adult Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans and Families class, - WHICH IS GREAT FOR ANYONE TO ATTEND - an evidence-based, 8-hour training that gives everyday people the tools to:

• Spot warning signs of mental health and substance use challenges.
• Start a safe, compassionate conversation.
• Offer initial support and connect someone to professional and community resources.
This class is ideal for:
• Veterans and military family members
• Caregivers, community leaders, HR and helping professionals
• Anyone who wants to be better prepared to help a friend, coworker, or loved one
📅 Date: Thursday September 17, 2026
📍 Location: Return to Baseline, Conference Room, 10437 W Innovation Dr, Wauwatosa, WI
⏰ Time: 8:15 – 5:15
💻 Format: in-person
💲 Cost: Free to military and veterans who are WI residents, $50 for others
✅ Includes MHFA workbook/materials and certificate of completion upon participation requirements.

Spots are limited to keep the training interactive. Tag a friend and register today:

https://starfishfound.networkforgood.com/events/104377-return-to-baseline-mental-health-first-aid-training-military-veterans-and-their-families

Being a First Aider for someone’s mental health can change — and even save — a life.

08/12/2026

Co-founder, Jeremy has a message: When a man says, “I’m just so tired,” it may be worth listening a little more closely.

Sometimes “tired” means more than lack of sleep. It can mean overwhelmed, burned out, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or carrying more than he knows how to put into words.

Men are often taught to push through, stay productive, and keep moving. That can make it harder to recognize when stress has crossed the line from manageable to unsustainable.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to check in.