Hi, my name is Dr. Mike Ferguson, I am a Psychologist, Suicidologist, and a Mental and Emotional Health Skills Coach (What is this, click the link to find out more).

Family/Personal

I live in Springfield, MO with my wife Nancy who is a Professional Cake Designer, my best friend and who I have been married to since 1982. We have two adult children and one amazing Granddaughter! Life has been anything but easy as Nancy and I cared for her parents and my parents at our home until their recent deaths.

We are and have always been dog lovers and currently enjoy having a 75 lb. standard poodle/schnauzer mix named Yogi (named after the great Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra), and two Italian Greyhounds, a Mom and Son family, Summer and Sonny.

We were honored to live and work in the nation's largest city New York City for over 15 years, and as a result of living in the Bronx, are passionate New York Yankee fans.

Professionally

After graduating with a B.S. in Human Development, a M.S. in Clinical Psychology, I finished my academic career with a PhD in Psychology, with post graduate training in Suicidology (the advanced study in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention). I am a certified trainer in:

  • Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid
  • Psychological Autopsy
  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training
  • Suicide to Hope (S2H)
  • ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
  • C.A.L.M. (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means)
  • Zero Suicide-Informed Clinical Care (Youth): Best Practice Suicide Management, Assessment, and Intervention
  • Trauma Responsive and Informed Counseling
  • Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God
  • An Active Member of the American Association of Suicidology

In 2001 I founded and currently serve as President and CEO of KidCare America, Inc., a Mentoring After-School Program for kids at-risk in communities across America

In 2015 I founded and currently Serve as President and CEO, as well as, Clinical Director of a Teen TXT Crisis Line, who provide trained Text Counselors to teens, young adults, and adults who might be in emotional crisis a safe and non-judgmental place to text through their smartphones to get help for an emotional and suicidal crisis, 7 days a week, 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. CST.

I have served as an adjunct Professor of Psychology since 2004 and am currently teaching at two local universities.

My current job is a Public Mental Health Practitioner equipping ordinary people across the United States to be Emotional Skilled Helpers, become certified in Emotional First Aid, and Suicide Prevention First Aid, and provide training in the Life Coping School through Online Lessons on a variety of topics, helping those in a mental health, emotional, or suicidal crisis, how to cope with something none of us are excused from, Life's Challenges. In addition, as a Public Mental Health Practitioner, through speaking events, online education, and social media, I am seeking to bring attention to mental health issues, the public health epidemic of Suicide, and to show individuals self-help approaches to dealing with emotional upset and crisis.

I provide personally directed help to those who desire a Mental Health Skills Coach by connecting them through Email, Instant Message, Text, and via Phone for personal Mental Health Skills Coaching (click to learn more)

Why am I Leading the Life Coping School and Providing Mental and Emotional Health Skills Coaching?

  1. I believe that ordinary people can be trained to help those facing an emotional or suicidal crisis and in doing so we can reduce mental illness and reduce suicide death among teens, young adults and adults.
  2. If we can help individuals who are facing an emotional crisis and that crisis is processed in a healthy way, we can potentially prevent mental illness.
  3. Proactive help seeking behavior by someone who is facing an emotional or mental health crisis isn't readily available to the general population and through the Life Coping School, coping skills that help individual's live an emotional healthy life is a felt-need in our nation.
  4. Accessibility, through technology such as email, Instant Message, text, and video chat, can provide mental health skill coaches to those who would prefer not to let anyone know they are seeking emotional help from a professional mental health skills coach that will help them work through a season in their life when long-term therapy isn't always needed.
  5. The majority of the emotional and mental health crises we face is based on dysfunctional coping skills and if functional coping skills are learned, mental health balance, and emotional crisis will be deflated, saving many from suffering because of life's challenges.

I am convinced, that with some learned coping skills, and if needed, a Mental and Emotional Health Skills Coach, the confusion, hurt, anxiety, depression, and the ability to function at a great level will be part of your bright future.

For more information Email Me or text me at 417-501-9662.