Transformative Coaching for Leaders, First Responders & Humans Doing Their Best.
Hi, I’m Rick Ruppenthal – Transformative Coach, Mental Health Educator, and Mental Health Thought Leader.
After more than 30 years as a paramedic and EMS leader, I’ve seen something most people miss:
We don’t need more labels, more pressure, or more “fixing.” We need a clearer understanding of how the mind really works.
My work is about helping you see that for yourself—so you can move through life with more clarity, ease, and confidence than you might think is possible right now.
“Comfort lies not in the absence of fear but in dancing with it as you forge ahead into the unknown. Every step taken in uncertainty is a testament to your bravery.”
A Different Conversation About Mental Health
You’ve probably been told that stress, burnout, anxiety, or low mood are problems to manage or fight.
I see it differently.
At the heart of my coaching is a simple, hopeful premise:
You are not broken. You are experiencing your thinking.
When we understand that our moment-to-moment experience is created from the inside out, something profound shifts. The mind settles. Perspective widens. New options appear.
This isn’t positive thinking or a mindset hack. It’s a deeper understanding of your built-in clarity and resilience. I have helped countless individuals move from stress and overthinking to clarity and ease.
Who I Work With
I work with people who are ready for a genuine shift, including:
Executives and leaders navigating complexity, responsibility, and constant demand
First responders and frontline professionals who live with high stakes and high stress
Individuals at a crossroads who feel called to change direction or reclaim themselves
If you’re tired of coping strategies and are looking for something simpler and deeper, we’ll probably work well together.
How We Work Together
1. Private Transformational Coaching
One-to-one conversations that help you see beyond overthinking, self-doubt, and old stories. We’re not fixing you—we’re uncovering what’s already healthy, wise, and steady within you.
2. Executive Leadership Coaching
For leaders who want a quieter mind, clearer decisions, and a more grounded presence. When you understand how your mind works, you lead from wisdom instead of pressure—and everything else benefits.
3. Unbroken Hero Project
My dedicated work with first responders and trauma-affected individuals, helping them rediscover their innate resilience and strength, even in the face of what they’ve seen and lived through.
What People Often Notice
After this kind of inside-out exploration, people commonly report:
Less stress and mental noise
Greater resilience and ease
Clearer thinking under pressure
More presence in relationships
A renewed sense of purpose and possibility
The quiet relief of realizing: “There was nothing wrong with me after all.”
An Invitation
If something in this speaks to you—even quietly— I’d be happy to explore it together.
No pressure. No fixing. No performance required. Just a real conversation about what might be possible for you.
Hallmark Christmas movies may be predictable, but they’re accidentally brilliant teachers. This playful reflection explores how the Ladder of Inference quietly drives misunderstandings in holiday romance classics and in our own lives. A lighthearted reminder that clarity changes everything, often without effort.
Lawyers in Suits climb the Ladder of Inference on purpose — it’s literally their job. But in real life, we climb it accidentally, and that’s where the trouble begins. This short follow-up explores why legal reasoning works in courtrooms but creates chaos in personal relationships, and how seeing the ladder helps us make clearer, wiser choices.
The Ladder of Inference Creates Bad Judgements and Suits Proves It Every Episode
We’ve been binge-watching Suits, and it turns out the show is a masterclass in spotting the Ladder of Inference. Harvey, Louis, Mike, Donna, Gretchen — each gives us a front-row seat to how quickly we can jump to conclusions and act on assumptions. This blog explores the ladder, why we all climb it, and how to step off it with more clarity and insight.
You have a great knack of asking the right questions at the right time. Really has gotten me to look deep and understand my relationships better. Stuff still happens and I’m loving it! M. F.
What a blessing in my life. I learned a great deal from you, especially your calm demeanor. I am grateful that I could call on you in times of confusion and needing assistance. You are a shining example to me! DM, Director
A great coach shows up empty to a powerful conversation, listens without judgment, and guides people to discover their insights. Rick Ruppenthal is that great coach. I have the extreme pleasure of being coached by Rick. In our coaching conversations, I experience insight after insight. To help me deeply understand how coaching works in my life, he expertly uses props and metaphors, i.e., snow globes, a piece of plexiglass, drawing ladders to show how stories are created by our thoughts, telling stories about Monks, riverbanks, fishing, traffic light, etc. All these actions demonstrate his patience with me to go deep within myself. I am at the stage now where I think before I act instead of acting and regretting. Writing these words will not do justice to describing Rich as a coach; experiencing his coaching will. I recommend, no, I highly recommend Rick as your personal coach; however, you won’t know the true value he could bring to your life until you meet with him one on one.
Thank you so much! Yesterday you not only boosted my confidence , you helped me get clarity about the way forward for me. Amazing interaction. God Bless you coach ~ S.P.