SIERRA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

What SIERRA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE does

Sierra Education and Research Institute (SERI) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 20-0391642) founded in 2003 by Dr. Jana Price-Sharps (EdD, President) and Dr. Matthew Sharps (PhD, Board Member). The organization develops and delivers wrap-around therapeutic mental health programs for first responders (fire service, law enforcement, EMS), combat veterans, active military personnel, and their families. Its service portfolio comprises eight core offerings: the SERI Resiliency and Reframing Retreat (the flagship program, offered in 3-day solo to 14-day group formats), Individual Therapy, Individual Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Family/Marital Therapy, Individual Intensive Retreats, Intensive Group Retreats, Critical Incident Stress Debriefings, and Wellness Check-Ins. Services are grounded in the clinical application of cognitive science and neuroscience research, with curriculum focus areas including cognitive restructuring, fight-or-flight response management, and mood regulation strategies targeting PTSD, PTSI, depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and nightmares. Services are delivered by licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and trained interns, available both in-person (California) and via telehealth.

SERI operates a hybrid revenue model combining professional services fees (therapy, retreats; insurance reimbursement via specific providers), tax-deductible individual donations (monthly tiers $5-$500, annual tiers $100-$500, processed through Stripe), and a $6,000-per-participant sponsorship program enabling donors to fund a veteran or first responder's retreat attendance. The organization's go-to-market is sales-led and community-driven, relying on its website (serinstitute.org), direct outreach, insurance provider relationships, and a strategic referral partnership with the Paramedic Resilience Society (a Fresno-based 501(c)(3) supporting paramedics and EMTs). SERI maintains a single mailing address in Clovis, California, and operates with approximately 10 employees, with no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, funding rounds, patents, or AI/ML technology stack.

Name

SIERRA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Legal name

Sierra Education and Research Institute

Website

https://serinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sierra Education and Research Institute (SERI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that provides mental health programs and therapeutic retreats for first responders, veterans, EMS personnel, and their families, applying cognitive science and neuroscience research to treatment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Therapy Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Telepsychiatry & Care Coordination Platforms (HLALAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Psychiatry & Medication Management (EDALAFAC), Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH)

Keywords

• First responder therapy
• Veteran mental health
• Trauma counseling services
• PTSD treatment programs
• Crisis debriefing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Services: Fees for individual therapy, family/marital therapy, intensive outpatient treatment, and retreat programs. Costs vary based on group or individual participation with group discounts available.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations (EIN 20-0391642) processed via Stripe. Monthly and annual donation options ranging from $5 to $500.
3. Sponsorships: $6,000 sponsorship program for sponsoring a veteran or first responder to attend the Resiliency Retreat.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SERI provides therapeutic mental health services to first responders, veterans, and their families, including individual therapy, family/marital therapy, intensive outpatient treatment, and intensive group retreats. The flagship offering is the Resiliency and Reframing Retreat, a science-based program built on clinical application of cognitive science and neuroscience research. Services are delivered in-person and via telehealth by licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and trained interns.

Product overview

SIERRA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SERI) is a therapeutic services organization founded in 2003, offering a comprehensive portfolio of mental health and wellness programs for first responders, veterans, and their families. The core offering is the SERI Resiliency and Reframing Retreat program, which provides science-based therapeutic retreats based on cognitive science and neuroscience research. Complementing the retreat program are clinical services including Individual Therapy, Individual Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Family/Marital Therapy, Individual Intensive Retreats, Intensive Group Retreats, Critical Incident Stress Debriefings, and Wellness Check-Ins. Services are provided by licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and trained interns, with both in-person and telehealth options available for most services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SERI Resiliency and Reframing Retreat A science-based therapeutic retreat program for first responders and veterans, based on clinical application of cutting-edge research in cognitive science and neuroscience. Retreats range from 3-day solo to 14-day group sessions, addressing PTSD, trauma, and work-related mental health issues through cognitive restructuring, fight-or-flight response management, and mood regulation strategies.
• Individual Therapy Specialized counseling tailored for first responders and veterans, addressing unique challenges, trauma, and stress they face, promoting individual growth and resilience. Available in-person and via telehealth.
• Individual Intensive Outpatient Treatment Comprehensive outpatient support for veterans and first responders, combining evidence-based practices with individualized care, facilitating a robust recovery without the need for hospitalization. Available in-person and via telehealth.
• Family/Marital Therapy Strengthens family and marital bonds by addressing the specific challenges faced by first responders and veterans. Improves communication, understanding, and support within the family unit. Available in-person and via telehealth.
• Individual Intensive Retreats Personalized therapeutic retreats tailored for first responders and veterans, providing an immersive healing experience in a serene environment, focusing on deep self-reflection and recovery.
• Intensive Group Retreats Group-based therapeutic retreats for veterans and first responders, fostering a sense of community and shared healing, facilitated by experienced mental health professionals.
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefings Immediate post-incident support for first responders and veterans, helping them process traumatic experiences, reducing the risk of post-traumatic stress and promoting mental well-being.
• Wellness Check-Ins Regular mental health assessments for veterans and first responders, ensuring their psychological well-being is maintained, and providing early interventions when necessary.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction in panic attacks and anxiety symptoms reported by retreat participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Paramedic Resilience SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParamedic Resilience Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting current and former paramedics and EMTs facing hardships due to illness, injury and death. They provide financial assistance and scholarships to aspiring and advancing EMTs. Their flagship store, Resuscitated, is a marketplace and thrift boutique in Fresno, California, with proceeds supporting their mission. The partnership provides mutual referral pathways and community support for shared populations served.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boulder Crest Foundation: Boulder Crest Foundation operates multi-day retreats for combat veterans and first responders focused on PTSD recovery, recovery, and resilience. It is the closest direct peer to SERI's Resiliency and Reframing Retreat model.
• Safe Call Now: Safe Call Now is a 24/7 crisis helpline for first responders, public safety employees, and their families, addressing the same occupational mental health population SERI serves.
• Cop2Cop: Cop2Cop is a New Jersey-based 24/7 peer support crisis line staffed by retired law enforcement officers for active and retired police, directly parallel to SERI's law enforcement trauma services.
• Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance: FBHA provides behavioral health support and training specifically to firefighters and their families, addressing occupational trauma comparable to SERI's first-responder focus.
• Give an Hour: Give an Hour is a nonprofit network providing free mental health services to military, veterans, and first responders, sharing SERI's wrap-around, no-cost-to-client delivery model and target population.

Regional players

• Bob Woodruff Foundation: Bob Woodruff Foundation funds veteran mental health programs and providers focused on invisible injuries like PTSD and TBI, serving as a complementary funder and indirect comparator to SERI's retreat model.

Broad incumbents

• Talkspace: Talkspace is a nationwide telehealth therapy platform that accepts insurance and serves individuals with trauma, anxiety, and PTSD — overlapping with SERI's telehealth therapy and intensive outpatient offerings.
• BetterHelp: BetterHelp operates a scaled online therapy platform with broad consumer reach and subscription pricing, representing the mainstream telehealth competitor that SERI's therapy services compete against for patient attention.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Wounded Warrior Project is a large national nonprofit offering mental health, peer support, and rehabilitation programs to post-9/11 veterans, positioning it as a scaled incumbent in SERI's veteran segment.
• Headspace Health: Headspace Health offers scaled mental health and teletherapy services through employer and health plan channels, including programs for first responders and veterans — a broad incumbent with partial overlap to SERI's offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sierra-education-and-research-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIERRA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE