Thank you for visiting my profile page! I’d like to share a little bit about myself, and I know that selecting a counselor is an important decision. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2001, and I have worked with clients from diverse backgrounds with many different challenges and concerns. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from the University of Colorado. I’m also working on a PhD in Psychology at Northcentral University. In addition to my clinical work, I also enjoy teaching psychology classes at our Community College. Personally, I’m a native of Colorado, and I absolutely love the outdoors and nature. I enjoy hiking, reading, painting and playing with our dog, Luna. Perhaps you can meet her online! I also love to travel with my husband. My philosophy in counseling is to meet my clients where they are and discover the strengths they have to help them make the changes they want to make. In my experience, people come to counseling because something needs to change, and maybe they’re feeling stuck. They may want to change how they feel, how they behave, or how they think about things. I take a compassionate and practical approach to counseling, which enables clients to see results quickly. I believe that what happens between sessions is as important as what happens in sessions, and I give clients tools to put into practice right away. I view the counseling relationship as a collaboration with you, and YOU are the expert in your life. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves”. Viktor Frankl My specialties and experience include work with clients on decreasing depression and anxiety, overcoming trauma, and improving self-esteem and confidence. I have also worked successfully with many clients to change habits and behaviors that are not serving them. This includes substance use disorders and other addictions (e.g. gambling, eating, shopping, etc.). I also have experience working with first responders (law enforcement, fire, and paramedics) and their families. Often, relationships are also part of the reason for seeking counseling, and I have specialized training and experience in helping people communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts, and become more assertive, personally, and professionally. Finally, my work with clients is often during times of grief and loss or transition in their lives, and I help people see the opportunities in change, even when the change is unwelcome or even scary. My Approach: I have training and experience in a variety of approaches to work with clients. I believe that counseling interventions should be solidly grounded in research. I like to use these approaches: * Cognitive -Behavioral Therapy * Dialectical Behavior Therapy * Solution Focused Therapy * Meaningful Life Therapy * Existential Psychology * Mindfulness-Based Interventions * Acceptance & Commitment Therapy * Japanese/Eastern Approaches to wellness (e.g. Morita Therapy) Seeking help takes courage and I commend you for taking this step! I would be honored to work with you as you take the next steps in your journey! -Lisa