Practice Information
Where Are You Located?
Individual and couples therapy sessions can be either online or in-person at our office location.
What is A Free Initial Phone Consultation?
I am so glad you asked. Therapy works best when you and the therapist are a ‘good fit.’ Being a ‘good fit’ relates to whether the therapist can provide the support that you need and desire. Rest assured, if we are not a good fit – I have colleagues throughout Colorado who may be able to help you, and I am happy to refer you to them.
Why Did You Choose To Become A Therapist?
That’s a big question! I was in a severe car accident in 2009. There was a lot of speech and physical therapy involved – this directed me to the ‘helping profession.’
After I started volunteering at various organizations, I came across the social work profession, and from there, my interest in therapy and supporting people experiencing challenges took off.
What is Your Clinical Training?
I received my master’s in social work from the University of Denver in 2017 and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Colorado. My clinical training was in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. I am currently in my EMDR certification process and have started Somatic Experiencing at the Somatic Experiencing Institute created by Peter Levine. I received additional clinical trainings in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
What if I Can’t Do Therapy During the Week?
No problem. We know life is busy and needs some level of flexibility. At this time we offer therapy sessions in South Denver on both Saturdays and Sundays to meet people’s needs and availability.
What Are Your Office Hours?
Monday – Friday: 9am – 9pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 9pm
How Long is A Typical Session?
Therapy sessions are usually 50 minutes in length. If you would like 75-minute sessions, there will be an additional cost. Some people like these sessions because it gives more time to learn different skills and/or process through past issues. Group sessions tend to be approximately 45-50 minutes in length.
Private pay rate to:
- 50 minute individual session 175
- 90 minute individual session 225
- 50 minute couples session 210
Can I Cancel An Appointment? Do You Have A Cancellation Policy?
What Client Population Do You Usually Work With?
My target population are adults 18 years and older. I enjoy working with people who are interested in the benefits of therapy and those who know they need therapy and are committed to the therapeutic process. There is no age limit when thinking about engaging in therapy. Older adults can still benefit from mental health therapy.
What Do I Do To Get Started?
Leave me a form submission or a confidential voicemail at (720) 295-6703, and I will respond within two business hours. I will create a profile for you and send you consent forms to complete.
Payment Information
How Do I Pay?
You can set up payments directly through the Electronic Health Record that I use. Credit, Debit, or HSAs are payment options.
Can I Use My HSA Card to Pay for Therapy in Denver?
Yes! At Revitalize Mental Health PLLC, we accept credit card, debit card, HSA and FSA cards for payment methods.
What is the Cost of Therapy In Denver?
The investment for a therapy appointments range from $175 for individuals to $210 for couples.
Do You Accept Insurance?
I do not accept insurance. There are various reasons for this. Your therapy treatment remains your treatment and is confidential. There is no limit on the number of therapy sessions you can receive and no breaks in therapy if there are insurance billing issues.
Services Provided
How Does Acceptance in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Work?
One of the six pillars of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is acceptance. In ACT, acceptance is not a passive approach to life but an active, come-what-may stance that we use to approach challenges. Acceptance may sound easy but this skill builds on being able to hold stress and mental health challenges while simultaneously living out identified values in life.
How Does a Person Live Out Their Values?
One of the six pillars of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) relates to identifying personal ‘values.’ Values, as defined by ACT, relates to engaging in activities that you can progress further in or deeper into on a daily, weekly, or yearly basis. For example, love for a partner. There is, usually, always more love to give. Thus, how one lives out their values will depend on each person and their culture.
Can CBT Therapy Help Insomnia?
Research indicates that CBT is effective in the treatment of insomnia. CBT targets both cognitive thought processes as well as behavioral interventions to reduce insomnia related to issues. The cognitive based interventions will target thought distortions and inaccurate thoughts about self throughout therapy. On the other hand, behavioral interventions will highlight where changes can be made in one’s life, i.e. increasing overall activity during the day, decreasing amounts of oversleeping or napping, etc.
What is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)?
CPTSD forms (typically) from enduring exposure to traumatic events in childhood. These traumatic events then create structural changes in brain development; negative worldviews; challenges with emotion and nervous system regulation; influence behavioral challenges; and chronic health issues.
Is Cognitive Processing Therapy Effective in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Yes, the research evidence supports Cognitive Processing Therapy’s (CPT) effectiveness in healing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CPT works well when targeting specific traumatic events that have led to PTSD symptoms. It is a manualized therapeutic modality that uses daily worksheets to shift a person’s cognitions and beliefs.
What Are the Benefits of EMDR Therapy in South Denver?
An EMDR therapist in South Denver can support someone with healing from a wide array of challenges. EMDR research indicates that this form of psychotherapy can be beneficial in healing past trauma; resolving high levels of stored stress in the body and nervous system; addiction challenges; anxiety; depression; and self-harm/suicidal thoughts (if they are influenced by challenges with self-esteem). A skilled EMDR therapist can help resolve many different mental health symptoms.
What Are EMDR Therapy Intensives Near Denver, CO?
EMDR intensives are designed to offer a more intense treatment dose of EMDR therapy in a short time frame. EMDR intensives work best with one to two traumatic events versus prolonged childhood trauma.
How To Find the Best EMDR Therapist Near Me?
The easiest way to locate a great EMDR therapist is by starting with a google search. But don’t stop there. Most trauma therapists offer a free consultation. I encourage you to use this. In the call, you can ask the therapist questions you have, inquire about their experience level and training, and if they think they can help you heal.
Is Online EMDR Therapy Effective?
Believe it or not – virtual EMDR therapy is just as effective as in-person EMDR therapy. Save the commute or find the best therapist you match with and connect online via a secure HIPPA connection.
What Can I Expect Between EMDR therapy sessions?
Every person is different and may experience more or less continued reprocessing between EMDR sessions. Some people will notice the EMDR reprocessing continues for a day to a number of days after the EMDR therapy session. Others may not experience anything at all. No matter the person, Phase II of EMDR therapy is tailored to increase a person’s ability to manage continued reprocessing.
What Are the Negative Effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocess (EMDR) Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a great therapy to facilitate healing from past traumas and other mental health illnesses. Some of the side effects of EMDR may include: experiencing emotions, feeling overwhelmed, having vivid nightmares, or increases in dissociation. Many of the side effects of EMDR come once reprocessing memories has started. A lot of the prep work that goes into starting the reprocessing phase works to limit these side effects and teach you how to manage these challenges should they arise. The overall outcome of EMDR therapy – healing, greatly outweighs the risks associated with engaging in EMDR or not doing it in general.
What is the Adaptive Information Process Theory?
Adaptive Information Process (AIP) Theory is one of the basis of EMDR therapy. It posits that our bodies and nervous systems are naturally designed to heal. However, trauma and stressful overwhelm can create toxicity within the nervous system that then creates symptoms of mental health and trauma symptoms. By engaging in Bilateral Stimulation (eye movements or tapping), EMDR restarts the AIP system that sometimes becomes stalled after a traumatic event is experienced.
Can Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE) and EMDR Therapy be Combined?
Yes, SE and EMDR are both bottom-up forms of therapy that help people heal from various mental health, chronic stress, and nervous system functioning challenges. They can be combined to support one’s overall healing and recovery from past traumatic experiences. Before engaging in SE and/or EMDR your therapist will explain how and why these forms of therapy may be beneficial to support your recovery.
How Does Somatic Experiencing Therapy Work?
Somatic Experiencing was designed by Peter Levine. It is based off of evolutionary responses that have evolved over the millennia. It empathizes awareness of the mind-body connection and completing and/or discharging traumatic energy which is often stored in our nervous system once the actual, traumatic situation has ended. By discharging this energy, then mental health symptoms typically decrease in frequency and intensity.
What’s the Difference Between Individual Counseling and Individual Therapy?
Individual counseling services are typically associated with ‘talking through’ stressors and past life events with a counselor. This can be very free flowing. Individual therapy differs in that it is more structured and targeted for specific symptoms, i.e. trauma, anxiety, and depression treatment.
Do I Need Individual Therapy?
This is a highly personalized question. At times, a person can sense of feel that seeing a therapist may be beneficial for their life. Other times, people around us may suggest we seek therapy. It is important to reflect on this question and do an honest internal inventory of the challenges you experience in life. Some of these problems may be one offs and be nothing, other times, some of the issues we struggle with continue to repeat overtime.
How Long Does Individual Therapy Take near South Denver?
Engaging in one on one therapy is a unique process for every individual. There is no set time that results can be guaranteed. This is why the therapist and client need to discuss progress and overall functioning on a regular basis. If progress is not being made, this may be a reason to discuss looking for a different therapist near you. Sometimes, a person’s challenges are complex, and it does take time to make progress. Some people can be in individual therapy and notice changes within a few months. Others may be in therapy for years. It just depends. But having regular conversations with your therapist around this is crucial.
How Does Individual Therapy Work Near the Denver Tech Center?
Great question. Most therapists near the Denver Tech Center offer free consultations to ensure a goodness of fit. After the person and therapist agree to move forward, the therapist will conduct an initial assessment to collect historical data and formulate treatment targets for therapy. As one-on-one therapy progresses the now client and therapist will review progress, treatment gains, and assess for improvements in functioning. There is not set amount of time for someone to be in therapy.
What Are the Two Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)?
Some professionals utilize different terminology when referencing TBIs and how they were acquired. There to two different ways to refer to TBIs – one way is TBI and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Essentially, a TBI is caused from external forces whereas the ABI is due to internal causes. Secondly, TBIs can be differentiated between penetrating and non-penetrating TBIs as well.
Mental Health Therapy
Do I Need Therapy?
Sometimes our loved ones suggest that we start therapy. Sometimes, it is court ordered. Other times, we notice negative patterns in our lives that just seem to repeat themselves and we don’t know why. All of these can be reasons to begin therapy. However, therapy is most effective when you have identified an issue or issues you want to change and have the resolve to see the process though. Therapy can take time.
How Do I Find an Effective Mental Health Therapist?
Finding a therapist that someone you know and trust uses is a great and easy way to locate a clinician to support you. Otherwise, googling ‘best therapist near me’ or ‘therapy near me’ can drum up multiple options. It is important to utilize a free consultation to ensure you and the therapist can work together well.
What’s the Best Therapy for Anxiety Symptoms?
Great question! Many therapies have been shown to reduce anxiety related symptoms. Some therapies that can offer anxiety solutions include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and EMDR therapy.
What is Nervous System Dysregulation?
Our nervous system has many different states. When we feel safe and connected to ourselves and others we are in what is called a ‘ventral state.’ After people or children experience trauma or stressors, their nervous systems’ can become dysregulated. These challenging experiences affect the nervous by creating either a fight/flight response or a collapse/freeze response. Fight/flight is also known as the sympathetic state whereas the collapse/freeze response is known as the dorsal state.
Can Mental Health Therapy Decrease Suicidal Thoughts?
In most cases, yes. Working with a trained mental health therapist can decrease overall suicidal ideation. The important factor to work on in therapy is to identify the ‘function’ of suicide in the person’s life. Is it form of control? Avoidance? Escape?
What is Present-Moment Focus?
Present-moment focus is another pillar of ACT therapy. This skill’s focus in noticing internal sensations as they arise and increasing one’s ability to describe these experiences without judgment. These internal shifts can be useful in identifying nervous system state changes and shifts in our emotions.
What is Dual Awareness?
Dual Awareness is a skill that underpins EMDR desensitizing – the fourth phase of EMDR therapy. This skill essentially teaches a person to pay attention to the present tapping or eye movements in session while also noticing a past traumatic and/or stressful memory. Dual awareness protects a person and their nervous system from dropping into dysregulation. The skill of dual awareness thus helps to keep an individual to maintain their window of tolerance.
Why is Patience Important in Therapy?
Therapy is not a quick fix. People can and should be enthusiastic about healing in therapy. Many factors go into the process of therapy and this process can’t be rushed. Patience is an important aspect here. If therapy moves too quickly, a person’s nervous system and/or emotions can become dysregulated, which can actually impede therapeutic progress. Slow and steady wins the race, especially in trauma therapy.
What Are Cognitive Distortions?
Cognitive distortions relate to cognitive behavioral types of therapy and are patterns of thinking that develop over time. Often, these patterns of thinking stem from automatic and intermediate thoughts about oneself as well as core beliefs of how someone sees themselves. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) itself, works to help create more balanced thoughts about oneself and others in the world, while also paying attention to behavioral actions that move someone in positive directions.
How Do We Make Our Thoughts More Accurate?
Forms of cognitive behavioral therapy can help create more accurate thoughts to include – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. These forms of therapy will help to develop a person’s ability to evaluate evidence to inform decision making and future behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapies help people to bring attention to their thought processes and notice how these thoughts then impact one’s actions.
What is Emotional Reasoning?
Emotional reasoning occurs when people make decisions based off of emotion and not include logical facts. This can cause problems in life as people’s emotions are never constant and fluctuate. In some cases, people can make semi-accurate decisions when emotions are stable; however once emotions shift their decision making capacity can become problematic.
How Do I Manage Stress
Stress is a natural, evolutionary response. There are two different forms of stress. One is eustress – this form of stress occurs when a coach or mentor challenges us to grow. The other form of stress is distress which can negatively impact our functioning and health. In short, eustress is positive, and distress is negative in life.
How to Decrease Self-Harming Thoughts?
Self-harming thoughts can be highly uncomfortable and intrusive. Engaging in CBT, ACT, Somatic Experiencing (SE) Therapy, or EMDR therapy can help decrease both the frequency and intensity of these thoughts. SE and EMDR therapies can be especially effective if self-harming thoughts are symptoms of a low self-worth, esteem, and/or past trauma.
Is Online Therapy in Colorado Effective?
Online individual therapy exploded during the COVID pandemic. Research indicates that virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy. Additionally, online therapy can be much more convenient than having to deal with a commute to the therapy office for in-person sessions. However, we also provide one on one therapy in-person as well.
What are Ego States?
Every person is made up of parts of self. These parts form over time and are sometimes easily identifiable, other times, they are not. Ego states approach to work break parts of self in to two main categories. We have the Apparently Normal Parts (ANPs) that help us navigate our day-to-day needs/demands. We also have Emotional Parts (EPs) that carry intense emotions when they arise. Engaging and soothing EPs can be a crucial step to support EMDR desensitization.
What Are the Primary Attachment Styles?
There are four primary attachment styles. These include secure, anxious-preoccupied, avoidant, and disorganized. Attachment styles typically form between birth and two to three years of age. A secure attachment is comfortable when their caregivers are and aren’t around. An anxious-preoccupied attachment pattern results in a child worrying their caregivers may leave at some point in the future. An avoidant attachment style is exactly as it sounds. Children with this attachment style do not seek out comfort from caregivers. A disorganized attachment style is one that fluctuates between these styles with no pattern to ascertain.
What’s the Difference Between Grounding and Mindfulness Skills?
Grounding interventions are typically short-term in length and in-the-moment exercises. Mindfulness is more a routine practice. Both skills can help to stabilize one’s mood, nervous system, and/or mental health symptoms. Grounding skills can be utilized in mindfulness practices.
How Do I Manage Depressive Symptoms?
Depression symptoms can ruin a person’s life. It’s important to remember that our behaviors often influence our thoughts and mood. Even though it seems daunting, pushing yourself to get out of bed or do something new, etc. can go a long way in shifting low levels of motivation and negative thoughts about oneself. There is no shame in asking for help from friends for family or searching ‘individual therapy near me’ online to find a local therapist for support.
What is Breadcrumbing?
When referencing relationship dynamics, breadcrumbing relates to entertaining or slowly leading a person on to keep their overall interest alive without any real intention to grow the relationship or connection to a deeper level.
