Denver Psychologists and Therapists at The Colorado Center

Anger is such a powerful emotion-motivating us to make changes, voice our opinion, stand up for ourselves or others, and increase our self-awareness. Sometimes anger can feel overwhelming and out of control, which can lead to either an explosive outburst or a suppression of it depending on how we perceive the consequences of expressing it. I can help you find ways to recognize the situations, thoughts and feelings that may invite anger to visit. Using tools such as mindfulness skills and other skills found in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, you can find ways to allow yourself to experience and express anger in a constructive way. Sometimes I work with anger from a systems perspective, especially with expectations about how men or women are "supposed" to express anger (I will share Harriett Lerner's story about her Dance of Anger book and what she really wanted to call it). I can help you explore what gets in the way of feeling and expressing this powerful emotion effectively-to overcome or deal with others' reactions and to get your needs met.

anxiety

While worry can sometimes be a helpful motivator in our lives, there are times when the worry gets so big that it just gets in the way of accomplishing our goals. I can actually help make the worry work for you rather than against you, by helping you understand the real source of the worry, identifying what reduces it, and creating an action plan. We can work from a mindfulness approach, use cognitive-behavioral tools, or experiential strategies-whichever fits best. I collaborate with you to help you find relief from the time spent constantly managing your anxiety.

attention, focus, & ADHD

As our education system and our culture demands greater focus and attention (while simultaneously generating more distractors with our media and devices), many clients ask for help with their (or their children's) ability to sustain attention and focus. Many clients wonder if they have ADHD, or (if they have been diagnosed) wonder how to improve their attention and focus with a behavioral intervention.

In order to effectively improve attention and focus, I first work with you in the initial sessions to assess the root of your attentional difficulties. Some clients are surprised to discover these factors and influences. Once those have been identified, I provide some personal strategies for you to increase your ability to focus. You may benefit from simple changes in your routine or organization, or you may benefit from incorporating new daily practices (such as short mindfulness practices, or changes in diet, exercise, or sleep habits). Other clients may discover issues they may not have been aware are contributing to distractibility (such as depression, anxiety, or work or school environment, for example), and may benefit from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or other behavioral strategies.

If your child is experiencing ADHD or other symptoms, we will first work to assess the root of the attentional issues, and then devise behavioral strategies for home and school, and discuss ways to include school and other systems in a treatment plan.

career development

Vocational psychology has a rich history in increasing life satisfaction through a better person-environment fit. Whether you are searching for ways to become a more effective leader, advance your current career, or explore a vocational calling, I can work with you to help you feel more enriched by your work life.

If you feel burned out or dissatisfied with your work (or other parts of your life), you can improve your well-being by exploring alternate career paths and expanding your choices. By exploring interests, abilities and values through research-based assessments and collaborative work together in session, I can help you rediscover meaning in your work life. Some of the assessment tools we can choose from are: The Strong Interest Inventory, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Self-Directed Search.

If you want to improve your leadership abilities, become more effective in your work relationships, and perhaps advance your existing career, I incorporate research in creativity (such as Teresa Amabile's work at Harvard) and emotional intelligence (such as Daniel Goleman's work) to coach clients in finding more effective strategies to succeed.

child & teen therapy

A struggling child can be one of the greatest challenges of parenting, but their struggling can also lead to growth and resilience. Sometimes we forget that children aren't always able to tell us that something is wrong, and instead they might act in ways that cause their parents to struggle. Whether your child has worries about school, friends, life at home, changes in the family, or whether your child seems to be acting differently (withdrawn, acting out, not sleeping or eating well), we can work together to help them feel better and enjoy more of their childhood.

Adolescence is a time of exploration, self-discovery, and pushing limits - which can sometimes escalate quickly to extremely frustrating or dangerous levels. On the other hand, sometimes teenagers can become more withdrawn, and don't share much about their lives with their parents. I can help them find more effective ways to express their needs and feelings. Please see my child & teen therapy page for more information.

couples therapy & relationship conflict

Conflict in relationships is inevitable, but how we repair those conflicts and find ways to discuss our needs more effectively can make our relationships much more satisfying. By using research-based interventions developed by John Gottman, Ph.D., I work with couples at any stage of their relationship to increase effective communication, decrease emotional flooding, repair conflict, and learn strategies to build a more sound relationship "house." Many times couples find that their individual dreams are in conflict in their relationship, and working in therapy (and exercises to practice at home) can help couples find the "we-ness" in their relationship again.

depression

Sadness is part of what makes us human, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming. When sadness overshadows other feelings, or changes our sleeping, appetite, energy level, and interactions with others, it might be something bigger than everyday sadness. I can help explore what might be contributing to your depression, and can help you find new ways to view and experience your thoughts, feelings, and events in your life. Using research-supported strategies such as those found in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy may be effective in helping to notice what triggers the sadness, and we might work with mind/body strategies to manage the sadness successfully when it visits.

grief & loss

Feeling any kind of loss - whether it's the death of a loved one, the loss of an important relationship, the loss of physical functioning, the loss of a role or other significant piece of our lives - is a very personal journey. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and often the complex emotions ebb and flow - sometimes hitting us unexpectedly. I can help you find good ways to honor your loss in a way that feels more complete, and learn new ways to manage the grief when it comes. With that in mind, I try to provide a supportive, safe space for you to process and integrate it into your life in a gentle way.

infertility & reproductive issues

Because it is such an intensely private experience, fertility and reproductive issues can feel isolating - as if no one else is enduring such difficulty. It can feel even more difficult when surrounded by friends and family who are having success with fertility and pregnancy. Everyone has their own reproductive story, and sometimes the story changes unexpectedly. These changes can be traumatic and can yield feelings similar to other trauma or losses - feeling alone, anxious, sad, guilty, and/or angry. These feelings can affect individual functioning as well as partner relationships, ability to focus at work, and approaching situations that may trigger the feelings (such as seeing friends who have or are having children, going to places with families/children, etc.).

I work with both women and men experiencing the loss and trauma of infertility, and offer supportive space to explore thoughts and feelings while also working to reduce stress, improve coping strategies, explore alternatives and resources.

parenting & grandparents parenting again

Only after becoming a parent have I recognized how challenging this role can be, and how difficult it can be to actually implement strategies (which sound great in theory) in the moment with a child. I work with parents to develop easy, quick, effective plans that you can readily use when problems arise with your children. I help you stay warm and empathic, while at the same time setting clear limits and boundaries, and (people often forget this next part) helping your children anticipate consequences.

If you are among the growing number of grandparents who find themselves unexpectedly parenting and raising their grandchildren, there are certainly more challenges to deal with. I have worked with many custodial grandparents individually, and in groups; and have authored a book chapter (which I'm happy to share with you) about the difficulties and special needs that parenting grandparents often experience.

areas of treatment

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anger