Therapists for college students near Denver, CO

Do your thoughts about food, exercise, or your body feel overwhelming? Do you try to control your weight as a way to feel some control over your life? Does the possibility of your body changing bring waves of guilt, shame, or fear? Are your personal standards so high that even simple tasks feel impossible? Are you constantly self-critical or on edge, with a mind that never seems quiet? If this resonates, I’m here to support you. Do your thoughts about food, exercise, or your body feel overwhelming? Do you try to control your weight as a way to feel some control over your life? Does the possibility of your body changing bring waves of guilt, shame, or fear? Are your personal standards so high that even simple tasks feel impossible? Are you constantly self-critical or on edge, with a mind that never seems quiet? If this resonates, I’m here to support you. Recovery from an eating disorder, anxiety, trauma, or depression can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it on your own. My work focuses on helping people heal their relationships with both their mind and body. Even if you feel like you’re the exception, it is possible to create a calmer, more meaningful life. I’m deeply passionate about guiding people through this process. Even if you’ve lost hope, I will hold it for you while offering a warm, non-judgmental space. I’ve seen my clients find strength in their hardest moments and achieve the lives they once thought impossible. If this description speaks to you, please reach out—I’d love to get to know you.

Dr. Tamarah Rodriguez is a retired ENT physician-turned-Psychotherapist. With more than 12 years of experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor, she has helped hundreds of adults, couples, teens, and children navigate life's challenges. She specializes in anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, relationship issues, family dynamics, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Her expansive training in various treatment models allows her to provide assertive, targeted interventions. As a multicultural therapist, Dr. Rodriguez brings a unique perspective to her practice, focusing on compassionate, evidence-based care. Understanding the diversity and complexity inherent to us all, Dr. Rodriguez tailors each approach to help guide others to enjoy their lives to the fullest. Outside of work, Dr. Rodriguez is a Dressage rider, and horses are a big passion of hers. She enjoys family time, cooking and creating recipes, dancing to tropical music, and arts and crafts. As an islander, she loves the ocean, a good laugh, and sometimes doing nothing.

Stephanie Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC), who has been practicing since 2017. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and graduated from The University of North Texas with a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Stephanie believes in meeting clients with genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy from their first meeting to their last. She encourages clients to find their own voice, reconnect with their sense of meaning, and learn ways to feel grounded. Stephanie is a certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapist and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Her main areas of focus include existential issues, emotional health, and trauma/PTSD. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys being in nature, reading fiction and nonfiction, and experimenting with new recipes.

Mei Leff, PMHNP, LPC, is a compassionate mental health provider at LifeStance Health, dedicated to serving individuals throughout Colorado. She offers a holistic approach to mental health, centered on each patient's unique cultural and social background. Mei supports adults, teens, and adolescents through a blend of medication management, therapeutic interventions, and lifestyle guidance, empowering her clients to achieve a well-rounded state of mental well-being. Mei has a strong focus on cultural adjustment and trauma-related issues, understanding the significant role that life transitions and cultural changes can play in mental health. She is particularly passionate about working with clients facing challenges such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and she tailors her care plans to each individual's needs.

Maria Esswein is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who has been practicing since August 2015. She graduated from The University of Missouri-St. Louis with a Master of Education in School Counseling. Maria believes in meeting client's where they're at, seeking to understand each individual holistically, including their backgrounds and they strengths they already possess to proivde an individualized approach. Through establishing a strong alliance, she partners with her clients to explore and address thought and behavior patterns that serve as barriers to enjoying life fully. Her main areas of focus include women's issues, grief/life adjustments, trauma, anxiety and depression. In her spare time, Maria enjoys being outside in nature, moving her body through mountain biking, hiking, weightlifting, running and kundalini yoga, spending time with friends and family who fill her heart, and exploring the depths of the spiritual being she is.

Sarah is a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adults via telehealth. She believes in being client lead. She will aim to be your partner in the counseling experience and empower you to be the expert in your own life. In your work together, you'll address many different challenges including, but not limited to: setting boundaries in relationships or work; limiting negative self-talk; meeting self-improvement and personal growth goals; adjusting to life transitions like loss or caregiving; processing current and past traumas; and recovering from domestic abuse. You'll also receive support for healthy grieving, and learn skills and strategies to manage anxiety, stress, and depression, all while feeling genuine empathy and support for your specific concerns. Sarah will tailor the techniques used to meet your unique needs and will encourage feedback from you about how you feel treatment is progressing. The modalities of treatment she uses include traditional talk therapy, Psychoeducation, Art Therapy, Meditation, Mindfulness, and EMDR. Sarah graduated with her Master's from Naropa University in 2017.

Chris is a nationally certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Licensed in the state of Colorado. He has experience in both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment and is a graduate of the CU Anschutz Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. Chris tries to meet patients where they're at and utilize shared decision-making to create a comprehensive treatment plan for mental health growth and recovery. He utilizes evidence-based medication treatment and therapeutic support while incorporating lifestyle and holistic treatments. In his spare time, Chris enjoys biking, gardening, snowboarding, spending time with family and hiking the mountains of Colorado. Chris is a nationally certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Licensed in the state of Colorado. He has experience in both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment and is a graduate of the CU Anschutz Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. Chris tries to meet patients where they're at and utilize shared decision-making to create a comprehensive treatment plan for mental health growth and recovery. He utilizes evidence-based medication treatment and therapeutic support while incorporating lifestyle and holistic treatments. In his spare time, Chris enjoys biking, gardening, snowboarding, spending time with family and hiking the mountains of Colorado.

Hi, my name is Maci Luther, and I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, anxiety, OCD, and mood disorders, including depression. I’m proud to work with adults, young adults, and children who are ready to navigate and overcome their mental health struggles, as well as with families and caregivers who are struggling to support a loved one affected by mental illness. Please reach out today for a compassionate partner in care. My therapeutic style is curious, collaborative, and warm, drawing on the most evidence-based practices, specifically Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Together, we create a treatment plan customized to you and your unique needs to ensure you always feel seen, heard, and empowered. With a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regis University, I bring both strong academic training and genuine compassion to my work. My experience spans supporting adults, young adults, and children across inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings, giving them a well-rounded understanding of the healing process at every stage. This breadth of care has deepened my commitment to meeting individuals where they are as they navigate life’s challenges.

“I feel a loss of control in my life.” “I can’t seem to prioritize my self-worth and care in relationships with others.” “I feel like I don’t have a sense of purpose or meaning in life.” “I don’t want to burden others with my problems.” If you resonate with any of these statements, I hear you. You are not alone. Seeking help is not an act of giving up; it is an act of refusing to give up. Together, we can recognize the importance of choice, accountability, and self-worth, empowering you to have more genuine experiences. If you think I would be a good fit for your therapeutic goals, please give me a call or send me a message. I look forward to hearing from you!

***We are now offering low cost and Medicaid therapy for Colorado residents through our intern program! Please inquire for details.*** Are you looking for more authentic and joyful connections in your life? Do you want to feel more like yourself and live your life with integrity and healthy boundaries? Therapy can help. As a psychologist and family therapist who has worked in college counseling centers, I provide unique perspective and expertise to help you and your loved ones achieve long-lasting change. I provide individual, couple, and family therapy in most US states. We often seek therapy when the patterns we developed as self-protection in our early relationships are no longer working. I will encourage you to honor the creativity and strength evident in how you protected yourself, while helping you develop and practice new ways of relating that are more adaptive for your current life. You can live your life with more authenticity and less shame. You can experience relationships fully and feel known for who you truly are. Clients of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to seek therapy services. Not just “regardless” of your identities – with great regard, respect, and curiosity, I welcome you to my practice.

Greetings! I provide psychotherapy for adults and I specialize in treating PTSD/trauma-related disorders, anxiety, neurodevelopment difficulties, OCD, and addiction, and have experience with a wide range of other challenges. I also offer limited clinical assessments on a case-by-case basis, including cognitive and academic functioning. I work to create space for anyone who feels I may be of some help in exploring their personal experience and challenge themselves to confront their struggles. Above all, I work collaboratively with each individual to tailor therapy for their optimal healing. My background is in clinical health psychology, so I consider factors of both body and mind throughout treatment. I integrate trauma-specific, psychodynamic, exposure, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral interventions, and incorporate neurobehavioral principles throughout. I also have considerable training in neuropsychological and psychological assessment. I see therapy as an endeavor to support others in discovering their own capacity for healing. I see human beings as complex, dynamic, multifaceted beings. Consequently, addressing mental health concerns requires robust, innovative methods for creating change. Above all, I work to support folks in finding ways to not simply address problems, but also thrive.

Is pain from your past or worries about the future making it hard to enjoy the present? Do you want to have more fulfilling relationships with others? Hi there, my name is Meg, and I am happy you found my page! My goal is to guide you in rediscovering and accepting all the parts of what makes you, you. We achieve this together through compassionate care that helps you build confidence, find your voice, and figure out what really matters to you, whether that’s in your relationships, in your work, or how you spend your time. I also help you recognize patterns you’ve been stuck in, habits that don’t serve you anymore, or ways of being that might have been passed down through family, so you can break free from those cycles. I welcome you to my therapeutic space and am excited to get to know you! My therapeutic approach creates a space where you can share your stories while feeling truly heard and understood. Together, we look at what’s working in your life and what isn’t, then figure out how to make changes that feel true to who you actually are. Part of that often means learning to let go of and/or say no to things that drain you, and yes to things that feel meaningful. In this supportive space, I incorporate techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in each of my sessions. I further tailor care to focus on skill building through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), explore patterns of behavior/change through Motivational Interviewing (MI), trauma processing with Internal Family Systems (IFS), and build tolerance with anxiety-provoking situations through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) as needed. Aside from building the tools to navigate symptoms and experiences related to mental health diagnoses, my ultimate goal is for you to feel realigned to your authentic self, to feel powerful and confident, and to find meaning in your life. Mental health wasn’t something that was prioritized or openly talked about in my family, so it wasn’t until early adulthood that I first began learning about therapy as a volunteer with AmeriCorps. My own experience in therapy eventually inspired me to become a therapist, and I’m deeply grateful for everything that journey has taught me and the ways it has given back to my life. Outside the office, you might find me wandering around a local thrift store, playing with my cat Phil, watching Survivor with my husband, drinking coffee and walking through the Botanic gardens, crocheting, or enjoying other crafty activities that help keep me balanced.

I am a patient-centered and trauma-informed clinician committed to helping adults, children, and teenagers navigate mental health struggles. I specialize in identity, trauma, and queer issues, along with self-esteem challenges, anxiety, and depression. Working together, you can expect a compassionate and collaborative environment tailored to your unique needs and preferences to ensure comprehensive, customized care. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and narrative therapy to help you explore your inner worlds. I believe in your expertise in your own life, and that will be a core part of our work together. I look forward to supporting you as you move toward healing and self-discovery. My path to becoming a therapist began with previous work in public policy and advocacy. This insightful experience deepened my commitment to providing holistic, systems-informed care, where I bring an understanding of the many systems and circumstances that impact patient lives to each session. Outside the office, I can often be found hiking or biking in the mountains, enjoying live music, or at home cooking a good meal or cozied up with a good book.

As a trauma-informed, relational therapist, I help adults who feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns shaped by grief and trauma. My style is trauma-informed, somatic, and collaborative, integrating my background as a certified yoga teacher for holistic, well-rounded approach to care. Many of my patients are caregivers, people-pleasers, or highly sensitive individuals who struggle to prioritize themselves, feel safe in relationships, or rest in their bodies. They want relief from emotional intensity, a deeper sense of self trust, and more meaningful connection. Together, we focus on nervous system regulation, processing loss, and building relationships that feel supportive and authentic. Working together, you can expect a warm and supportive environment that incorporates relational and trauma-informed approaches to help you feel understood, find clarity, and move through challenges at your own pace. My style is gentle and collaborative, with therapy tailored to your unique needs and goals, as I’m passionate about helping you feel safe in your body, trust your inner wisdom, and build authentic, supportive relationships. My path to becoming a therapist began with the belief that each person’s story deserves to be heard and honored. This belief allows me to meet people where they are, ensuring a welcoming space to all patients. Outside the office, I love keeping my mind and body active through hiking, teaching yoga, reading, and perfecting my baking skills.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPPC) specializing in relational and holistic wellness-focused psychotherapy for individuals. As a psychodynamically oriented clinician, I believe that my role is to support patients in recognizing patterns of being that may be causing distress, exploring the roots of these patterns, and finding paths toward freedom from them. I often hold a focus in treatment on exploring many domains of life – relational, cultural, physical, spiritual, and more – as I believe that true healing encompasses all parts of self. Among a wide variety of mental health concerns, I particularly enjoy working with patients navigating relationship issues, chronic nervous system dysregulation, neurodivergence, and systemic-related challenges. I believe that it is truly an act of strength to seek support, particularly amidst chaos throughout the world today. If you find yourself resonating with my approach to therapy, I hope you feel empowered to reach out. Stemming from a background in biochemistry, I focus on caring for the whole person, taking into account the complex and symbiotic relationship between body and mind. My approach is authentic, creative, and integrative, focused on increasing access to affirmative mental health care while creating a space of radical acceptance in the therapy room. Working together, you can expect an intentional and collaborative environment that is tailored to each unique person. Paired with processing of core life events, I use present-oriented techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and individualized coping skill-building to create lasting changes in your daily experience. My path to becoming a therapist began upon experiencing a deep level of change in my own life through therapy. At the same time, I began to foster an interest in human behavior, connection, and meaning making through my education. Altogether, it became incredibly apparent to me that to be human is to be vulnerable, and I'm grateful to share this vulnerability with the patients I work with. This interest, combined with my therapeutic journey, allows me to bring a perspective of resiliency, curiosity, humor, and appreciation for the absurdity of life to each session. In my free time, you can find me perusing a vintage shop, hanging out with my cat, listening to live music, or working on an abstract painting. I also enjoy reading transgressive fiction novels, poetry, and engaging in social justice, advocacy and awareness projects.

Hello, I am Dr. Ana Dodson. I am a licensed psychologist candidate, and I received two masters degrees and my doctorate in psychology at the University of Colorado in Denver. I am EMDR certified for both children and adults and have a certificate in the Neurosequential Model of Education developed by Dr. Bruce Perry, a neurobiological approach to understanding human development. My goal is to provide you with compassionate, personalized therapy services. Together, we'll work together to create goals that feel right for you. With my background as a former teacher and reading specialist, I have a deep understanding of how academic struggles and reading difficulties can impact a college student. I approach every situation with empathy and a focus on solutions. Outside of therapy, I love spending time with my son, reading books, traveling, and taking hikes.

I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Towson University and am currently enrolled at the University of Denver, working toward my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Psychology. A little bit about myself, I love pets and the outdoors, and I am a self-proclaimed nerd who loves lots of different kinds of video, card, and board games. I am devoted to nurturing and creating meaningful change within individuals, helping them cultivate resilience, embrace their authentic selves, and live in alignment with their personal values and identity. I believe mental health challenges do not discriminate and can affect anyone, which is why I am committed to creating a space where clients feel empowered to do the work that feels necessary for them. As I continue to grow in my clinical training, I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches, including existential therapy, family systems, psychodynamic theory, and mindfulness, tailoring my support to what best fits each individual client. I am passionate about working with individuals, families, groups, and couples navigating life's transitions and challenges, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, and the search for meaning. My goal is to foster healthy relationships, authenticity, autonomy, and interconnectedness within each person, supporting them in becoming healthier, more resilient individuals who can succeed in their own life's journey on their own terms, in accordance with their truths and ideal selves.

I earned my B.A. in psychology from Winthrop University and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University, and I am currently pursuing a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver. As a clinical intern, I take a deeply relational approach to therapy, grounded in cultural awareness, developmental understanding, and a commitment to meeting clients exactly where they are. I believe that people grow through connections, and I work collaboratively to build a therapeutic relationship that feels safe, authentic, and genuinely supportive. I enjoy working with children, teens, and adults as they navigate identity development, relationship concerns, and major life transitions. I strive to create a warm, attuned space where clients can explore their experiences, make meaning of their stories, and move toward greater clarity and self-understanding. Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy watching movies, playing outdoor club soccer, and practicing the clarinet to help me stay grounded, creative, and balanced.

Hi, we're Better Life Therapy! We're currently accepting new clients for both in-person and virtual therapy, and can typically schedule your first session same-week. We're a diverse group of over 40 professional therapists treating a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, trauma, substance use, eating disorders, and others. Many of our therapists are deeply familiar with issues commonly faced by college students. We practice a warm, compassionate style of therapy with a deep respect for patient concerns and values. We see patients both online and in-person at our offices in Lakewood, Westminster, and Denver Cap Hill. We accept all major insurances, including Medicaid (with the exception of BC/BS), and have a low-to-no cost sliding scale program for those that need it.

Are you feeling like you do not recognize yourself or are disconnected from relationships? Do you find yourself entrapped by negative cycles of thought or addiction? Do you feel broken or lost? Do you find yourself overwhelmed or struggling to motivate yourself? Do you want an intentional touchpoint to be able to be candid and vulnerable without fear of judgment or consequences? Do you want to explore the root of the issues? Any of these important questions are worth exploring with someone you trust! I would be honored to partner with you as you explore this healing work. It is my goal as a therapist to provide a safe environment to help in the exploration, processing, and solution-finding process. I believe each person is unique with their own background, beliefs, understandings, and lived experience. I hope to provide a nonjudgmental space to explore feelings and thoughts. One of the bravest things a person can do is ask for help. Needing help does not make you weak, it makes you human. If you see yourself in any of the descriptions above, reach out by phone or email.