About Me

Given my passion for helping others, I started my professional journey with a degree in Psychology. However, I quickly learned this degree alone would not provide me with the knowledge and opportunities I wanted to help people, so I went on to pursue and earn a masters degree in clinical psychology.

In addition to my education, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and have been working in the field of psychology for over 15 years. My experience includes working with adolescents and adults in residential, inpatient, and outpatient settings struggling with severe and persistent mental illnesses, alcohol and other drug addictions, and personality disorders. I have also worked with individuals struggling with relationship issues, managing significant life transitions, grief and loss, managing conflict, and relaxation/distress tolerance. I have had the pleasure of working with a wide variety of clients with different cultures, backgrounds, and needs.

Lastly, I have presented on the topic of Understanding and Basic Implementation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy to graduate level students pursuing a career in counseling. I have also spent the last four years providing supervision to therapists of all different levels, from directly out of graduate school to being established in their careers. I feel it is important to stay up to date in the field of psychology and therefore seek continuing education to polish and learn new techniques that may be helpful for my clients.

Licensure and Education

• Licensed Professional Counselor with the state of Colorado (#5509)
• Masters of Arts in Forensic Clinical Psychology, University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology
• Bachelors of Science in Psychology, Colorado State University

About Riley

I am a Golden Doodle and Certified Therapy Animal through Dog Training Elite. I started my journey in being a therapy dog the spring of 2022 and earned my certification on September 9, 2022. However, my passion for people and being around those in distress has always been a part of me. I also understand that not all people are comfortable around dogs, so I will stay in my bed during your session if needed. Why work with me and Christine? Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help patients better cope with mental health disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems.” Animal-assisted therapy also helps people feel more comfortable in the therapy session. By petting or being near an animal we are better able to regulate our anxiety and emotions in the therapy room, which helps people open up more and understand themselves better.