what’s your favorite part about being a therapist?
The best part is being a witness to someone’s growth and serving as a mirror along the way. Those moments when you can say to someone, “Remember when we started 3 months ago and you believed…” and they can laugh and say, “That’s so not me anymore!” It is rewarding and enlightening to champion another’s metamorphosis, especially when they originally cannot see it themselves.
what’s the most surprising part of being a therapist?
The most surprising part about being a therapist are the hours when someone comes in with no agenda. What begins as a session where one “isn’t sure what to talk about” typically transforms into an exploration of seldom touched upon memories, forgotten hopes, and an uninterrupted time to ask How am I, really? A lack of “crisis” never indicates a lack of opportunity.
where would you take a friend visiting you in denver for the weekend?
For serene views in an unexpected place, the peak at Mount Lindo Cemetery. For bagels, Rosenberg’s in Five Points. For a dive into the 1920s with a unique cocktail, Nocturne Jazz Bar. For deep dish pizza, Blue Pan Pizza.
what’s something about you that people are surprised to learn?
I am an adrenaline junkie! I have been skydiving and bungie jumping twice and love to ATV; my goal is to purchase my own in the next 5 years. I also am a sucker for The Fast and Furious movies.
how would you define “good therapy”?
“Good therapy” can be defined by the process or the outcome. On an outcome basis, I believe good therapy produces a felt sense of healing, greater connectedness, and movement towards living in accordance with one’s values. On a process basis, “good therapy” entails trusting that what is expressed to your therapist will be properly held, attuned to, and valued without judgment. I believe a “good process” is necessary for and as important as a “good outcome.
what’s your favorite book?
My favorite book is the collection of stories Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami. It depicts the ordinary elements of our day to day lives as extraordinary, shows that love is capable of being wicked and good, and solidified my want to travel to Japan. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is a close second, but only if you’re up for a few tears.
