I have experience working with the criminal justice system, the Dependency and Neglect court system and civil/family court. I have been qualified as an expert witness in the areas of child protection, domestic violence victimization and the impact of domestic violence on children.

I work with adults without children, parents/caregivers, and adolescents in individual and group therapy. I have also worked with foster parents, adoptive parents, step-parents and relatives in primary caregiver roles.

On a personal level, I enjoy spending time with family and friends.   We enjoy camping, attending sporting events, watching movies, riding bikes and observing the beauty of Colorado.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master's degree in Art Therapy from The George Washington University. In addition to my experience assisting clients with general mental health issues, I have specific experience addressing acute and chronic stressors, complex trauma, eating disorders, grief and loss, early childhood development, and behavioral concerns in children. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and their families to find the change, growth or healing they are seeking through an individualized approach. I am trained to incorporate trauma-informed art and play techniques within the therapeutic process. I utilize interventions from Synergetic Play Therapy, which is a researched informed model of therapy that blends together neuroscience, attachment, nervous system regulation, physics, mindfulness, and authenticity. In my free time I enjoy crafting, traveling, and exploring nature with my family.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Denver. I have been working as a therapist since 2015 and have been working with adolescents within the Department of Human Services and the Department of Youth Corrections since 2010. As a counselor, I believe in using a person-centered integrative approach to therapy using a variety of different skills and practices that will most benefit clients. I have used various treatment modalities including Psychodynamic Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

I enjoy working with clients who have experienced complex trauma and PTSD; domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse/assault, substance use, and neuropsychological limitations. I believe having a strong alliance with the child/adolescent and their family members is important in the healing process. I believe early intervention and readiness to change are the two most important components in the healing process.

In my free time, I enjoy coaching and playing water polo and walking and playing with my dog Folie.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regis University. I have worked in the field of domestic violence for close to 7 years and have experience with trauma informed counseling for all age groups within the field. I also have experience working with adolescents for a college prep development program helping foster social and emotional learning as well as experience facilitating groups for adult survivors of childhood sexual assault for the WINGS Foundation.

My therapeutic style is one of empathy, warmth, collaboration, and empowerment. I believe that the most important foundational requirement in therapy is the establishment of relationship between the therapist and the client in which we travel together on the road to healing.
My therapeutic approach is a collaboration of Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. I am currently receiving training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy) and Synergetic Play Therapy.

In my free time you can find me reading, working out, crafting, playing sand volleyball, baking for my family or friends, or relaxing with my partner and my two dogs, Bruce & Zoey.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Education degree in Counselor Education from Texas Tech University. I have been providing therapy in the field of trauma and domestic violence for over 17 years to children, adolescents, and adults. I am trained in Child-Centered Play Therapy and I am a certified EMDR therapist and consultant.

I have worked with individuals of all ages struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, and issues related to family conflict and domestic violence through the use of EMDR, Child Centered Play Therapy, and various other person-centered interventions identified through my work with each individual.

I believe that therapy treatment works best when there is trust and a positive therapeutic relationship and feel that we are on the same page. I come from a strengths-based and person-centered perspective; I believe that we are all generally doing the best we can, but through therapy and a trusting therapeutic relationship, healing can begin.

I love hiking and camping with my family, and spending lazy afternoons exploring our world.

Malia Jackson is a current master’s student in the University of Denver’s Forensic Psychology Program. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 2020 with a degree in Psychology and minor in Women’s and Ethnic Studies. Previously, Malia worked at a psychotherapy office in the Springs as an administrative assistant. Currently, she is in training working with first responders and their families. Malia is passionate about mental health and serving those in need. She is excited to be a part of the CWCC community and interact with the clients that CWCC serves. Ms. Jackson’s goals are to complete her master’s degree and pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. I have been working in the field for over 10 years providing individual, family and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. My background includes working with the client's experiencing trauma, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), domestic violence, and substance abuse. Through integrating different treatment modalities, such as DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy, SFT (Solution Focused Therapy) allows me to adapt to each individual client providing support as clients work through their process of healing. In my free time, I enjoy horseback riding, yoga and being out in nature.

I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I moved to Denver, Colorado in 2009 to get my undergraduate degree in hospitality and business management with a minor in psychology. While getting my undergraduate degree, I was able to become a writer of my own mental health blog, a musician and songwriter of my own album, and work as an intern in London, UK and New York City, New York.

After graduating from the University of Denver, I knew that I wanted to help people. I utilized my hospitality degree to work with and lead as many people as I possibly could in a humble, creative, and fair manner. I managed a housekeeping department in an ultra-luxury resort for two years; I ran my parent’s hotel, renovation, and family business for four years; and, I become a general manager of a highly successful hotel in downtown Denver for one year.

Throughout my hospitality career, I went to bed wanting to do more than just manage and lead employees for a hotel’s profit. On the side, I worked with the African Community Center of Denver to help refugees find and maintain work here in the United States; I created mentorships with my employees to help elevate their careers in the hotel industry; and, I volunteered as a trained listener on the mental health app 7cups.

Ultimately, I came to realize that my burning passion was in the field of psychology. I am now enrolled at the University of Colorado – Denver to attain my license in marriage and family therapy. I would like to use this platform and my license to help youth, adults, couples, and families in the therapy room as well as in communities who are in need of quality resources.

Outside of my professional passions, I have a wife and two dogs. I love to rock climb, hike, bike, backpack, write about the human experience, listen, play, and write music, educate myself with non-fiction, and have fun, yet deep conversations with friends and family.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Denver. I enjoy hiking, spending time with my dog, going to Rockies baseball games, and attending concerts at the many wonderful Colorado music venues. I am originally from New Jersey, which allowed me to spend many summers enjoying the boardwalks and beaches.

Along with my Master's degree in Social Work, I also completed my Animal Assisted Social Work certificate from the University of Denver. Currently, I partner with Sully, my Professional Therapy Dog. Sully was trained through Freedom Service Dogs, and works with me in the therapeutic environment to build upon: the therapeutic alliance, enhance the human-animal bond, and so much more! My background includes working with clients in day treatment, residential, and community-based environments.

In addition, I have experience working with the Department of Human Services, the Juvenile Justice System, and the Dependency and Neglect Court System. I love working with all ages, and place a great importance on trauma informed interventions and family systems. Additionally, I utilize and integrate the evidenced based modalities of: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), into my work with clients. I look forward to partnering with you on your therapeutic journey.

Joe Benedetti, BA

I am a student at Adams State University pursuing my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I believe the best perspective for assisting individuals in resolving their emotional and personal issues and problems is the wellness model of mental health. I focus on building a therapeutic relationship and help clients explore issues that directly affect them. I accept clients where they are, establish rapport, and help provide motivation. Most issues individuals face in life are developmental in nature and understanding the dynamics of human growth and development is essential to success as a helper. I teach clients how to correct faulty information processing so they can view situations more realistically. I believe counseling is for everyone and believe in the power to humor.

Personally, I am a Colorado native and huge sports fan. I enjoy exercising, cooking, ancient history but mostly, I cherish spending time with my 13-year-old daughter.

Carly Elmgren

Joining the Practice in January 2021

I am a Master of Arts candidate in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Colorado Denver.  Before beginning my journey in mental health counseling, I earned my BA in Sociology and MA in Curriculum Instruction from the University of Denver.  After graduating, I worked as an elementary school teacher for five years, where I discovered my passion for fostering development of the whole child.  Throughout my time at CU Denver, I have volunteered for several organizations working as an advocate for children and their families and recently completed an internship providing counseling services at the University of Colorado Denver.

I believe in taking a holistic, trauma-informed approach to mental health and am passionate about working with children, adolescents, and their families as they navigate life’s challenges.  I will be fully trained in Synergetic Play Therapy by November 2021 and am so excited for the opportunity to intern at the Children’s Wellness Center of Colorado!

I am passionate about empowering individuals to experience wholeness, freedom, and balance in their lives while recovering from traumatic experiences. I work with all age groups and have a special interest in working with adolescents and young adults during times of transition and self-discovery. Taking a developmental, relational, and narrative approach, I believe that the way we tell our stories to ourselves matters. Healing often happens within the therapeutic relationship, so I am dedicated to cultivating a comforting space where my clients can be wholeheartedly themselves.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regis University. I have specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and have extensive experience working with substance addictions, disordered eating and body-image issues, early developmental trauma, and attachment wounds. I am a warm and creative clinician who draws from evidence-based practices to provide an individualized counseling experience for each client.

Along with counseling, I am interested in holistic medicine and am a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher. In addition, I believe that nature can be healing, and so enjoy hiking and exploring the Rocky Mountains. Lastly, I am an avid cook and love sitting down for meals with family and friends.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver. I have over 10 years of experience in this field working primarily with children, adolescents, families, and adults. I work with each client to build upon their strengths and address the current or ongoing issues in a way that meets the need of the individual or family.

I am intensively trained in several treatment modalities including DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). My integrative approach is focused on finding what works for each individual and assisting them in creating their own solution and supporting them through grief/loss, past trauma, family/relationship issues, behavioral problems, anxiety and/or depression.