Meet the Ardent Grove Clinicians

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Dr. Markley earned her doctoral degree from The University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. In 2015, Dr. Markley was awarded the American Psychoanalytic Association Fellowship, an early career initiative for future leaders in the psychoanalytic community. Dr. Markley is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver teaching doctoral students and has co-authored the book Making Sense Together: The Intersubjective Approach to Psychotherapy, Second Edition. She earned her 200 hour Trauma Sensitive Yoga Instructor Certification in 2023. 

Hear More From Emily:

I consider the foundation of good therapy to rest on a warm, trusting and collaborative relationship between therapist and client. Together we will work to better understand the issues bringing you to therapy and explore ways in which you can both gain more personal insight and improve your life. My goal is to provide individualized psychotherapy treatment that is integrative, holistic, and strength-based. I recognize that starting therapy takes courage and I therefore work to foster a therapy space where you are truly and authentically heard and valued.

I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families across the lifespan and have experience helping those who are navigating issues of trauma, social/emotional concerns, grief and loss, relational issues, issues related to chronic pain and/or health conditions, and those who are interested in a greater sense of self understanding. I also have specific experience working in hospital settings with people with medical conditions including those with oncological and neurological diagnoses.

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Shaye Sakos graduated with a PsyD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in child and adolescent psychology from Adler University in Chicago, Illinois. She has provided individual, couples, and group therapy, and psychological evaluations, within inpatient, intensive outpatient, and private practice settings. She has experience working with individuals of all ages, and particularly enjoys working with emerging young adults as they navigate change and identity development. 

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My approach to therapy is characterized by encouragement and genuine curiosity. I believe in the innate resilience of my clients, and I strive to support them in the telling of their stories. I believe therapy best works when therapist and client build real relationships and work together to co-construct meaning. I work from the assumption that our early experiences inform the process of becoming the people we are. Humans re-enact old rituals, and some emotions feel familiar while others are pushed so far away that we convince ourselves they are nonexistent. I believe that by learning to truly be with the great pains and the great joys of life, and to engage with curiosity and self-compassion, therapy can be a space which supports people to utilize the resources they already hold but have been unable to access.

Grief work is one of my passions. I believe grief is a part of human life that applies to experiences beyond the death of a loved one. For example, I enjoy working with bereavement, anticipatory grief, relational grief, and grief related to loss and change. Additional clinical interests include psychological assessment, issues of identity, trauma, anxiety, and mood disorders. I practice from a trauma-informed, relational, psychodynamic approach. I am currently completing training for EMDR and eager to integrate this into my work with clients. 

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Sebastian is a clinically experienced post-doctoral fellow and psychologist at AGF. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, completing his internship at the University of Kansas, Counseling and Psychological Services. Sebastian also received his Master’s in Sports Coaching from the University of Denver and specializes in men’s mental health and working with athletes and other members of the sports community. He is particularly interested in the exploration of masculinity and athlete identity and has a particular passion for the destigmatization of mental health within sports and athlete culture.

Sebastian’s previous experiences include working across a wide range of settings including university counseling centers and athletic departments, primary medical care, schools, inpatient treatment, and emergency departments. He has experience conducting therapy and assessment with children, adolescents, and adults with a broad range of emotional, interpersonal, medical, and neuropsychological concerns.

Hear More From Sebastian:

I approach therapy from an integrative and relational perspective to help address your unique needs and to foster a deeper understanding of your experiences. Fundamental to this process is the importance of cultivating a collaborative and trusting therapeutic relationship. My hope is to provide an inviting, nonjudgmental space for you to seek understanding and so that together we might develop deeper understandings about yourself. 

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Campbell Cahill is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with children under 12, family therapy, parent coaching, perinatal mental health (pregnancy and postpartum), and in working with individual adults. Campbell received her Master's in Social Work from Smith College in 2020.  

Campbell's work focuses on attachment theory and strengthening the relationship between child and caregiver to positively impact the entire family system. Campbell works with clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma, as well as relational issues with family members or peers, and major life changes such as loss, divorce, and foster care/adoption. Campbell strongly believes in using play-based therapy, family therapy, and parent coaching to build the capacity of caregivers to support a child through life’s many challenges. Campbell also works with adult clients looking to focus on perinatal mental health, parenting, or the impact that childhood experiences have on one’s current functioning. This work with adults presents in many ways but often centers around issues such as childhood and family trauma, attachment, and core beliefs about the self. 

Hear More From Campbell:

The therapeutic relationship is an essential part of positive treatment outcomes. I place an emphasis on cultivating a strong relationship to ensure clients feel heard, valued, and understood in each session. I provide a warm, non-judgmental space for clients to fully be themselves and explore their inner world through talk therapy or play-based interventions. I view the therapeutic alliance as a partnership and believe each person is an expert in their own life and family system. I utilize this relational approach combined with evidence based information on child development, trauma, and neuroscience to help each client set and achieve their goals through our work together. I am immensely grateful for each of my clients' willingness to welcome me into their lives and allow me to walk alongside them throughout the duration of our treatment.
 

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Dr. Ali earned her doctoral degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her neuropsychology internship at The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health and her postdoctoral rehabilitation fellowship at Tampa General Hospital. She is also Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology. Dr. Ali is a psychologist with extensive experience in diverse clinical environments, including outpatient mental health, pediatric neuropsychology, hospital settings (both inpatient and outpatient), nonpharmacological pain management, and inpatient rehabilitation. She has worked with individuals of all ages, from children to the elderly, addressing mental health issues, complex medical injuries, chronic health conditions, and physical and cognitive impairments. Dr. Ali provides compassionate and inclusive care to patients from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Hear More From Asma:

As a dedicated psychologist, I prioritize building a strong therapeutic alliance grounded in trust, safety, and collaboration. My approach integrates evidence-based treatments with a holistic perspective, exploring the interconnected nature of your emotional, physical, and social well-being. Through collaborative efforts, I provide practical tools and nurture the development of insights that are both meaningful and effective in helping you navigate life’s challenges while also working to achieve your personal goal. I honor and respect the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities of all my clients, fostering a space where you feel valued and understood. I am committed to addressing your unique needs and preferences, believing strongly in your inherent resilience. My focus is on empowering you to overcome challenges, assisting you in developing coping skills, and helping you to cultivate an optimal sense of well-being.

I am deeply passionate about supporting individuals across the lifespan — adolescents, adults, and the elderly. My expertise includes guiding people through various challenges and difficulties such as trauma, social and emotional struggles, navigating life's transitions, exploring identity, coping with grief and loss, addressing relational issues, managing chronic pain, coping with chronic health conditions, and adjusting to disabilities.
 

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Einav Nahum received her doctorate from the University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She completed her internship at Aurora Mental Health and Recovery, working at their refugee and outpatient clinics. Einav has experience working with a wide range of mental health concerns, and has specific interest in working with veterans, refugees, immigrants, and adults who are processing childhood or line of duty trauma. She has provided individual, couples, and group therapy, and performed psychological assessments in a variety of settings, including hospital outpatient clinics, community mental health providers, private practices, and a substance use treatment facility.

Hear More From Einav:

I approach treatment from a trauma-informed relational framework. I believe that every therapeutic relationship is unique, and I emphasize creating a trusting relationship between me and my client. I focus on supporting my clients in their journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and acceptance through co-creating a space that fosters safety and connection. I have been trained in and utilize different trauma modalities to support individuals in processing their unique trauma, including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Prolonged Exposure (PE).

I have extensive experience working with individuals who have experienced childhood trauma, war, line of duty trauma, anxiety, and substance use. I have a strong passion for working with individuals who have been affected by trauma, and offering them hope that they can live the life they want once again. I enjoy working with veterans and first responders and supporting those populations in breaking the stigma around the use of mental health services. I feel privileged and honored to be part of my clients’ journeys and support them in finding strength and resiliency in their own stories and voices.

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Eliana earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from George Washington University’s Professional Psychology Program in Washington, DC and completed her internship in Philadelphia, PA. She has experience providing individual, couples, group, and family therapy and administering psychological assessments in community mental health, private practice, and inpatient settings. She enjoys serving adults across the lifespan, particularly during phases of transition, and has had the pleasure of helping a wide scope of communities with x backgrounds.

Eliana uses a trauma-informed, psychodynamic relational approach to therapy, integrating existential, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral interventions in response to the unique needs of each individual. She has worked with clients and their families who struggled with issues related to trauma, grief and loss, family dynamics, relationships, and feelings of alienation and ‘stuckness’.

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I believe that the relationship between therapist and client can in-and-of-itself be a catalyst for change. My aim is to foster a therapeutic space that is warm, empathic, and non-judgmental– where your authentic-self can be heard and known. Within this space, I strive to come together with you to co-construct meaning and develop an understanding of yourself and your experiences. To this end, I encourage the use of self-compassion and curiosity to gain insight into the interaction between your past experiences and current concerns. My hope is that therapy will ultimately help you uncover and renegotiate patterns that prevent you from living your life and relating to others in a way that feels genuine and meaningful to you.

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Brittany is currently working towards her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver. She previously received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver in 2022 and her Master of Science in General Psychology from Capella University in 2013. In 2004, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Human Development from the United States Air Force Academy and spent time serving in the military prior to transitioning into the field of psychology. Her clinical interests include trauma, health psychology, psycho-oncology, substance use and addiction, and psychological assessment.

Hear More From Brittany:

I deeply cherish my clinical experiences which have included working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and psychological and neuropsychological assessment. I have worked with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, and spiritual backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and underserved populations. My work has focused on a variety of concerns including emotional difficulties, relational issues, domestic violence, severe mental illness, PTSD and complex trauma, grief and loss, end-of-life journeys, as well as substance use and addiction. I have been fortunate to work in a variety of settings including correctional facilities, emergency departments, cancer treatment facilities, and community mental health centers. These experiences have taught me to value the unique and individualized needs of each person I work with, and my integrative approach to therapy incorporates existential-humanistic, experiential, somatic, interpersonal, and attachment perspectives.

I feel that therapy works best in the context of a trusting, safe, empathic relationship. As human beings, I believe we all seek connection, acceptance, compassion, and love, and some of our deepest wounding comes from painful experiences that affect how we relate to others and to ourselves. My passion is to meet you where you are, to empower choice, and to help you connect more fully with yourself and with others. For these reasons, I value, prioritize, and protect the relationship we develop together and feel it to be the cornerstone of our work. I believe that compassion, collaboration, and acceptance are vitally important for healing, and I seek to create a space where all parts of you feel welcome and valued.

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Peiying received her MA in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2018. She worked as a post-graduate counselor/therapist in higher education and community settings from 2018 to 2022. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Peiying has experience working with teens, adults, and older adults in various clinical settings. She specializes in working with clients from LGBTQIA+ communities, immigrant, refugee, and international communities, survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence, and young to middle-aged adults navigating life transitions and identity explorations.

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I value the collaborative connection and relationship between therapist and client as the foundation of therapy. Coming from a functional contextualism framework and trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I am curious about what is and isn't working in my client’s life, and how these coping strategies and patterns have developed and continue to impact my clients’ relationships, goals, and values currently. In therapy, we will explore and practice alternative options, strategies, and relationship dynamics in a safe, trusting, warm, and genuine therapeutic relationship together. I also draw from various therapeutic techniques, including Narrative Therapy, Intersubjectivity, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Attachment Theory, and Somatic Experiencing. I am currently being trained in EMDR as well.

One of my favorite metaphors to describe a therapeutic relationship is that both the client and the therapist are travelers sharing a period of time and journey together. The client decides where they want to go, what their valuable goals are, who they want as their travel companions, and what stories they would like to tell about this journey. The therapist sometimes acts as a guide, more familiar with this part of the road and weather conditions, offering new skills and resources that might be helpful for the client. However, it is ultimately the client’s journey, and the therapist is there to support the client in reaching their desired destination and writing the narratives they would like to have about their journey and life.

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Georgia is currently working towards her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver. She previously received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from DU in 2023. Before that, she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Spanish & Hispanic studies from Union College. Georgia provides individual and couples therapy at Ardent Grove. Her clinical interests include personality concerns, trauma recovery, identity exploration, interpersonal challenges, psychological assessment, bipolar disorders, and psychosis. She primarily works with people ages 16+.

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I believe that therapy is most helpful when clients feel empowered, brave, and authentically themselves. Many things in our lives—including trauma, painful core beliefs, difficult relationships, and grief can make us feel alone and directionless. Therapy is a place for healing, self-exploration, and skill-building. My goal is to foster a relationship in which you feel safe and understood.

I previously worked with veterans, justice-involved individuals, folks struggling with serious and persistent mental illness, and couples managing a myriad of relational issues. I’m excited to support individuals in all walks of life. I have an integrative approach to therapy, including CBT, DBT, and ACT. Let’s find out which therapeutic techniques work best for you!

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Ana received her master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology in 2022, and is currently a doctoral student studying Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Ana has experience working with children, teens, and adults struggling with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, eating disorders, suicidality, and more. She is trained in DBT, ACT, and psychodynamic approaches.

Hear More From Ana:

I recognize the trust and vulnerability involved in coming to therapy. I strive to offer a safe and empathetic space where you can explore your innermost thoughts and relationship dynamics. I believe in the power of curiosity about oneself and the transformative impact of understanding what shapes and motivates us. My goal is to help you uncover and address patterns that may be hindering your personal growth and relationships. Through thoughtful reflection and a deep therapeutic connection, I support you in navigating your journey towards greater self-awareness and a healthier, more fulfilling life.

In our sessions, we will explore not only the challenges you face but embrace the strengths you bring into the room. This balanced approach helps cultivate resilience and a positive outlook. We will set realistic, achievable goals together, ensuring that each step forward is tailored to your unique needs and life context. As we progress, you will develop new skills and insights to improve your emotional and physical well-being and enhance your capacity to deeply connect with yourself and others.

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Caroline is currently working toward her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at Denver University. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Hendrix College in 2019. Caroline has worked in community mental health, hospital, and research settings.

Hear More From Caroline:

I believe that the relationship between client and therapist is the cornerstone of effective therapy. I am dedicated to fostering a warm, empathetic, and nonjudgmental space to collaboratively explore past experiences and current challenges. My approach to therapy is integrative, grounded in compassion, and driven by curiosity. I believe that you are the expert on your life and experiences; my desire is to work with you to define and achieve your goals. I have experience working with folks who struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions/stressors, self-worth, identity, and relationships. I especially enjoy working with individuals from the LGBTQ+ community.

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Gbotemi (Temi) Bukola Babatunde has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the Obafemi Awolowo University, an Honors degree in Psychology, a master's degree (cum laude) in Health Promotion, and a doctoral degree in Public Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Durban, South Africa. She is currently pursuing a PsyD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver.

Dr. Babatunde has worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Rural Health, College of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and as a senior researcher under the School Health Project at the University of Western Cape, Cape Town. Dr. Babatunde has published research articles in local and international journals and has presented at local and international conferences. Her research interests include mental health promotion, caregivers' mental health, child and adolescent mental health (CAMH), community and school-based health services, mental health systems strengthening, and intervention planning.

As a clinical psychologist trainee, Dr. Babatunde has gained experience in therapy, assessment, and group interventions at various clinics and projects, including the Caring For You And Baby Clinic, Survivor of Torture project, and DiscoverU Project. Her clinical interests include Therapy and assessment; Infant, early childhood maternal/early mental health (IECMEH); adolescent mental health; family and couple therapy; Immigrant mental health; grief and trauma-focused services; Substance use (SUD/OUD) interventions; and Behavioral medicine in primary health care.

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David is currently working toward his Doctorate in Psychology at DU. He received an MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver in 2024, and both a BA from San Diego State University in Social Science with an emphasis in Environmental Studies in 2009, and a BA from Portland State University in Psychology in 2019. David works with individuals ages 13 and up and provides couples therapy at AGF. He specializes in trauma, assessment and has worked with many people in substance abuse recovery.

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I believe life is about relationships. I believe that much of the hurt and difficulty that comes from navigating our time on this earth occurs within the context of the people around us. I believe that growth and healing are also relational, and this journey is made easier when there is someone there to hold our hand, walk with us into the scary places, and help us shine a light in the darkness. When therapy is centered on relationships and approached from a place of compassion and nonjudgmental understanding, amazing things can happen. It can seem impossible to see to the heart of things when we are right in the middle of them, and good therapy can provide what I think of as a new pair of glasses; a new lens to look at our relationships with others, with the world, and with ourselves. When this happens, it becomes less about fixing what is broken and more about realizing how our rough edges match up beautifully with the rough edges of those around us.

I enjoy working with clients who are seeking to explore the patterns in their lives that don’t seem to be working anymore and who desire to discover where these patterns came from, what they served, and how they can develop new ones that move them toward what’s most important to them. This rarely happens on a purely intellectual level, and I love working with clients who are open to exploring how to bridge the gap between their head and their heart.