THE ARDENT GROVE CLINIC

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Meet our team of therapists! Our therapists are advanced clinical psychology doctoral students receiving supervision from licensed providers while they pursue their doctorate degrees. They are skilled at providing psychotherapy for a variety of problems, and also can complete psychological assessments to address and understand many diagnoses and difficulties. They continually support each other within the clinic as well as receive rich, high-quality supervision from our supervisors and director of the Ardent Grove Clinic.

She/Her/Hers

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.

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. Outside of the

office, Dr. Markley enjoys spending time with friends and family,

being in the mountains, traveling, cooking and baking, and playing

with her dog and cat.

they/them

Rivers is a clinically experienced post-doctoral fellow and therapist at AGF. Their previous professional experience includes:

• Tampa Veteran’s Affairs outpatient clinic
• Boulder County AIDS Project, Cascade AIDS Project
• Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
• Mental Health Partners (community mental health)
• Private practice

Rivers specializes in working with trauma, veterans, grief and loss, and in serving the LGBT+/queer communities in an affirming and skillful way. They work with teens (15 and up) and adults, providing both individual and couples therapy.

In their own words:

I am primarily influenced by the contemplative, existential, and psychoanalytic movements in psychology. My goal is to cultivate a space where you can show up exactly as you are in the moment without needing to censor yourself for fear of judgment or ridicule. I believe wholeheartedly in what is known in psychoanalysis as “the talking cure.” By speaking without censoring yourself in the therapy setting, you’ll find that you can gain insight into the mental and behavioral patterns that inform how you are currently feeling and living, and with this insight, you will be prepared to make educated choices about how you’d like to live your life going forward. You will likely find that symptoms such as anxiety and depression begin to lift as you speak about them in therapy, and as you go deeper into the work of psychotherapy, you can find truly transformative change occurring in your life.

She/Her/Hers

Sushmita received her Masters in Professional Psychology (MPP) from Monash University in 2017. She is currently seeking her doctorate in psychology from the University of Denver. She works with children ages 6 and up, adults, couples, and families. She specializes in multicultural issues, gender identity, sexual identity, differently abled, and trauma.

My previous experience involves working with individuals and families with serious and persistent mental health concerns, conducting therapy and assessments with children, young adults, and older adults in working with a broad range of concerns such as emotional, personality, relationship issues, early adverse experiences, and other neuropsychological concerns. I also have experience working with minority/marginalized populations, such as – differently abled, LGBTQIA+, and multicultural/ racially diverse individuals. I have experience implementing and developing Employee Assistance programs for personnel (and families) working in corporations.

I view my role as a therapist as an opportunity to be a part of your journey. As individuals, we constantly face challenges and momentary relief. I believe that the key to facing challenges lies in learning to tolerate our experiences rather than curing them. This gives us power in the face of challenges. I see therapy as a bidirectional interactional process. By that I mean, I especially value learning about you and getting to know you. Therapy isn’t a “one size fits all” approach. I individualize care in flexible and creative ways to meet your needs.

He/Him/His

Ernesto received his Masters in International Disaster Psychology in Trauma and Global Mental Health at the University of Denver in June 2020. He is currently working toward a doctorate in psychology at the University of Denver.

Ernesto has worked a great amount in schools and affiliated day treatment and counseling spaces, primarily with school-aged children and adolescents. He has also worked in mental health clinics where he has seen mostly adults and middle-aged individuals with various presenting issues such as grief (normal, disenfranchised, chronic), anxiety, trauma, depressive episodes, life transitions, day-to-day complications as personally defined by an individual, etc. He has also provided psychoeducational groups geared toward skill building. He works with children ages ten and up and adults in individual therapy and specializes in trauma, especially childhood trauma. He also works with couples. 

I believe therapy provides a time and space for individuals to discover themselves and build meaning as a way of curating a form that feels fruitful, true, and empowering. I believe that growth often begins by noticing, naming, and acknowledging where we feel stuck in our lives and allowing ourselves some grace in what may be considered tumultuous or confusing in the process. Psychotherapy is a collaborative and goal-oriented effort that is grounded in the systematic relationship between the therapist and the client. In this space, we are working together to gain a deeper understanding of emotional and relational experiences that may be affecting one’s well-being and inner sense of self. Targeting these experiences or patterns through the power of talk invites new forms of introspection and therefore opens the doors to insights on managing and improving the stuck feeling. As a therapist, I assume the role of constructing a therapeutic partnership in which a client and therapist shape experiences to be something meaningful and impactful.

she/her

Marissa is currently attending the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) and will graduate with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She completed her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, in Clinical Mental Health from the University of Denver in 2021.

I began my education by gaining a strong human and child development foundation during my undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama. My passion for mental health, ending the stigma, and increasing access to mental health treatment for underserved populations led me to seek a master’s graduate degree in psychology at the University of Denver. I am now thrilled to be working toward a doctorate in clinical psychology with a specialty in working with perinatal populations and young children.

I work with children, teens, young adults, and adults from various racial, ethnic, and spiritual backgrounds and LGBTQ+ identities. I work with individuals and couples. I specialize in child therapy, parenting concerns, pregnancy, postpartum, new parenthood, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma recovery, bipolar disorder, ADHD, self-harm, suicidal ideation, identity, and relationship issues. 

I believe that therapy works best when a meaningful and genuine relationship is made between us. This can take time, communication, collaboration, and maybe even some trial and error, but I believe this relationship is the foundation on which good therapy is built. I have a genuine interest and care in your life, story, and who you are. I believe collaboration and curiosity are essential. I aim to meet you where you are at each and every session, being highly attuned to your thoughts, feelings, and needs, with careful attention to the context and systems in which you live. It is my goal, and honor to walk beside you on your healing journey, and I will advocate for you all along the way. Together, I believe we can make a plan that helps you reclaim your strengths and achieve your goals in the way that best suits you. 

they/them/theirs

Gabriella received their BA in Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Brandeis University in 2017. They are currently working toward their masters and doctorate in clinical psychology at University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology. They work with children (age 6 and up), teens, young adults, and adults for individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy. They specialize in trauma, grief and loss, LGBTQ competency, and somatic work. Their couple's work specialties include general communication issues, equitable share in the household, supporting a partner who has had a traumatic event, identity work, and issues around sex in the relationship. 

I love working with clients who have a sense of curiosity about themselves. It is such an honor to support clients who are dealing with identity challenges, experiencing grief and loss and/or trauma, or coping with systems of oppression. I love working with people during transitional times in life like after graduation or becoming a new parent for example. I find it so rewarding to be part of their journey. I also really enjoy working with those who tend to be perfectionists or overachievers. 

Therapy can be an opportunity to get better connected with yourself, your relationships, your life, and what matters most to you. I believe it works best when you feel able to show up exactly as you are and be met with unconditional care and support. The therapeutic relationship facilitates a safe, supportive, collaborative space for growth and change. I believe it is my job as a therapist to create an environment of profound respect for your resiliency and life experiences, where we can make connections and discoveries together, which help you live a life of meaning.

he/him

David is currently working toward his Masters and Doctorate in Pyschology at DU. He received 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.

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.

She/her/hers

Elizabeth is currently attending the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) and will graduate with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She completed her Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver in 2019.

I work with teens (15+), young adults, and adults for individual therapy. In addition to individual therapy, I work with couples and families. I specialize in perinatal mental health, sport and performance issues, and the LatinX community.

¡Orgullo Latinx! As a Puerto Rican Dominican, I feel immense pride in my heritage. My love for my culture and the Latinx community sparked a passion for Latinx Psychology and working with this incredible population. Familismo, the prioritization of family, is one of the most substantial, most prominent Latinx cultural values. Having lived this reality throughout my upbringing, I developed a great fascination for family dynamics and relationships. Because of this, I enjoy working with families and couples through relational work that aims to create space for understanding, connection, and growth. From this family perspective, I enjoy working with people across the lifespan, from children to adults.

So much of what we believe about ourselves and how we navigate the world around us comes from what we learned in our relationships with our caregivers and other impactful childhood interactions. Sometimes, these experiences cause us to latch on to beliefs that no longer serve us and can be harmful. I believe this is where our challenges emerge. From my perspective, therapy works best when approached from a relational standpoint. The therapeutic relationship is the catalyst for change and growth, providing a corrective experience in the face of early hurtful exchanges. With this understanding, I aim to create a nurturing environment for the relationship between myself and my clients to flourish healthily. With warmth, empathy, and authenticity, the therapeutic relationship is watered and encouraged to grow. For therapy and its benefits to truly blossom, I believe there must also be collaboration. As such, I choose to walk alongside my clients on their journey to better connect with and understand themselves. Together, I work with my clients and support them as they find their clarity.

As a former competitive dancer, I undeniably love the performing arts. We perform in academic settings, relationships, job interviews, parenthood, and the list could continue. I believe my clients can build transferable skills throughout our time together in just about any area of life. We, as human beings, are not meant to be perfect. By embedding sport and performance training in my clinical work, I do not hope to help clients be perfect performers; I hope to support them in learning what works best for them to optimize their capabilities. 

Emily is currently working toward her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at DU. She received her MA in International Disaster Psychology at GSPP in 2019.

Emily’s has experience working in home assistance for families impacted by developmental disability, specifically Autism and Cerebral Palsy; international experience in Cambodia assisting in staff trainings and therapeutic interventions for survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide; with women impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault at the Bright Future Foundation in Vail, Colorado; providing psychoeducation regarding interpersonal health to middle school girls also through the Bright Future Foundation; with substance misuse treatment as an individual and group provider at Jade Recovery, dual diagnosis clinic; and has worked with a variety of populations at Colorado Therapy and Assessment Center, specifically with Medicaid populations.

Hear from Emily

I love working with cases surrounding identity, often including role transitions, loss, illness, and how trauma has impacted one's sense of self. I utilize interpersonal and attachment-based psychotherapies, and incorporate meaning centered and existential themes as well.  I have also found fulfillment working with new caregivers, individuals adapting to acquired disability, and survivors of abuse.

I believe therapy best works from a relational point of view. As people, I believe each one of us have experiences and/or influences from an early age that not only impact how we relate to others, but how we see the world and ourselves in it. Some of these perspectives may be outdated, or harmful to our self-worth and esteem, our relationships, and our mental health. The reparative relational experience that can unfold within the therapy via attunement, unconditional regard and support, and self-exploration can allow for a shift in these held beliefs for a healthier view of the self, the world, and allow for a greater meaning to be created via a new narrative co-constructed between client and therapist.