Thank you to our former Clinical Trainees!

Emily is currently attending the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) and will graduate with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has previously received her MA at GSPP in Clinical Psychology in 2021.

Emily’s professional experience includes providing comprehensive neuropsychological assessments with children and teens; providing individual psychotherapy to children and adolescents via tele-health; working at Evergreen Country Day School as a doctoral trainee providing brief consultation and counseling for students K-8; at the Stanley British Primary School providing individual therapy and school consultation to students K-8, as well as their parents and teachers; at the Professional Psychology Clinic at GSPP conducting individual psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and adults; at Caring for yoU and Baby (CUB) Clinic at GSPP conducting individual psychotherapy with caregivers and facilitating support groups via telehealth for families and caregivers; at EDCare, Evening Intensive Outpatient Program providing group therapy (DBT and ACT) and also individual psychotherapy; and at Pacific Quest, Adolescent Program leading field work, supervising students, and facilitating them in their daily and therapeutic tasks.

Hear from Emily

I love working with pre-teens to early adults. This stage of life is fast-moving and often overwhelming. I enjoy supporting individuals in this age group as they begin to develop a sense of identity and autonomy.

Therapy is defined by the therapeutic relationship between the client and clinician. I believe therapy works best when this relationship is nurtured and challenged. I believe enacting change in a client’s life can often find its genesis in the therapeutic relationship.

Carly is currently attending the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) and will graduate with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has previously received her MA at GSPP in Clinical Psychology in 2021.

Carly’s experience includes providing care through the Phoenix Program as part of Littleton’s Options High School working with adolescents who had been expelled or were at risk of expulsion from their previous schools,the Caring for You and Baby (CUB) Clinic in which she provided individual psychotherapy for caregivers and young children using a variety of modalities including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), relational work, and play therapy, ACTivation Psychology, a private practice where she provided psychological assessment services including assessing for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia and other Learning Disabilities, Cognition and IQ, and personality and mood disorders, the DAWN Clinic which is an interdisciplinary student-run free clinic that serves uninsured patients from the Aurora community, and the Professional Psychology Clinic at DU where she  provides individual therapy for adults and adolescents.

Hear from Carly

I love working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families in helping them navigate trauma.

I have consistently been inspired by the warmth and safety that a therapy room can provide. I believe therapy works best when providing a safe, warm, and empathetic environment to explore the problems that brought them into therapy. I believe in creating a positive therapeutic relationship that allows a client to explore their patterns and how these patterns are currently showing up in their life. My goal is to provide treatment that is both collaborative and warm while working with the client to ensure therapy is of great value to them.  

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.

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.