About Denise
Denise is one of our therapists and our IOP Coordinator. Denise’s therapeutic style is collaborative, individualized, and client-focused. She believes that you, as the client, have the answers that you need to solve the problems that you face, and will guide you to find out what they are, providing support and resources along the way. Denise believes that you are the expert of your own life, and strives to fully, accurately, and compassionately understand and connect with each of her clients.
Therapeutic Style
Making counseling a safe, compassionate, and warm space for you to explore and process your concerns is of the utmost priority to Denise. She knows that motherhood brings its ups and downs, and will be with you in the trenches during the low points and celebrating with you at the high points. She believes that every individual’s story is important and valuable, and would love to encourage you as you continue to write your own while developing the skills and knowledge to cope with the concerns bringing you in to counseling.
Denise believes in the importance in celebrating each person’s unique gifts and qualities that can aid them throughout the therapeutic process, and takes a strengths-based approach to sessions. She knows how it can often feel like everything is going wrong; however, focusing on what is going right can bring such joy, empowerment, and confidence while aiding in meeting the goals for your treatment. Throughout your sessions, Denise will aid you in identification of these strengths and how they can be used in your life to better your emotional, mental, and physical health. Denise will strive to facilitate a better understanding of how the trauma, depression, OCD, and/or anxiety that you experience interacts with your brain and body. She will be by your side as you explore ways to return to optimal health and enjoy motherhood to its fullest.
Experience
Denise has over 10 years of experience working with children and families both in therapeutic and non-therapeutic capacities. The time that Denise has spent working with children has overflowed to care and compassion for the mothers she has worked with. She is passionate about maternal mental health, and has personal experience with pregnant and post-partum mothers.
Denise has held roles in a substance abuse treatment center and in a child and adolescent counseling center, working with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and other concerns. She has specialized maternal mental health training through the Seleni Institute, a nationally recognized organization for maternal mental health related topics. Denise has received additional training in treating couples and perinatal OCD. She has served as River Root Counseling’s Intensive Outpatient Coordinator for the past two years, supporting mothers in an intensive group setting.
While Denise’s expertise and training will help guide you through treatment, she believes that you are in control of your goals and sessions and will meet you wherever you are, finding the skills and resources that align best with your strengths, personality, interests, and goals.
Denise enjoys working with clients with varied backgrounds, and has a special heart for individuals and couples working through the adjustment to parenthood, identity shifts, and trauma, finding meaning in the chaos, and loves working with couples to improve communication, connection, and understanding.
Licensures/Education
ERP Training through CBI
Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Couples Therapy