Helping Colorado Families Heal, Grow, and Thrive
Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC
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We are so glad you’re here! We’re sure you have been doing your best and sometimes seeking the help of an outside ear, creative space, and healthcare professional seems like the next step. That’s what we’re here for!
At Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC, we are a group of independent contractors dedicated to providing a safe and supportive space for you to learn more about your emotions and relationship dynamics, and how they interact to affect your behaviors, mindset, and life.
Compassionate Support Every Step of the Way
Our Approach
Teens
Adults
Children
Families
Our Services
Comprehensive Counseling: In-Person and Telehealth Services Tailored for You
We offer in person sessions in our Olde Town Arvada and Westminster offices as well as HIPAA-secure Telehealth sessions.
We greet each individual and family with warmth, caring, and helpful listening, knowledge, and recommendations so that you are best equipped to conquer current and future challenges!
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Learn More
Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC is a team of independent contractors dedicated to fostering authenticity, confidence, and creativity in each client through collaborative, strengths-based approaches that celebrate the uniqueness of every individual and family we serve.
Personalized, Compassionate Counseling for Emotional Growth and Relationship Dynamics
About Us
Inner Child Therapy
Family Therapy
Sandtray Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Art and Expressive Interventions
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Strength-based therapy is like a confidence booster! It helps you discover your strengths and past successes to build a positive outlook and tackle challenges.
Inner Child Therapy
Family Therapy
Sandtray Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Art and Expressive Interventions
Play therapy is like a special playdate with a therapist! Kids use toys and games to express their feelings and work through problems, just like building with blocks helps them feel happy and safe.
Strength-Based Therapy
Inner Child Therapy
Family Therapy
Sandtray Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Art and expressive therapy lets you use creativity (painting, music, dance) to express yourself and feel better, like building something cool helps you feel proud!
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Strength-Based Therapy
Inner Child Therapy
Family Therapy
Sandtray Therapy
Narrative therapy is like rewriting your life story. You're the author, and by changing the narrative, you can overcome challenges and build a more hopeful future.
Art and Expressive Interventions
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Strength-Based Therapy
Inner Child Therapy
Family Therapy
Sand tray therapy is like a silent world-building game! You use sand, figurines, and miniatures to create scenes that express your feelings and work through challenges, without needing to talk.
Narrative Therapy
Art and Expressive Interventions
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Strength-Based Therapy
Inner child therapy is like befriending your younger self. You learn to understand and heal past hurts, building a more secure and happy present.
Family Therapy
Sandtray Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Art and Expressive Interventions
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Strength-Based Therapy
Our Modalities
How We Can Help
How We Can Help
Our Modalities
Meet the dedicated hearts and minds behind Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC. Our team is a diverse group of passionate professionals, each bringing unique expertise and insights to our practice. United by a common goal, we strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment where every individual can explore their challenges and celebrate their successes.
With a rich blend of experiences, our therapists specialize in a variety of areas, ensuring that we can offer tailored support for children, teens, adults, and families. Get to know us better and discover how we can work together towards your journey of healing and self-discovery.
Meet Our Incredible Team of Therapists
Our Team
Your child deserves to be happy and feel good about themself. Yet sometimes, despite our best efforts as parents, our children can become anxious, defiant, depressed, and even hate themselves. It’s heartbreaking to see our children suffer. It’s also agonizing when they keep acting out and can’t or won’t talk to us and tell us what is wrong.
It’s easy to want to blame yourself. You wonder if it’s something you are doing or if it’s something you’re missing? You feel like you’ve tried everything, but things seem to get worse.
As a parent, I’ve been there! Nothing is more discouraging than seeing our children in pain and feeling helpless to help them. That’s why I want to help parents and children. I have a lot of experience helping children through play therapy. Before I started doing play therapy, I was also a school counselor helping children with their struggles at school. I have worked with children ages 4-19 both in school and in the play therapy setting.
I also love working with parents! Children thrive when their parents are happy and feel good about themselves too. I have worked with lots of parents to help them figure out how to overcome their own personal struggles that get in the way of their relationships with their children. We can work together to figure out the best ways you can support your children. I help parents learn how to use empathy to build better connections with their children. We can work on setting limits and reducing power struggles. We can also work on resolving conflict and relationship repair. Together, we can figure out ways that might help you become your best self and be the parent you want to be for your kids.
I offer Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Person Centered Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Training (DBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, Reality Therapy, Strengths Based Therapy, Parenting Skills Training, Inner Child, and Psychoeducation for a variety of mental health needs.
Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a child in your life, it would be great to connect with you and talk about what you are going through. Feel free to contact me either by phone or email.
I look forward to hearing from you.
A Message from Lori:
Lori began working in Special Education, helping children on the autism spectrum as a Special Education Paraprofessional and soon discovered that she connected most with social emotional development in children. Lori has experience counseling elementary and middle school students in the school setting and was part of school mental health teams responsible for coordinating Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and 504 plans. Lori has experience using differentiation techniques to teach students of various learning styles and abilities and utilizes positive reinforcement strategies for managing student behaviors.
~ Lori is an independent contractor with Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC
Lori values compassion, connection, and encouragement and believes inspiration is the best motivation. Lori works with each client to bring out the best in themselves and help to create a positive environment in session and at home. Lori is also the proud mother of an 18-year-old son who is on the autism spectru spectrum spectrum and a 15-year-old gender fluid child and has lived and worked in Colorado for the past 20 years.
Lori’s hobbies include hiking, paddle boarding, skiing, and being outdoors with her family and dog, Maple. She loves football season (Go Broncos!), music, and plays the guitar!
Bio
Early afternoon weekdays
Book a Consultation
- $135 per individual session
- $150 per family session
- (Cannot accept private pay from Medicaid members).
Private Pay
- Private Pay Only
Insurance
Social Emotional Learning • Positive Friendships • Emotional Regulation • Leadership and Advocacy for Elementary Age Children • Anxiety • Depression • Behavioral and School Issues • Life and Personal Care Skills
Specialties
- Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Services
- University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Education
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Licensed Professional School Counselor
Credentials
Lori Erwin, LPSC, LPC
Name
Kristen Sandine LPC, RPT-S
Kristen has a passion for teaching, caring for, and helping children and adolescents. As a preschool teacher and nanny for many years, Kristen recognized her passion for aiding children in developing healthy social and emotional wellness. From these roles, she has come to understand how unique each family and individual situation is and approaches therapy from a culturally considerate and strength-based perspective.
Kristen has aided many neurodivergent children in recognizing their unique strengths and how to use them to continue to grow and learn. Kristen helps children and families to form healthy bonds, create helpful habits and coping skills, and reach their mental health goals.
The closest children in Kristen’s life include her niblings Sam, Lucas, Lily, and Jacob along with the many children of family and friends in her life. Kristen believes in making our community an accepting and loving place for them and all children!
In her down-time, Kristen enjoys traveling, reading, listening to podcasts, going to see live music, and spending time with her family and friends. Kristen works hard to spoil her cats, Sam and Dean, who like to make appearances on camera during Telehealth sessions!
With over 15 years of experience of working with children in various roles and over 8 years in private practice specifically, Kristen looks forward to meeting your family and helping you and your child feel confident in achieving wellness!
Bio
No Current Availability
Book a Consultation
- $185 per individual session
- $200 per family session
- (Cannot accept private pay from Medicaid members).
Private Pay
Insurance
Parenting and Step-Parenting • Depression • Anxiety • Separation Anxiety • Low Self-Esteem and Confidence • Life Transitions • Grief and Loss • LGBTQIA+ Affirming • Family Transitions • Sibling Behaviors • New Adjustments • Behavioral Issues • Emotional Regulation • Coping Skills • Social Skills
Specialties
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Certificate in Counseling Children and Adolescents
- Regis University
Education
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Registered Play Therapist Supervisor
Credentials
Name
Amber has always enjoyed working with children and adolescents. She has experience working as a caregiver in childcare, youth summer camps, after school programs, and school summer daycare programs, as well as babysitting and nannying.
Since starting her therapy career, Amber has worked with children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked with clients with a range of mood and behavioral disorders, grief, and family struggles. Additionally, Amber has worked with teens in JDAP programs and with clients on probation for substance abuse and anger management. She personally understands the pain and disappointment that comes with childhood adverse events and the importance of every person’s mental health.
Amber’s preferred therapy style is a strength-based perspective, that emphasizes self-determination and resilience, which takes a positive focus to a person’s strengths. She also enjoys incorporating art interventions with children, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness for teens and adults. She has found that she enjoys working with a wide range of age groups from young children to the elderly. Providing therapy requires good listening skills and having compassion, which allows Amber to help find what may help her clients through life’s challenges.
In her free time Amber enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
~ Amber is an independent contractor with Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC
Bio
Saturday Afternoons
Book a Consultation
- $125 per individual session
- $140 per family session
- (Cannot accept private pay from Medicaid members).
Private Pay
Insurance
ADHD • ODD • Depression • Anxiety • Grief • Panic Disorder • Attachment Disorders
Specialties
- Master of Social Work
- University of Oklahoma, Norman
Education
- Clinical Social Work Candidate
Credentials
Amber Rodriguez MSW, SWC
Name
Alyssa has a passion for working with children, teens, and families. She started her social work career as a residential supervisor at a teen pregnancy shelter. From there, she became a child protective service worker before heading back to school to pursue her Master’s in Social Work. During that time, Alyssa was an intern at an elementary school and found a new love of social emotional development.
Alyssa values compassion, patience, and connection. She understands the many challenges and transitions that life can throw and believes that it’s never too late to learn a new skill and to find the strength in each person. Alyssa’s approach to therapy is from a Strength-Based Perspective utilizing mindfulness, social emotional learning, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her daughter and her partner, hiking, traveling, and trying new coffee shops!
* Alyssa is an independent contractor wiht Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC
Bio
No Current Availability
Book a Consultation
- $125 per individual session
- $140 per family session
- (Cannot accept private pay from Medicaid members).
Private Pay
Insurance
Social Emotional Learning • Positive Friendships • Emotional Regulation • Leadership and Advocacy for Elementary Age Children • Anxiety • Depression • Behavioral and School Issues • Life and Personal Care Skills
Specialties
- Master of Social Work
- University of Denver
Education
- Clinical Social Work Candidate
Credentials
Alyssa Paglio MSW, SWC
Name
Lea started her therapy career working with children and families in in-home settings. This experience was valuable and provided Lea with the unique opportunity to get a first-hand look at family dilemmas as they occur in the home, enabling Lea to support families through their concerns as they unfolded. Within these settings, Lea enjoyed using creative interventions including play, music, and writing.
Outside of the therapy room, Lea holds experience supporting children in varying contexts, including as a paraprofessional in preschools, a mental health worker at a residential center for children, and through volunteer work with Betty Ford Treatment Center in the Children and Family program, alongside serving as an active support for Camp Erin, {a children’s grief camp} during the summer months.
In addition to her experience working with children and families, Lea holds experience working with relationships/couples in diverse configurations including monogamous, non-monogamous, and open relationships. Additionally, Lea is passionate about working with individuals and teens who seek to disrupt and challenge intergenerational trauma/break generational patterns.
Lea’s approach is an integrative blend in which she uses multiple techniques and modalities to best support her clients’ variable needs. Lea considers herself a humanistic therapist at her core, identifying the client/system she works with as inherently possessing the internal resources and strengths necessary to navigate their world. Lea highly values authenticity and invites clients to reconnect to their inner truth to strengthen alignment within themselves and their relationships with others, developing newfound confidence in navigating the systemic challenges/external hindrances that cause distress.
In her free time, Lea enjoys hiking, traveling, boxing classes, and spending time with friends and family.
~ Lea is an independent contractor with Courageous Counseling Colorado, PLLC
Bio
No Current Availability
Book a Consultation
- $155 per individual session
- $170 per family session
- (Cannot accept private pay from Medicaid members).
Private Pay
Insurance
Children, Teens, and Families Individual Adults and Couples • Grief and Loss • Monogamy, Non-monogamy, and Open Relationships • Breaking Intergenerational Trauma and Patterns
Specialties
- Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Regis University
Education
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Credentials
Lea Powell MA, LMFT
Name
Rebecca’s passion for working with youth and their families began when she observed her mother, a speech therapist, supporting preschoolers with speech delays through play. This early exposure highlighted the significance of communication through expression in enhancing mental wellness and quality of life. She is committed to cultivating accepting, validating, and empowering spaces for children, adolescents, and caregivers.
Rebecca’s diverse work experience includes roles in a residential treatment center, providing ABA therapy in various settings, and coaching school teams in major school districts. She has also taught art classes to at-promise youth and volunteered at the Center for Child Protection. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for empathy, connection, and creativity in healing. Rebecca is passionate about utilizing play and art therapy approaches to create healing bonds and fortify the strengths within children as they navigate life.
In her free time, Rebecca enjoys spending quality moments with her fiancé, dog, family, and friends. She also finds joy in practicing yoga, crocheting, and reading.
Bio
No Current Availability
Book a Consultation
- $80 per individual session
- $85 per family session
- (Cannot accept private pay from Medicaid members).
Private Pay
Insurance
Children, Teens, and Families • School-related Issues • Grief and Loss • Neuro-Diverse Populations • Emotional Regulation • Relationship Skills
Self-confidence and Esteem • Trauma Informed Care •Social Skills
Specialties
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Candidate | University of Colorado, Denver
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minors in Studio Art and Child and Family Development | San Diego State University
Education
- Master’s Level Clinical Intern
Credentials
Rebecca Jacobs
Name
“Kristen is an incredible therapist, friend, and colleague. She has a super warm heart and will hold the space for you to explore your emotions without judgement. She is highly skilled and trained in working with children..”
"Courageous Counseling Colorado is passionate about child development."
“I highly recommend Kristen, she is such a kind and warm spirit that has such a connection with those around her and especially those she works with.”
"Kristen is compassionate, caring and a great listener. Highly recommend."
"I’ve found Kristen to be deeply compassionate and warm spirited. She is knowledgeable and keeps up to date on updates in the field. Kristen truly connects with not only her clients, but also with the client’s family and other professionals. When I speak with Kristen there is a sense of being seen, heard, and valued. And let’s not forget the playroom she has created! It is an ideal environment for freedom to explore and express through play. I highly recommend Kristen."
"Kristen is compassionate and helpful. I was referred to her and she was prompt in responding to me and helping me figure out the best course of action for getting my kids into therapy with their unique needs. She has a deep understanding of the needs of children and child development as well as the family dynamic. I highly recommend her."
I highly recommend Kristen, she is such a kind and warm spirit that has such a connection with those around her and especially those she works with.
“Kristen has the most beautiful soul. She has an innate gift to relate to and support others. She is knowledgeable, warm, approachable, and thoughtful. When you meet Kristen, you’ll immediately feel like she’s been in your life forever - she has that unique ability to welcome and connect with you and your loved ones.”
Kristen is highly empathetic and excellent with children and families. She can navigate wellness with ease for families struggling with co-parenting, children suffering from a range of mood and behavioral concerns and parenting needs of all sorts. I only refer my client's children to a few select and trusted therapists, Kristen being one of them.
8120 Sheridan Blvd C334 Westminster, CO 80003
Westminster Playroom
5738 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80002
Olde Town Arvada Playroom
info@denverplaytherapist.com
720-443-0871
We have two locations in Colorado. One in Olde Town Arvada, the other in Westminster. If those locations are out of reach, you can also schedule Telehealth appointments.
Accessible Therapy Across Colorado:
Olde Town Arvada, Westminster, and Telehealth Options
Our Locations
5738 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80002
Olde Town Arvada Office
Courageous Counseling Colorado (C) 2024 | Good Faith Estimate | Second Wind Fund