River Simone, Naropa Contemplative Counseling, MA Expected 2022

River (she/they) offers a body-centered, parts-work approach to the integration of trauma, transitions, and attachment patterns.

River draws on their experiences as a high school English teacher and a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor in their work with adults, adolescents, and teens. They recognize sociocultural, systemic, and ecological contexts as critical pieces of personal healing and transformation.

River’s style is relational and integrative, incorporating elements from modalities such as Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

In addition to individual psychotherapy, River offers attachment-based relationship therapy for polyamorous and monogamous partnerships.

Tiare Poleschook (she/her), Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling M.A. expected May 2022

From working through her own trauma and learning to trust the process, Tiare has found deep respect for each individual’s journey and their own process towards healing. Tiare exudes a warm and compassionate presence and although she utilizes an array of modalities, she is a strong believer in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship itself. Tiare has worked in the mental health field since 2017 and is finishing her graduate degree in mental health counseling at Naropa University. In sessions, she honors present-moment experience and encourages her client’s in noticing their somatic sensations as well as their emotional and thinking processes. Tiare strives to assist clients in befriending all parts of themselves and she strongly values transparency and advocacy. She serves teens, adults and couples and specializes in anxiety, depression, life-transitions, personal growth and relationship challenges.

AJ Durben (they/them), Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling M.A. expected May 2022AJ is a non-binary, neurodivergent counseling student at Naropa University. AJ believes in each individual’s innate capacity for healing and claim to wellness. AJ has worked with and welcomes folks with diverse identities, and they are committed to creating a safe space for their clients to bring their authentic selves to therapy. AJ recognizes how difficult it can be to be a human being in the world and invites clients to explore their experiences with compassion, curiosity, and autonomy in service of moving towards healing. AJ’s approach to therapy is collaborative, relational, non-judgmental, and social justice oriented. They are committed to addressing systems of oppression and internalized narratives that challenge one’s ability to show up in this world. In their practice, AJ draws from a wide range of techniques, including Gestalt, DBT, transpersonal psychology, and mindfulness. Outside of therapy, AJ spends their time healing in nature, making art, and cooking vegan food.

 

Having journeyed far and wide in many walks of life, Pete (he/him/his) humbly offers holistic, trauma-informed, multiculturally- and socially-sensitive counseling for adults, couples, and teens. He brings an empathetic, client-centered, and collaborative approach to psychotherapy, which prioritizes safety while focusing on each client’s unique strengths and evolving needs.

Having trained in nature/adventure-based techniques, mindfulness practices, Gestalt therapy, parts work, attachment theory, and songwriting, Pete integrates a variety of therapeutic methods into counseling with the goal of empowering clients to access their own healing wisdom—power that can sometimes become clouded by traumatic life experiences, relationship difficulties, or mental health challenges.

Prior to pursuing graduate work at Naropa, Pete worked for 20+ years, both in offices and out of them. He is a certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder, and in his personal time Pete can be found rock climbing, mountain biking, and camping all over Colorado and beyond.

To help clients connect with their innate healing potential in our rapidly changing world, Pete offers online video appointments, as well as in-person outdoor sessions amidst the beautiful open spaces and trail systems of Boulder.

Ryan (he/him) is a graduate student in Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University. His style is rooted in mindfulness, and draws from Gestalt, Internal Family Systems, parts work, and attachment theory. He emphasizes cultivating a safe and accepting therapeutic relationship, and his warm and easy presence facilitates this. Ryan seeks to create a space where everything and everyone is welcome. He is adept at working with topics such as anxiety, depression, spiritual development, personal growth, grief and loss and life transitions. Ryan’s passion includes travel, and his time living abroad has given him unique multicultural perspectives.

Thomas believes that therapy is an intentional growing relationship between the client(s) and therapist. He emphasizes choice as an empowering tool, and on present-moment connection; client(s) take each session as they come. As a wilderness therapist he specializes in nature-based healing. He believes that with enough time spent in nature, all of our questions can be answered.

With prior work in the public school system, Thomas has worked closely with all ages of individuals (K-12). He has several years working with special needs clients, and several more working with adult clients, for Colorado Recovery (mental-illness treatment organization). Thomas has been trained in Life Coaching with Newfield Network and plans to further pursue training in Play Therapy.

Jamie Law (she/her/hers) works with clients from a humanistic perspective; drawing on Mindfulness-based techniques, Gestalt Therapy and Internal Family Systems as potential therapeutic interventions. She is also trained in Synergetic Play Therapy. She works with children, teens, adults and couples and believes in the therapeutic relationship itself as a guiding force in the healing process and as an essential component for clients to more deeply access themselves.

Jamie has worked for a decade as a theater arts educator in universities, prisons, private schools, public schools and abroad. Additionally, she has taught yoga for over 6 years with a focus on restorative yoga and other gentle practices. Through these experiences she brings her knowledge and passion for authentic expression, nervous system regulation, attention to the present moment and body awareness into the therapy room.

 

Pamela French Newman (she/her/hers), is a candidate for her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Naropa University in the Somatic Counseling Program with a concentration on Body Psychotherapy. Pamela’s approach to counseling is strength-based, humanistic, relational, and body-centered. She focuses on working with the nervous system as a way to work towards emotional regulation. Before coming to Naropa she spent five years teaching yin, restorative, and trauma informed yoga in the Boston area. Through her own personal practice as well as teaching yoga, her curiosity around the healing powers of the mind body connection grew. Her first hand awareness of the mind-body connection as a therapeutic tool led her to find Somatic Counseling which is a form of psychotherapy that values this connection.