THERAPY FOR REBELS
Specializing with ADHD, Autistic, and Gifted People
Phoenix Rising, LCSW (Ze/Zir or She/Her)
Social Worker, Therapist, Consultant
Phone:
720-312-3278
Email:
Location:
Durango, Colorado, USA
Identities:
ADHDer, Autistic, Burner, Demi, Gifted, Empath, Multi-Racial, Non-Binary, Pansexual, Poly, Queer
About Phoenix
As a late-identified, neurodivergent (ND) person and survivor of complex trauma, I have firsthand experience of what trauma recovery and healing entails for NDs. I understand what it's like to feel oppressed by the mainstream culture and socially isolated. I provide my clients with an unparalleled space to process and heal their suffering with effective interventions.
Who I am as a therapist
I don’t wear a professional mask—I bring my full, authentic self into the therapy room. Many of my clients tell me they appreciate my honesty and realness, and some even get a laugh when I swear (appropriately) during session. My goal is to help you feel comfortable by checking if you need any accommodations, giving you the option to redirect questions that feel like “too much” or unclear, and supporting you with a warm, casual attitude.
I’m always transparent about your treatment. You’ll be able to review session notes, gain clarity about your neurotype and/or diagnosis, and change your treatment goals at any time.
At the beginning of each session, I’ll ask what you’d like to focus on. Some clients prefer an open space to sit and process without an agenda, while others like a clear plan and more direct guidance. Either way, each session is yours to shape.
At the end of every session, I take the last 3–5 minutes to check in about how it went—what you liked, what didn’t work for you, and any final thoughts before we close. Your feedback matters to me, and I want to make sure therapy is working for you every step of the way.
This is my story...
I hope I get to learn yours too.
Currently, my life is amazing! I have a regulated nervous system, two beautiful children, a loving husband, friends and colleagues who really GET me, I have a job I love (most days), and I have dedicated time outside of work to pursue my special interests in art, music, and performing. But it wasn't always like this...
As a child and teenager, I struggled with a ton of mental health issues, including depression, CPTSD, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, and interpersonal challenges. It seemed like no one around me knew how to help (including professionals). Looking back, I can see how my neurodivergence was at the root of my challenges, and if others around me had been better equipped, I would not have had to suffer the extent that I did.
Thanks to a strong drive to follow my dreams despite the challenges, I did not give up. I worked my way up academically; I went from failing classes in high school to completing my Master's in Social Work degree from New York University in 2011. After receiving my degree, I spent six years in New York City counseling traumatized BIPOC and LGBTQ+ young people while still dealing with my own trauma. I saw over a dozen mental health providers starting at age 6 yo who were unable to help me in any substantial way, which forced me to heal myself.
From 2014-2015, I suffered extraordinary losses in my personal life, which forced me to change in big ways. I had a dark night of the soul, where I seriously considered completing suicide, but instead decided to keep pursuing my dreams and improve my mental health instead.
I was burnt out and miserable in NYC, so in 2016 I moved to Colorado hoping for a fresh start. Because of the aforementioned losses, I received a settlement and didn't have to work for the time being. It was then that my deep healing work began. I was able to give myself the help I needed by using what I had learned as a mental health provider. I was also able to see where there were gaps and filled them in with a holistic approach that honored my biological needs as a human. I was able to have full control over my life, my health, and my time, and healed myself in ways I never thought possible using a holistic framework.
While doing my deep healing work, from 2016-2021, I started several mental health-related businesses as I tried to find my way in the world on my own terms. I felt deeply moved to share what I was learning on my healing journey and how much more effective it was than traditional talk therapy.
In 2021, I opened "Therapy for Rebels" in Denver, CO to serve people who were "different" than the norm. After a few months, I was very concerned by how long it was taking to get my business off the ground as I now had no settlement to back me up. As a neurodivergent person, work life is so much more difficult and taxing. I knew if I got a full-time job, my mental health would plummet, I wouldn’t be able to take care of my son in the ways I wanted to, and would likely endure more trauma through this process. So I started working for Instacart. And I swear Instacart saved my career, LOL. It was a job that I could emotionally handle, had no bosses/employees to navigate, I could work when I wanted to, and get paid in 24 hours. This job kept me afloat until I got foundational pieces of my business in place. I took a huge leap of faith to continue that path despite being broke and borderline homeless at times. I'm happy to say that by spring of 2022, I had a full-time solo private practice and had created the stability my family and I needed.
On top of all of this, at this time, I was unpacking my own neurodivergence. I had numerous friends and family members who are ADHD and Autistic, and started to put the dots together about my own differences. Also, I had an extremely strong resonance with my ADHD and Autistic clients and they were benefitting deeply from the therapy model I had created for people who were "different" like me. I was able to connect the dots that I was ADHD, Autistic, Gifted and Dyslexic, all of which deeply informed the work I do and how I live my life.
I was so thrilled that both my professional and personal healing work could impact client's so quickly and with such great results, that in 2023, I expanded my offering to include professional development training and consultation for mental health professionals. I wanted to target those serving neurodivergent populations to reduce harm and improve outcomes for these stigmatized groups. In 2024, I created the Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy Training Institute with the mission to create an evidence-informed therapy model and train professionals around the globe.
While so many of my personal experiences have been full of suffering, they have been fertile ground for deep growth and transformation. Not just for myself, but for my clients, other mental health professionals, and the greater communities we belong too.
Now that you have heard my story, I hope that you will grace me with the priviledge of hearing yours in my therapy room.
What I love about being a therapist
I love being able to share the hard-won knowledge I've gained during my own healing and self-discovery journey. Over the years, I've created a healing model devoted to teaching what I felt was missing from traditional talk therapy. Little did I know at the beginning, I was creating a model for neurodivergent populations. Now, looking back, it's obvious how I was seeking to develop therapy interventions and support that I wish I could have had as a sensory neurodivergent individual.
Beyond sharing everything I've learned through my personal and professional journey with clients, I've felt called to develop trainings for other mental health professionals and those serving ND populations with the goal of reducing harm and improving outcomes for these stigmatized groups.
Work Experience
2015 to present
2009 to 2015
2011
Founded several mental health businesses, including Higher Consciousness Healing, Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy Training Institute, and Therapy for Rebels. Worked as Life Coach, Therapist, Trainer, and Consultant.
Served in a variety of positions in non-profits for youth, including Trauma Counselor, Functional Family Therapist, Case Manager, Program Coordinator, Mentor Program Supervisor, and Trainer.
Graduated from New York University with a Master's in Social Work. Studied human development, psychology, popular therapy models, research, social justice, advocacy, policy, and community organizing.
For ADHD, Autistic, and Gifted People