Our Staff
Our therapy team is made up of postgraduate and third-year master’s degree interns from local universities who are supervised by licensed mental health clinicians.
All intern therapists undergo rigorous training and clinical supervision. Intern therapists have real life clinical experiences via a required field placement; many have also accrued significant clinical work experience prior to attending graduate school.
Licensed staff members are always available for guidance and emergency intervention. Our Pre-Licensed team is composed of post-graduate practitioners who receive clinical supervision as well.
DIRECTOR
Bill Monroe, LCSW, LAC
He/Him
Bill Monroe is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed addiction counselor. He received his master’s degree in social work in 2001 from the University of Washington. Bill’s professional background reflects one of his core values, to be on a path of continued growth and learning. As such, Bill has provided mental health and addiction recovery services in varied settings, from the outdoors (Wilderness Therapy), to primary care offices and hospital emergency rooms, to inpatient and outpatient programs. He has worked with clients of all ages and with diverse populations including Native Alaskan and Indian youth, homeless individuals, and our military veterans.
Bill offered leadership and program development to Boulder County Public Health’s (BCPH) teen substance abuse services, detox and transitional residential treatment for six years prior to those direct substance abuse services transitioning from BCPH to Mental Health Partners. He also earned an MBA from the University of Colorado in 2011 with a focus on leadership and organizational development and provided leadership development, coaching and training for a few years during Medicaid expansion.
Bill’s training, therapeutic style and interventions include Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Brainspotting and Harm Reduction. When not at work, Bill is likely skiing in Colorado’s mountains, playing guitar with friends, or spending time with his low-rider Cardigan Corgi and his family.
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
Jessica Whitesel, LPC ATCS
She/Her
Jessica is a licensed professional counselor, a board-certified art therapist, and an art therapy clinical supervisor. She is core faculty member at Naropa University, and teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Jessica maintains a private practice working with children, adolescents, and adults, specializing in trauma, dissociation and attachment issues. Her focus includes the integration of EMDR and creative arts therapy, dissociative processes, and Jungian and psychoanalytic approaches to trauma. While working as an art therapist at Mount Saint Vincent Children’s Home in Denver, Jessica co-authored a treatment manual to help clinicians utilize somatosensory approaches in working with traumatized children, called Doodles, Dances, and Ditties: A Somatosensory Handbook, which includes an introduction by Dr. Bruce Perry.
As a clinical supervisor, Jessica is passionate about supporting clinicians in developing and deepening their clinical capacity and understanding, finding their own voice as clinicians, and building a sustainable and sane approach to clinical work through self-awareness and self-care. She aspires to incorporate a feminist, just, and transpersonal lens into both her clinical and supervisory work. She is a painter, beekeeper, and astrologer, and loves yoga, magic, and all things Star Wars.
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Alexia James, CPCO
She/Fae
Alexia has been in healthcare for over 10 years. The last five years were spent at a Florida LGBTQIA+ medical and behavior health clinic. The LGBTQIA+ community is very important to her and she enjoys teaching people about it. Fae is a Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) and has dedicated herself to making sure everything is in place for things to run smoothly around the clinic.
She’s relatively new to Colorado and exploring just what there is to do in the area. When not exploring she is spending time playing both video and tabletop games.
Pre-Licensed Therapists
Susana Levy
She/Her
Susana comes from Mexico City and has felt at home in Boulder for two years. She is in her third year at Naropa University, pursuing her master's degree in the Transpersonal Psychology and Art Therapy program. As a contemplative artist, Susana uses art to understand the self, the world, and the relationship between both, placing art in service of the other. Susana is passionate about rituals and rites of passage in times of challenge and celebration; outside of NCC, Susana is a cacao facilitator and yoga teacher. Susana practices a mindfulness-based and person-centered approach. She values creating a space where creativity and expression can be invited to explore thoughts, emotions, and sensations with a compassionate presence grounded in the present moment. When not at work, Susana enjoys walks with her dogs and spending time with her family.
Katie Jones
She/Her
Whether you are a teen that is finding life to be difficult and confusing within today’s society, an individual who is constantly asking yourself "Will I ever feel 'normal' again", or a couple that is at a crossroads within your relationship there can be a better way, and I am here to provide an avenue towards more joy and peace in your life.
Clients have the innate ability to be the expert in their path of healing. Life brings about unexpected changes and at times it feels almost impossible to overcome or even speak about it. Not everyone has the initial ability or desire to be verbal when entering therapy. Working from an art therapy background art or mark-making can provide space for the non-verbal to become verbal.
So, what exactly is art therapy? It is another form of communication using materials such as colored pencils, clay, even small figurines and a box of sand! You DO NOT have to be an artist (I love stick figures!), in fact the messier the better. Think of the art as another part of your mind and body that is speaking for you when digging into the hard stuff is just too difficult or shameful to say out loud.
I am a pre-licensed psychotherapist with a Master of Arts degree from Naropa University in Transpersonal Art Therapy. I spent over three years working with women in crisis, severe trauma and substance use. I incorporate various techniques and modes of therapy based on individual, client-centered approaches. I collaborate with my clients to explore their habitual patterns and emotional landscapes, to cultivate healthier coping skills towards courage and confidence in their healing journey.
Noah Leavitt
He/Him
Hello! My name is Noah Leavitt. I am a second-year masters student at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work.
After working several years in the direct care fields of wilderness therapy, alternative medicine and school social work, I find myself joining the wonderful community of professionals at Naropa Community Counseling (NCC).
I offer individual, group and couples counseling for adolescents and adults of all identities, faiths and spiritual walks of life. The therapeutic relationship in and of itself can be a powerful catalyst for growth and connection; creating a safe space for you to discover and share who you are, and what matters most to you, will be a foundational part of our work. I utilize mindfulness skills, somatic awareness, narrative theory, parts work and nature-based techniques while offering my clients a relaxed, open and playful environment for self-exploration. Together, we will gently shepherd your self-study through curiosity and reflection helping you feel more natural in your body and life.
Each of our sessions can take place either indoors at the counseling center or outdoors on the boulder creek trail nearby. For many clients, the presence of the natural world invites us into deeper connection and offers us the ability to resource and ground ourselves. There are numerous benefits to practicing therapy outdoors. We can walk and talk, find a place to sit by the creek, or practice observation and mindfulness skills in an inspiring environment.
Jacqueline Wright
She/Her
Jacqueline deeply believes in each client's unique wisdom, creativity, and capacity for healing. She is in her third year of graduate school at Naropa University, pursuing her master's degree in transpersonal art therapy & mental health counseling. She approaches therapy from a holistic mind-body-spirit perspective and seeks to support each client’s process with compassion, empathy, and grace.
Jacqueline sees art therapy as a form of alchemy that encourages the processing, integration, and transformation of life experiences. She appreciates how engaging in a mindful art practice can spark the discovery of new insights and offer opportunities to make meaningful connections between past, present, and future. Her hope is to inspire clients to continually grow towards an expanded capacity to see and be with life experiences in new & creative ways that elevate their overall sense of wholeness and well-being. Jacqueline has been invested in the healing arts field for over 15 years and is a life-long learner. In her free time Jacqueline enjoys exploring nature, traveling to new places, and photographing everyday life.
INTERN THERAPISTS
Caroline Jacobs
They/Them
Caroline Jacobs is a graduate student in the Buddhism-Informed Contemplative Counseling Program at Naropa University. Caroline believes in bringing our whole selves to therapy—whatever that may mean for you, and they have a genuine, compassionate approach to supporting others. They identify as a white, queer, non-binary trans, AFAB, mixed-class person. If you are struggling with patterns in your life that no longer serve you, if you feel stuck or overwhelmed, or if you are ready to connect with your strengths, they are here to support your process. Caroline works with individuals, people in relationships and families to help them gain clarity and confidence in their lives and relationships. Informed by the principles of Anti-racism and Liberation Psychology, they believe that each of us has our own intimate experience of the world and our own personal histories. They are eager to meet you in the midst of whatever is arising in your life and bring kindness to the process of moving through it.
Emily McDonnell
She/Her
I am in my my third year of Naropa University pursuing my masters in transpersonal psychology. I grew up in Boulder and has spent the last thirty years working and living in
New York City. I currently have a coaching practice for actors and writers using a Jungain dreamwork.
My approach to therapy is grounded in connection, presence, and collaboration. I work in an interactive, “here and now” style, believing that relationships themselves can be profoundly healing. A strong, authentic bond between therapist and client is, in my experience, one of the most powerful tools for transformation.
Just like every relationship, each therapeutic connection is unique. I tailor the process to honor your individual style and preference, and I meet clients with openness, curiosity, creativity and presence. I use a lot of somatic and body centered practice in my work with clients. I am endlessly interested in people and their stories and am passionate about people’s individual meaning making and finding aliveness and peace in life.
I have a BA from NYU in theater studies, a Certificate of Contemplative Care from the Zen Center of New York, and a certificate in Dream Tending from Pacifica University.
Ethan Bialick
He/Him
Hello! My name is Ethan Bialick, and I am a graduate student in the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling program at Naropa University.
I am passionate about supporting clients to develop self-awareness, heal old psychological wounds, and build meaningful lives. I employ a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based approach that honors your strengths and inner wisdom.
I offer counseling for individuals, couples, and families throughout the lifespan. I use a variety of modalities, especially Internal Family Systems, Gestalt, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. For couples, I use frameworks from PACT and the Gottman Institute. Through completing one year of training with the Hakomi Institute, I also offer somatic counseling for clients that want to work with the wisdom of the body.
My practice is informed through my ten years of meditation practice. I also aspire to incorporate wisdom from indigenous traditions, such as the connection to nature, community, ancestry, and spirit.
Originally from Boulder, I lived in California for ten years, leading data science teams in the renewable energy sector. Outside of counseling, I love to engage in the community as a musician, dancer, and indigenous rights advocate.
Jordan Schacter
He/Him
Jordan is a graduate student in the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Program at Naropa University. He brings a grounded, nonjudgmental presence that invites a deeper understanding of your inner parts, thoughts, and feelings. Drawing on mindfulness, compassion, and parts work, Jordan adapts his approach to fit the client.
In working together, we invite explore present-moment awareness, emotional patterns, past experiences, and future possibilities. Jordan believes healing can unfold on many levels — physical, cognitive, emotional, energetic, and spiritual.
He is also a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with years of experience in both healthcare and business. Outside of his work, Jordan enjoys meditation, hiking, and writing about spirituality. He has traveled to over 17 countries.
Josh Mann
He/Him
As a counselor, Josh's goals are to help people better understand themselves and what matters to them. He especially enjoys helping people talk through decisions so that they can get clearer about what they want to do and why. Josh has been strongly influenced by Compassionate Communication, a framework developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg that can help people make sense of their emotions, resolve conflicts with other people, and decrease self-criticism.
For the last 20 years, Josh has worked in outdoor recreation, social services, and education. Through his various jobs and volunteer activities, he has worked with people from many walks of life, including neurodivergent young adults, college and university students, adults of all ages, teenagers from around the world, people experiencing homelessness, military veterans, and people working in government, non-profit, and for-profit sectors.
Josh is currently working on a Master's degree at Naropa University and is specializing in Buddhism-Informed Contemplative Counseling. He has been practicing Zen meditation since 2006, which helps him to be a better listener. When not working or studying, Josh enjoys bicycling, watching Star Trek, and writing haiku.
Lydia Lutsyshyna
She/They
Lydia Lutsyshyna studies somatic therapy at Naropa University. Somatic therapy goes beyond words to explore our animal wisdom of sensation and movement. It is one thing to talk about our feelings; it is another thing entirely to feel them. To fully feel is inherently transformative, and Lydia strives to build a safe enough container with you to nurture that vulnerable release.
Lydia’s passion is working with developmental trauma and Complex PTSD. When we grow up just trying to survive, our pain can become entangled with our identity. In sessions, Lydia helps clients rebuild internal trust and authentic expression. She also applies a polyvagal lens, seeing the nervous system as naturally intelligent.
While healing is deeply personal, Lydia understands we are never separate from the larger culture. Many life barriers are systemic, institutional, and even generational. Her approach validates the grief and anger where things are out of your control while guiding you back to hope and reclaiming what is within your control.
Lydia’s background is in neuroscience research and suicide prevention. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys eating bread, lounging with her black cat, and watching videos about quantum physics. They are also an artist and originally from Ukraine.
Marcella Shepherd
She/Her
I'm in my final year at Regis University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and feel honored and excited to work with Boulder community members at Naropa Community Counseling Center. My practice asks the question: what is your truth? Our work together will aim to help you find your most alive and authentic self waiting beneath buried pain, fear, and the conditioned ways we are taught to live or have developed to survive, the self that can find and experience joy, love, connection, purpose and fulfillment. I’m studying and practicing emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) with individuals and couples as well as utilizing mindfulness and somatic techniques to connect you to your body and spirit, or to your partner in couples counseling. I practice with a social justice, multi-cultural and trauma-informed approach to guide truth-seekers and wounded spirits to explore and understand themselves more deeply, heal from trauma, and find their path.
Mary Fitzgerald
She/Her
I am a third-year student in the Master’s program in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University. My approach is holistic and somatically oriented, drawing from Internal Family Systems, Buddhist psychology, and humanistic traditions. I offer an empathic and grounded presence, guided by the belief that healing unfolds through compassionate attention to all parts of ourselves.
My work is supported by a long-standing meditation practice in the Insight tradition, a deep commitment to my own personal healing, and a reverence for the wisdom that lives in the body and spirit. I bring a deep respect for each person’s inner knowing and a belief that healing unfolds at the pace of safety and trust. I’m especially drawn to working with individuals navigating life transitions, spiritual inquiry, relationship challenges, or the tender terrain of self-acceptance.
Outside of the counseling room, I’m a parent, a writer, a lover of mountains, a hiker, biker, world traveler, and a lifelong student of the heart.
Michael Sauter
He/Him
I am a graduate student in the Buddhism-Informed Contemplative Counseling program at Naropa University. My approach to therapy is rooted in mindfulness, compassion, and a deep respect for life. I offer a peaceful, steady, and grounded presence where you can feel safe to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences without judgment.
I’m passionate about creating inclusive spaces where all individuals can feel seen and supported. I strive to bring a multicultural and social justice lens to my work, recognizing the impact of systemic oppression and honoring the resilience of those navigating it. I focus on finding perspectives of resilience through experiences of trauma and grief. My therapeutic style draws from contemplative and Buddhist psychology.
Before stepping into the world of counseling, I worked in the mental health nonprofit sector. I enjoy traveling, love immersing myself in different cultures, and find joy in meditation, yoga, creating art/music, cycling, hiking, connecting with nature, and appreciating moments of stillness in life.
Wherever you are on your journey, I’m here to walk alongside you with curiosity, care, and presence.
Phoebe Powell
She/Her
Phoebe grew up in the mountains of Colorado, where she was raised in a culture of athletics and a deep reverence for the natural world. After several years in the outdoor industry, she realized her true passion lies in supporting others through therapy. Phoebe is currently pursuing her Master’s in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University.
Her approach to therapy is rooted in Gestalt therapy, a process-over-content modality that emphasizes what is happening in the here-and-now. Gestalt supports increased awareness, emotional honesty, and integration. Phoebe also incorporates somatic practices, helping clients return to the body as a source of insight and healing. Her somatic orientation is informed by her study of Qigong, a traditional movement and energy practice grounded in Chinese medicine.
Phoebe believes the therapeutic relationship is a key part of the healing process. She sees her role not as someone who fixes, but as a grounded and engaged presence—helping clients navigate their inner world with curiosity and care. She holds the belief that meaningful change happens when individuals take full responsibility for where they are and open themselves to the discomfort and transformation that growth requires.
Ria Bonstrom
She/They
As a graduate student in Transpersonal Contemplative Art Therapy at Naropa University, Ria is passionate about creating supportive spaces for individuals who want to integrate their unique life experiences through the transformative power of art. They believe that each person has an innate capacity for healing, and their approach is rooted in compassion, non-judgment, and strengths-based perspectives.
Ria has used art as a place to tell stories that were too difficult for words, cultivating agency and empowerment. Since 2006, she has worked alongside nonprofits by creating, collaborating, and donating meaningful art. She has engaged with hundreds of people in small groups and one-on-one art experientials. They are passionate about supporting folx through life transitions, parenthood, grief and loss, trauma-informed care, and resilience. Pulling from multiple modalities, she would be delighted to come alongside you on your journey, exploring your authentic voice while bringing a holistic, mindful, and self-compassionate lens.
As a parent of three and friend of many, they live a heart-centric, empathetic, and artistic life. Outside of formal education and clinical work, you can find Ria outdoors camping, paddleboarding, hiking, concocting a new recipe at home, or trying to learn something new with her friends and family.
Tatianna Saunders
She/They
In my final year at Regis University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, I feel grateful and honored to get to work with Boulder’s community members at NCC. Being neurodivergent and a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I love working with members of these communities. I am here to meet you on a soul, human level and walk alongside you on your journey, holding a lantern up as you lead the way, navigating this landscape with curiosity and compassion.
Often, we have an intellectualizing part of ourselves that tells us what we “should” think, feel, and do, but noticing thoughts, tending to feelings, and acting in alignment with values comes from developing the capacity to experience safety and resilience in the body. Sometimes it doesn’t feel safe to be safe or it doesn’t feel okay to be okay. By approaching these parts of self, that are scared, protective, and sometimes extreme, with compassion and creativity, we can develop a more harmonious and secure relationship with ourselves and build capacity for safety and resilience. I practice with a social-justice, trauma informed approach and utilize experiential, somatic, IFS/parts work, and creative approaches as mediums for discovery, processing, and expression of your story, grief, love, anger, and trauma.
Vanshaj Garg
He/Him
I am a master's level intern in the Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist Psychology program at Naropa University. My approach to therapy is rooted in presence, curiosity, and deep respect for the complexity of being human. I draw from Buddhist psychology, contemplative practice, and my academic background in philosophy, as well as a lifelong engagement with spiritual traditions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and tantric thought.
Creativity is a vital part of my path—dance, art, and music are not just passions but ways of knowing and healing. I believe expression through the body and imagination can open doorways beyond our conditioned patterns and help us reclaim a sense of wholeness. I view therapy as a sacred space where insight, feeling, and transformation unfold through the power of genuine connection.
I am especially interested in working with individuals navigating questions of identity, meaning, and spiritual longing, as well as those facing anxiety, grief, trauma, or life transitions. I hold a trauma-informed, body-aware, and culturally sensitive lens, and invite the full range of your experience into the room.
Wherever you are on your journey, I bring warmth, attentiveness, and grounded support—and I would be honored to walk with you as you explore your inner world.