"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being." - Carl Jung

Shalee Horstman is the founder of Denver Counseling Group. She is a psychotherapist that incorporates many modalities such as movement, play therapy, meditation, talk therapy, and dream work. Shalee believes in establishing a safe and welcoming environment for optimum healing. Her approach is psychoanalytic with an emphasis on developing a positive relationship between therapist and client. Her personal style is influenced by Jungian and affective neuroscience techniques that focus on the entire body and mind. Shalee models hard work and consistency for lasting change in an individual's life.

Philosophy

Shalee focuses on using an integrative medical approach to healing by using many modalities as the vehicles for personal development. Through taking a creative body/mind approach, an individual is encouraged to engage with the therapeutic process to integrate and further their social, cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of themselves.

Specialization

Shalee specializes in working with teens and adults who are suffering from stress, anxiety, PTSD, childhood developmental trauma, ADHD management, anger challenges, attachment concerns, low self esteem, emotional reactivity, and women's issues. She also specializes in psychosomatic symptoms such as IBS and other digestive issues, migraines, chronic pain, persistent muscle tension and other physical complaints that do not have a known medical cause.

Education

Shalee completed her Bachelor's degree in Dance Education from Florida International University and her Master's degree in Movement Psychotherapy from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Shalee completed her second Master's degree in Somatic Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She also holds her PhD in Somatic Psychology with emphasis in integrative medicine from the same university in Santa Barbara, California.

Shalee is a professional member of the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (MDIC), and Colorado Association of Psychotherapists (CAP). Shalee is also a certified child and family investigator (CFI), a certified yoga instructor (CYT), certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy, and a CASA advocate.

Shalee has worked with people from all over the world studying and analyzing movement and nonverbal communication. During her graduate degrees, she worked at world renowned mental health institutions located around the globe. She currently works within the community through the family court systems, local homeless shelters, and in private practice. Shalee continues to advocate the importance the body has on an individual's psychological functioning and strives to improve the lives of others through holistic and creative methods.

Kate is a child and adolescent psychotherapist who believes the role of the therapist is one of guidance, empowering her clients to utilize the tools they already possess to foster their own healing. She believes a warm, empathetic, and trusting therapeutic relationship is the key to creating a space of healing. She takes a client-centered approach, integrating interventions and skills from Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Philosophy

Kate strives to create a welcoming environment for clients to be able to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences while creating moments of growth and learning for the client. She believes that fostering a relationship of respect and understanding with one’s own emotional experiences is a beautiful and difficult task for clients and enjoys walking with people in a supportive way throughout this journey. She utilizes mindfulness and grounding exercises to bring awareness to a client’s present self, providing corrective experiences in those moments of unrest.

Specialization

Kate believes that all children, adolescents, and adults can benefit from a safe place to feel heard, accepted, and understood. She specializes in working with children and adolescents who are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationships, self-esteem, body-image, or grief. Kate employs a client-centered, integrative approach to therapy to find the modality that best suits her clients and will help further their goals.

Education

Kate received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Speech Language Hearing Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder. She completed her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver.

Kate has worked with clients of all ages in community mental health and school settings in both individual and group structures. Her prior work has been at Denver Public Schools and Judi’s House, which is a nonprofit providing grief counseling to children and families.