Meet Our Therapists

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
• Licensed School Counselor -Colorado
• Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from University of Colorado-Denver
• 20+ years of experience working with teens — as a teacher, advisor, school counselor and private therapist

Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation

Michael Heckendorn, M.Ed., NCC

My beginnings started in the small Northern Michigan town of Charlevoix where I was drawn into the idea of helping people. I’ve always had a passion for working with adolescent and young adults. It is the trickiest time to navigate one’s own identity and to develop very important skills that will impact their future. For caregivers, this time of life can be the most difficult and confusing. The delicate balance between independence, self-concept, self-motivation, social conformity, risk-taking, and self-regulation is hard to understand and accomplish. This is why I became a counselor – to help adolescents and their families on the challenging road of self-discovery, healing, and purpose.

 I have had professional counseling experience working with children as young as three years old to working with struggling college freshman. Having experience in clinical and school settings alike have well prepared me to understand the day-to-day challenges that teens face. In counseling, I use many activities and hands on techniques while working with adolescents, including working on direct skills – anger management, self-regulation, self-esteem building, assertiveness training, organization techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, etc. I also believe in the power of meaning and self-identity; two areas that will be key concepts no matter the situation.

 My experience includes both of my degrees: Psychology/Counseling BA from Anderson University and School Counseling M.Ed. from Indiana State University. I’ve worked at a clinical mental health center as both an outpatient case manager and school-based case manager. After this, I assisted in the development of a summer program to help struggling high school seniors become successful in college and complete college in four years. My last employment was working as a behavioral interventionist and PBIS coordinator for a middle school in Indiana. All of these jobs and degrees have led me to this point where I am now a school counselor at Prairie Middle School in the Cherry Creek School District.

 When I’m not working, I enjoy rock climbing, backpacking, and standing on the top of 14,000ft mountains. I spend a lot of my spare time reading, learning guitar, and playing sports with my friends.

 My professional focuses are:

• Self-Concept / Meaning
• Anger Management
• Self-Regulation
• Assertiveness Training
• Anxiety
• Suicidal Ideation / Self Harm
• Wilderness / Adventure Therapy

My credentials and licenses:

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology/Counseling – May 2012
• Master of Education Degree in School Counseling, CACREP accredited – May 2015
• Nationally Certified Counselor – May 2015
• School Counseling License: Indiana – May 2015
• School Counseling License: Colorado – June 2015
• Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate – July 2015

Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation

 

Becky McDowell, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor

I specialize in providing therapeutic support for teens, children and parents. I employ the use of play therapy and talk therapy with children age 5 and older. Play therapy allows the child to communicate and work through issues in a manner that is natural for each child. Using a person-centered approach, I use solution-focused and cognitive behavioral strategies with teens in order to create personal connections and trust with my clients. I focus on exploring individual strengths of each child and teen in order to encourage positive and authentic change as well as building effective coping strategies. I believe that parental support and education is vital to each child’s/teen’s progress, and I work closely with parents throughout the therapeutic process.

Areas of Specialty

• Anxiety
• Self-Harm
• Difficult Relationships with Peers
• Bullying
• Academic Struggles
• Conflict with Family Members
• Anger
• Grief/Loss
• Adjustment to Divorce and Blended Families

Services

• Individual Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Parent Classes
• Parent Coaching
• Consultation with School Counselors

Background

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
• Licensed School Counselor
• Master’s Degrees in Counseling and Special Education
• 10+ Years in Education, School Counseling
• Parent of Two Children for 27 Years

Contact me for a free 30 minute Consultation