Therapy may be the most important investment you can make in yourself……
Why counseling/mentoring and not just counseling?
Well, I’ll admit, I’m at a bit of a crossroads with counseling.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor (clinically trained in the mental health field), I was taught to be egalitarian and inclusive. I was taught to approach my clients with “unconditional positive regard,” nodding thoughtfully to what they were saying and validating how they were feeling.
I thought my role as their therapist was to create a safe space where my clients felt heard, validated and supported. So for years I would listen and reflect back what I thought a client was saying, to emphasize that I was hearing them. I didn’t think it was my job in counseling to challenge someone’s beliefs, or call someone out when they were wallowing or hiding. I thought that could be hurtful or inappropriate.
But after several years into owning my private counseling practice in Denver, Colorado, I realized that I felt incongruent if I validated a client if they were not willing to taking ownership of their life.
I learned that nodding thoughtfully when I disagreed was in a way, lying.
I realized that counseling as I knew it, was often enabling my clients to stay stuck in old dysfunctional patterns and left me feeling drained and unhelpful.
Anyone can nod thoughtfully and validate, but I have more to offer and so I chose to step out and be more active in my therapy sessions with clients. Because I am in the room too. That’s when I began exploring the concept of mentoring as an “alternative” to counseling.
Mentoring isn’t necessarily that much different then counseling. In fact, a mentor is technically a “trusted counselor or guide.” But the role of a mentor is, at times, to impart wisdom on a mentee.
The mentee seeks to gain knowledge that can help them grow. A mentee has a desire to be parented (even when that includes “tough love”), and most importantly, challenged.
Because if we are not challenged, we will not grow!
Many of the clients I work with now, spent years in therapy before they found me. Years in therapy without seeing significant changes!
They often describe their past experience with therapists as something like this: “Well, my last therapist was supportive and caring, she listened to me, but I didn’t really change that much, and I kept falling back into the same patterns.”
Feeling heard and supported is only half of what it takes to make changes. And I think what we are gravely lacking in our society is trusted and supported mentors, who are willing to say the hard things, share their knowledge and wisdom, and in turn – show the mentee (client) that they can do better in their lives.
If I choose to work with you, it’s because I believe in you. And I believe that I can help you grow into the life you want for yourself – but that means, sometimes we will look at things you might not expect to look at.
That means, we will sometimes talk about things you have never talked about before. Yes, I have all those conversations from a caring and compassionate place.
AND my style at times can be direct, because I don’t want to waste your time or your money. I have keen insight. I have over a decade of experience working with clients, on top of over a decade of doing my own personal work. It would be a disservice to both of us if I sat quietly and nodded, while you went on and on about something that was perhaps a distraction from the real issue.
I want to hear you and understand you and I want to support you, but I also want to challenge you, encourage you and push you.
I don’t settle for complacency anymore – because I want a society where people are willing to go beyond their fears to live extraordinary lives – and as a mentor, that is what I believe I can offer.
My goal is to help you see yourself as you really are so you feel empowered to create the life you want.
I will help you get to the root of the problem to create sustainable long term change.
Some therapy methods I specialize in and help mentor on include:
Anxiety
Depression
Life Transitions
Grief and Loss
Chronic Illness and Injury
Spiritual Exploration
Stress Management
Self Esteem
Conflict Resolution
Dream Analysis
Kind words from mentor/counseling clients:
“I started working with Katie in counseling at a very crucial and introspective time in my life. She helped me look deeper than I ever had before. She guided me through past, present and future using her keen intuition, helpful techniques like guided meditation, and always with much warmth and her calm way of being. This is not to say I was not challenged, because I was! Katie seemed to have that pertinent question ready for me, waiting to be asked at just the right moment. Being in a session with Katie always felt like a safe haven and therefore I was able to open up and discover places, ideas, feelings and dreams I had previously not encountered. She was a wonderful companion throughout my exploration and I very highly recommend her as a therapist.” – LS
“Through both talk therapy and guided visualization, Katie Mason taught me how to better manage my stress in order to lead an authentic, happy life. Katie is very gifted at bringing out the best in someone, and helping them see their best self.” -EC
“Katie has demonstrated a level of listening, thought partner work, and non -judgmental guidance that was immensely helpful in my life. She gave me the space to increase my own self -reflection, physical awareness ,and make connections of patterns and trends in my life!” – RG
About Katie Mason Counseling, Mentorship & Motivational Speaking
Katie Mason offers counseling in Denver for anxiety, depression, life transitions, dream interpretation, guided meditation and more. As a motivational speaker and comedian as well, Katie brings her unique message of hope in the strangest places in an accessible way.
Have you felt just… stuck lately? The answers may be within you (or your dreams). Katie helps you identify what your mind and body are already telling you, and provides you with honest feedback and real tools to help you cope and even thrive in your everyday life.
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Forms to Download:
Forms to Download
Prior to your first session, please download ALL 3 FORMS and bring them with you.
1). Disclosure Statement
2). Client Background form
3). Cancelation Policy and Card Form
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RECLAIM YOUR LIFE – for more information about injury and illness