DBT-Informed Therapist Denver, CO

If any of that sounds familiar, you're not alone. DBT therapy offered through online therapy in Colorado can help you close the gap between knowing and actually changing, and give you real tools for the moments when anxiety takes over.

You’re still here, still trying

The fact that you're still trying matters. The fact that you haven't given up on yourself, even when the gap between knowing and changing feels impossibly wide, says something real about you. You want more than this. You want to actually feel different, not just understand why you feel the way you do.

That wanting is worth something. It's actually the place we start.

You're working so hard to get better.

You know what you need to do. Or more than that, you know what you need to stop doing. The awareness is there, and it's real. But knowing and actually changing are two completely different things, and the gap between them can feel impossible to close. You keep trying. Something keeps pulling you back.

And then sometimes the anxiety just takes over. It sweeps in and suddenly you don't know what to do with yourself, where to turn, how to get through the next hour. You feel overwhelmed by it in a way that's hard to explain to anyone who hasn't felt it.

The people I work with often have plenty of self-awareness but feel like that awareness alone isn't getting them anywhere. They know what they should do and still find themselves stuck, overwhelmed, or pulled back into the same patterns again and again.

My approach is warm, practical, and grounded in real skill-building. I'm not here to help you understand your anxiety from a distance. I'm here to help you build the actual tools to work with it in the moments when it matters most. Clients who work with me often describe a shift from feeling at the mercy of their emotions to feeling like they have something real to reach for when things get hard. That shift doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen.

I believe the gap between knowing and changing isn't a character flaw. It's a skills gap. And skills can be learned. When you have real strategies to reach for in hard moments, the overwhelm starts to lose some of its power. That's what this work is about.

How DBT Therapy Works

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It's one of the most well-researched approaches available for anxiety and emotional overwhelm, and it's built around four core areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Together, these skills help you move through hard moments without being completely overtaken by them.

Meet Your Anxiety and OCD Therapist in Denver

Hi! I'm Alison, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) offering DBT-informed online therapy for adults across Colorado who are exhausted from the cycles of anxiety, OCD, and fear.

In our work together, we don't just talk about what's hard. We build a practical toolkit you can use when anxiety sweeps in and you don't know what to do with yourself. Over time, many clients find that they:

- Feel less at the mercy of their anxiety and more able to respond rather than react

- Have concrete strategies to reach for when overwhelm hits

- Begin to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it

- Experience more moments of feeling steady, even when things are hard

Because I offer online therapy throughout Colorado, you can access this work from wherever you are. Your home, your office, anywhere you have a private space and a reliable connection.

This isn't about becoming someone who never feels anxious. It's about becoming someone who knows what to do when the anxiety shows up.

You Don't Have to Keep Trying Alone

If you’re ready to truly move forward in your life and feel confident in navigating what life throws at you, please feel free to reach out to me and schedule your free consultation. I’d be honored to connect with you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DBT therapy, and how does it work?

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It was originally developed for people experiencing intense emotional overwhelm, and it has since become one of the most well-researched therapeutic approaches available. DBT is built around four skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Rather than focusing only on understanding your emotions, DBT gives you practical tools to work with them in real time. 

Is DBT therapy a good fit for anxiety and OCD?

Yes. DBT is particularly helpful for people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, caught in repetitive patterns, or stuck in the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. While DBT was not originally designed specifically for OCD, many of its core skills, especially distress tolerance and mindfulness, are highly relevant for people managing OCD and anxiety.

How is DBT different from other types of therapy?

A lot of therapy focuses primarily on insight, understanding why you feel the way you do. DBT does that too, but it also emphasizes skill-building in a very practical, concrete way. You leave sessions with tools you can actually use when things get hard. For people who feel like they've done a lot of talking in therapy without things actually shifting, DBT often feels meaningfully different because it gives you something to do in the hard moments, not just something to think about.

What kinds of concerns do you specialize in?

I specialize in OCD and anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias. I work particularly well with people who are self-aware and motivated but feel stuck, people who understand their patterns intellectually but haven't been able to change them.

Do you offer in-person therapy?

No, all of my sessions are virtual, and I work with adults throughout Colorado. Many clients find that doing this work from their own space actually makes it easier to open up and practice new skills in the environment where they need them most. Sessions are held over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.

I don't live near Denver. Can I still work with you?

Of course! I offer online therapy throughout Colorado, so you can access services from anywhere in the state. Whether you're in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Grand Junction, or a smaller community, you're welcome to reach out.

What if I've tried therapy before and didn't get much out of it?

That experience is more common than you might think, and it doesn't mean therapy can't help you. Sometimes it's a matter of finding the right approach or the right fit. If previous therapy felt like talking in circles without real change, a skills-based approach like DBT may feel very different.

How do I know if I'm ready to start therapy?

You don't have to feel ready. Most people who reach out aren't sure they're ready; they just know something needs to change. If you're exhausted from trying to manage your anxiety on your own and feel like you keep hitting the same wall, that's enough of a reason to reach out. You don't need to have it figured out before your first session.

What does a first session look like?

The first session is really about getting to know you. There is no pressure to dive into the hardest stuff right away. I will ask about what's been going on, what you've already tried, and what you're hoping for. It's also a chance for you to ask questions and get a feel for whether working together feels like a good fit. Many clients say they feel a sense of relief just from being heard in that first conversation.

How long does therapy usually take?

Everyone's experience is different. Some clients come in with a specific focus and feel ready to move on after a few months. Others find that the work opens up in ways they didn't expect and choose to continue longer. I will check in with you regularly to make sure our work continues to feel meaningful and well-matched to what you need.

What does online therapy in Colorado cost, and do you take insurance?

I currently accept the following insurances: Medicaid (CO Access), United Healthcare, and Aetna. If you do not have insurance or don’t want to use it, my private pay rate is $170 per 55 minute session. I am happy to provide superbills if you wish to request out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance company.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Everything you share in therapy is confidential, with a small number of exceptions required by law, such as situations involving risk of harm. I will walk you through the details of confidentiality in your first session so you know exactly what to expect. Your privacy matters, and so does your sense of safety in the work.

How do I get started?

Your first step is to schedule a consultation call. You can reach out via my contact form, email me at alison@indigotherapyandwellness.com, or call me at 720-673-5564. I would be honored to connect with you!