Phone: 303-940-7740
Biography
I am a psychologist specializing in the treatment of adults with anxiety disorders and OCD and I love doing this work. I feel very fortunate to be spending my career helping people break free from the suffering that holds them back from living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
In addition to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I have interest and experience utilizing mindfulness-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). As such, my approach to Exposure Therapy is enhanced by incorporating principles of mindfulness and acceptance.
I earned my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Throughout my graduate education, I pursued specialized clinical training in treating anxiety, OCD, and trauma at the University of Pennsylvania Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, as well as the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Rutgers University. I completed my APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the Coatesville VA Medical Center outside of Philadelphia, PA, where I provided mental health treatment to Veterans experiencing anxiety and posttraumatic stress. I am a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Colorado.
When I’m not doing therapy, you can find me playing with my two dogs, reading memoirs, listening to podcasts, exploring new hole-in-the-wall restaurants with my husband, and spending time outdoors. We have lived on both east and west coasts, and are happy to have settled in Denver!
Q+A with Dr. St. Denis:
What would your clients say about you as a therapist?
I think clients would say that I offer a warm and welcoming environment and bring my authentic self into the therapeutic relationship. I find a lot of humor in life and enjoy using humor in therapy when appropriate. I believe that most people come to therapy desiring growth and healing; my approach is to help clients get to the bottom of what is keeping them stuck, teach them the skills they need to improve their own lives and, ultimately, empower them to become their own therapist. My clients would say that I have a very collaborative style and provide treatment that is flexible and tailored to each individual’s needs, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Do you have any pets?
Yes! I’m a huge animal lover. I have two dogs – Wilson and Fiona. Fun fact is that I successfully used exposure therapy on my (very brave but nervy) rescue pup. He’s living his best life now. 🙂
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Buying fake succulents – I can’t stop. I just love having plants around but can’t seem to keep the real ones alive.
What are your favorite podcasts?
I’m a big podcast fan. For pure comedy/entertainment, I go to Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend or, my new favorite, Tig and Cheryl: True Story. I also really like We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle for inspiration, and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard to hear some interesting conversations.
What’s your favorite movie?
I’d have to go with The Princess Bride – a classic.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
In Kindergarten, I ran off the bus and hugged the leg of a woman I thought was my mom. I will never forget her looking down at me and replying, “I am not your mother.” It’s funny to me now but at the time, I was horrified.
What is your dream vacation?
Thailand… it seems like the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. There are beautiful beaches and tropical forests, so many cool animals like elephants and monkeys, and I could eat Thai food forever.