natalie hanks

Welcome to my office! Can you imagine coming in for your first session? Not pictured is the sound of rain, the ambiance of the rock lamp + lava lamp, and the room lit with a warm glow as we chat or play. Morning sessions are a delight as rainbows dance across the room. A cozy + tranquil office is so important to me!

 Trainings in therapy often cost thousands of dollars... This is on top of the 60K+ that we spent just to get our master's degree and to be able to provide therapy. Then you add in the required continuing education credits- every two years we are required to take 40 hrs of continuing education. This leaves a huge issue for most therapists within the field- they simply can't afford more trainings. Which leads to a shortage of qualified professionals within the field, and this is exactly what you see in our area. There are no other Registered Play Therapists in Garfield County and possibly 1 in Pikin County. This leads children and parents really no options for therapy besides basic "talk therapy" or possibly with the inclusion of a few toys and games, or to drive to Grand Junction and/or Denver for a Play Therapist. If you are a therapist in the area, I would love to share my knowledge and trainings with you. I'm passionate about addressing children's mental he...

 Needing a therapist and wondering who to call? Most organizations that offer therapy have lengthy wait times, limited availability, and often a shortage of qualified therapists. These therapists are often required to carry large caseloads and reduce session frequency and length to meet numbers. I know because I worked in numerous community organizations that left me feeling as a therapist burnout and my client's feeling inadequately served.  This was the catalyst to me opening my private practice in 2020. I wanted to offer quality counseling services with the flexibility and affordability that clients needed. The beauty of private practice was I was able to structure my services around the benefit of a client vs. profiting for a large company.  What can you expect from my practice? +  Availability within two weeks of you calling/emailing + Ability to have weekly or bi-weekly 50min sessions + Most insurances accepted + Financial options for client's who can't afford ...

 You don't have to be an artist to do art therapy🖌 Art Therapy is another experiential modality, which means the experience is what facilitates change. We don't focus on thinking differently or being different, but rather slowing down and noticing the body and the experience that it is having. Art therapy helps a client attune to their body and to release stored emotions + energy that is held there.  What does art therapy look like? Art therapy is pretty relaxed in my opinion. You as a client get a choice in mediums for the session. I have quite the variety and/or you are welcome to bring your own materials. We then check in and see how you are doing. If there are feelings or topics that you want to explore, we target them through art. I give you an activity in which you spend the session creating a piece of art. At the end we explore the piece together and notice how you felt before, during and after the creation of the piece. We explore how the body feels after creating the...

 I have a soft spot for foster care & adoption clients 💓 From the ages of 5-11, I lived in the foster care system. Five different homes over the course of six years. I was adopted at the age of 11. I was diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder, PTSD & Depression. As a child, I saw a Play Therapist and was able to address all of my diagnoses.  My personal experience being in foster care and then being adopted brings a wealth of understanding, empathy and compassion for the client and their family.  I know what it's like to move from home to home. I know what it's like to have a garbage bag to take your belongings to the next home. I know what it's like hoping that someone will love you & adopt you. I know what it's like to struggle connecting with others after your experience in foster care. I know what it's like to wonder about your birth family. I know what it's like to feel different because you were adopted. There are so many things we can ex...

 Let's be honest, I'm kind of a nerd I can still remember my mother stating as a child "video games will rot your brain away." I have to laugh now as I get paid to play video games with kids, how neat is that? Granted, video games in general can cause quite the controversial discussion, but I'm a firm believer that video games can be therapeutic and foster growth and change within a client. Majority of children are playing video games, and this provides the "buy in" needed to begin therapy. This is often an immediate connection between me and then client and often times makes therapy enjoyable due to our shared connection.  What does Video Game Therapy look like? If your child is 8+, I offer Roblox & Minecraft as the platform to facilitate therapy. This becomes the playroom within therapy. We can play in-person together or virtually over a telehealth session making video games a perfect virtual option for therapy. We become friends on the platform an...