I am Natalie Hanks, Licensed Therapist + Registered Play Therapist located in Rifle, Colorado. I graduated from Adams State University with my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I work with children, teens, adults, couples and families in a private practice tackling through a variety of issues such as anxiety depression, trauma, mood disorders, family of origin issues, cancer/chronic illness, addiction, grief and loss, interpersonal conflict and life transitions. My therapeutic style is humanistic and integrative which combines a different therapeutic approach to fit the needs of each unique individual.
I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, the leading approach for PTSD and those recovering from traumatic events. As a trauma informed therapist, I am passionate about addressing trauma through an EMDR lens to help desensitize and reprocess negative thoughts that are keeping you stuck. Why re-traumatize by continually talking about distressing events if you don't have to? EMDR enables you to heal from trauma symptoms and emotional distress without verbally processing them. I utlitize EMDR therapy in my work to target any anxiety, fear, trauma, adverse life events and negative core beliefs. I am firm believer that no situation is too small, if it is causing you distress in your life.
My approach is warm, honest and empathic to create a comforting and encouraging environment, for my clients to feel empowered to transform their lives without fear. I believe human relationships are nuanced and these are complex things that deserve to be unpacked through the therapy process, and I am here to guide and walk beside you through it. I feel strongly that you are the expert of yourself and that together we can work to better understand where your feelings come from, and what we can do to lessen or remove any distress impairing your life.
Top Specialties: Trauma and PTSD, Child/Adolescent, Cancer, Addiction
Expertise in the following: Anxiety, Behavioral Issues, Chronic Illness, Coping Skills, Depression, Dissociative Disorders (DID), Dual Diagnosis, Eating Disorders, Family Conflict, Grief, Life Transitions, Parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem, Sexual Abuse, Women's Issues
Modalities: Art Therapy, Attachment-based, Biofeedback, Brainspotting, EMDR, Family Systems, Humanistic, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Play Therapy, Relational, Sandplay, Somatic, Trauma Focused
Ask me what different modalities are like!
"KNOWING ONESE'F COMES FROM ATTENDING WITH COMPASSIONATE CURIOUSITY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN" - GABOR MATE
Specialized Professional Training + Certificates:
2018 EMDR Professional Training
2019 National Training Institute on Effective Practices Addressing Challenging Behavior
2019 Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training
2021 TF-CBT
2021 Collaborative Assessment & Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
2021 Foundations of Child-Centered Play Therapy
2021 Practice of Child-Centered Play Therapy
2021 EMDR in Play Therapy: Processing Strategies for Children
2021 Sandtray in Play Therapy
2021 Attachment: Creating Connection through Play Therapy
2022 Special Topics in Play Therapy: Infants, Toddlers and Neurosensory Play
2022 Engaging Adolescents in Play Therapy
2022 Parent-Child Relationship Therapy (CPRT)
2022 Theories of Directive Play Therapy
2022 Play Therapy with Abuse and Trauma
2023 Special Topics in Play Therapy: Grief and Adult Inner Child
2023 Assessing, Diagnosing and Treating Eating Disorders
2023 Registered Play Therapist Certificate
Education:
Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Adams State University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Wyoming
Associate of Arts, Psychology, Western Wyoming Community College
Professional Memberships:
Association for Play Therapy
American Mental Health Counselors Association
Internation Association of Trauma Professionals
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Supervision:
Couples + Family Therapy 2020-2022
Addiction Therapy 2020-2022
Trauma Therapy 2016-2020
Individual Therapy 2016-2023
Play Therapy 2020-2023
Eating Disorders 2020 & 2024
EMDR Therapy 2016-2018
*I have had thousands of hours in supervision in the topics above. I have sought a majority of these hours outside of licensure to better serve my clients. I pride myself in continuously growing within the field.