Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Durango, CO covered by United Healthcare

Hello! I approach therapy with a focus on unconscious patterns which have been shaping my clients' experiences. It is an adventure we take together. When appropriate, I draw from a rich experience in philosophy and the arts to deepen the rapport. My personal experience with recovery from depression and addiction factor in as well.

I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner who works from the belief that people are not broken—and that many of the struggles we call “mental illness” make sense when we look at trauma, context, and lived experience. I’m especially attuned to the ways mental health systems, stigma, and labels can unintentionally cause harm, and I aim to practice in a way that feels respectful, collaborative, and deeply human.

My approach is unconventional and trauma-informed, influenced by perspectives like those of Gabor Maté, which emphasize compassion, curiosity, and understanding symptoms as meaningful responses rather than defects. I do not believe in rushing to pathologize the human experience. As Joni Mitchell once reflected about depression, sometimes what we’re feeling is not an illness to be fixed, but a signal—an honest response to pain, loss, or a world that has not been kind.

Are you struggling with anxiety, relationship, or addiction issues? I specialize in all three of those. With my 20 years of experience I can help you get the change and relief you are looking for. Most of my clients start to feel better within a couple of sessions. Therapy can be short or long term and I will work with you on a plan that works best for you and your needs. Some of my other experience includes, depression, mood disorders, couples/family issues, major life changes, grief, divorce, domestic violence, parenting, trauma, and adjustments to adult children.

I know starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve felt misunderstood in the past.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience in behavioral health, and I hold a Doctor of Social Work (DSW). I specialize in childhood trauma, anxiety, burnout, and working with neurodivergent individuals, including ADHD and autism. I often support people who feel overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, or exhausted from masking and holding everything together on their own.

My style is warm and down to earth, and I focus on meeting you where you are in each session. Therapy with me is collaborative and flexible, shaped around what works best for you. My goal is to offer a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported as you work toward meaningful change.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) specializing in mental health and trauma, I provide compassionate, client-centered care. I believe healing is a holistic process that addresses both mind and body. Working collaboratively with clients, I create a safe space to explore experiences and heal from past wounds.

Credentials and Experience

I'm a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Oklahoma and Colorado, a board-certified counselor (NCC), and hold a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision - which means I don't just practice therapy, I train and supervise other therapists. That clinical depth shapes everything about how I work with clients.

My specialization is neurocounseling: integrating what we know about the brain and nervous system into practical, grounded therapy. I also hold specialized training in telehealth - so working with you virtually isn't a workaround, it's where I do my best work.

I work with adults navigating anxiety, burnout, trauma, identity, and the particular kind of exhaustion that comes from holding everything together for too long.

Accepting new clients today, starting where you are! We can: navigate life with more balance, access resources with self-compassion. Specializing in older adults and caregivers for over 15 years. Focus: aging, adjustment issues, cognitive/health issues, depression and anxiety while honoring your strengths. I also support younger adults, trauma, & reclaiming personal power to be your best self. Graduated DU's Graduate School of Social Work with honors in 2008, working in myriad health settings, mainly serving older adults.

Two decades of clinical excellence.

Dr. Cindy Ruelas-Tafolla's path to becoming a clinician began at age 13 with the sudden loss of her father — an experience that planted the seed of her life's purpose: to be the kind of support she needed during her own darkest moments.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from UC Santa Barbara, her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, and her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) from USC.

Over two decades, she has served as a Medical Social Worker, Case Manager, and Behavioral Health Therapist — bringing doctoral-level depth, board-certified credentials, and genuine compassion to every client she works with.

Nice to meet you, I go by Jes. I have been working as a licensed clinical social worker for over 10 years. You may be looking for someone who can understand what you are going through and feeling. I have seen a many individuals in my practice struggling with life changes, depression, anxiety and other things that get in the way of feeling our best day to day. Its important that you have someone that you feel safe and not judged as you open up and explore your challenges. You can be assured that I am going to approach your session with an open mind and desire to show up for you. I attended University of Denver and received several certifications including animal assisted therapy, play therapy and EMDR.

I have found my own personal healing to be intimately connected to nature, and it is here that I believe that we can all begin to rediscover our intrinsic humanity and let go of those things that distract us from our higher selves. In my spare time, I work as an outdoor educator and manage my own private practice and guide Outdoor Retreats

I believe it is helpful and important to translate what is discussed in session and in telehealth meetings into lived experience and real change.