Grief counselors and therapists in Durango, CO

Therapy with me helps you to feel different, not just to think different. I work with people looking to shift at the core. I am your collaborator in accessing more resilient states and to discover more ease in your daily life.

People who seek me out tend to be: teachers, queer folks, quarterlifers (ages 20-40), first responders, therapists, snow & avalanche workers, guides, outdoor educators, nonprofit employees, athletes ... and may be looking for help with trauma (childhood & event specific), outdoor accidents, grief & loss, chronic pain, relationship challenges, life transitions, identity exploration, & ongoing resilience support

My journey towards therapy started in the forests on the Pacific Crest Trail and in the San Juan Mountains as a Wilderness Therapy Guide. I was entranced by people's stories that landed them on the trail, as well as by their takes on life. I decided to get my Master's in Counseling at Adam's State University so that I could professionally hear people's stories. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Colorado. I have experience working with families, couples and individuals ages 12+. I am passionate about helping people manage chronic stress that seems inevitable in the current world we live in.

Clinical experience: 30+ years working with adults, couples, families, adolescents, and children specializing in trauma and co-occurring disorders with an integrative and holistic approach. Graduated from Saybrook University: Doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology (2010); Naropa University: Masters in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology & Art Therapy.

Melissa ("Mel") Klootwyk, MSN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over eight years of psychiatric mental health experience providing care across inpatient, PHP, IOP, and outpatient settings to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Mel has experience treating a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, to more complex mood, trauma-related, thought, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

I am a dual board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner committed to supporting your mental wellness. I help children, teens and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, mood disorders and ADHD.

I completed my training at Case Western Reserve University, and I went on to complete additional certification at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

I aim to create a safe space where you feel heard and empowered. I would love to assist you on your path to growing, as we work together to achieve personalized, goals that promote positive outcomes.

Are you a parent, pregnant, or thinking about starting a family? Or, are you in your late teens / early 20s and trying to figure out who you are as you head into adulthood? I'm passionate about the process of becoming - whether that's matrescence (the transition to motherhood & parenthood), or adolescence (the transition to adulthood). I have over 10 years of experience working with young people as an international/wilderness guide and clinician. My own experiences with pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood led me to seek out specialized training in supporting folks in this transition. Current openings for in-person therapy on Thursdays at my office located in South Denver near DU. Schedule a free consult call with me to see if it's a good fit!

Everyone has a life story and every story is important. Are you feeling unsure, stuck, or lost in your life story? You don’t have to go through it alone. We can co-create achievable actions and goals leading to your happiness, hope, and healing. With over 20 years’ experience and training in multiple therapeutic approaches; progress can be rapid and lasting. Working with adults navigating disruptive thought patterns, confusing life circumstances, and past traumas.