Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Frisco, 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.

Sometimes the hardest part is just deciding to reach out. I work with children, adolescents, and adults who are navigating anxiety, trauma, family stress, and the weight of experiences that are hard to carry alone. I am affirming and experienced in working with LGBTQIA+ and transgender individuals, and I welcome clients across a wide range of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whether you are dealing with the effects of trauma, anxiety that has become hard to manage, or stress that has quietly built up over time, I want our work together to feel like a genuine partnership.

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.