Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Monument, CO covered by Cigna

Hello, I'm Liz! I have over 5 years of experience working inpatient, outpatient, and varying levels of severity. I enjoy getting to know people and be an extra ear to their troubles. I can be sarcastic at times, and consider myself a person talking to people!

You’re here because something in your life feels heavy, confusing, or just off. Maybe you’ve been strong for everyone else for years and you’re finally wondering, “Who’s taking care of me?” Maybe you’re in a season where you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns you can’t seem to break. You might look fine on the outside—but inside, you’re tired, disconnected, or longing for a real change.

I get it. Most of the client's I work with feel exactly that way before they reach out. They’re smart, capable, and resilient... but they’re also carrying a lot. Life transitions, relationships, trauma, people-pleasing, burnout, old coping habits—they add up. I help my clients' slow down, and understand what’s driving them.

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.

"What matters more than what you know is how much you care" is a phrase I took with me from one of my professors in Grad School. I believe that statement embodies who I am and what I bring to the practice - lots of care! With that said, I have been in practice either working in both alternative and traditional high schools, as a school-based therapist in a facility school for students with special needs, and/or in the private setting since 2016. I have worked with a wide range of ages and populations, not just kids/teens but adults too! My experience includes helping those struggling with depression, anxiety, ADHD, divorce/parenting/blended families, grief/loss, sexual abuse and other traumas, autism, intellectual disabilities with co-occurring mental health diagnoses, immigration issues, and even college/career counseling. I really enjoy working with all ages! I was a double major at University of Northern Colorado, studying both School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health. I completed all of the coursework for both tracks and the School Counseling internship, graduating in May 2017.

I take a fresh, integrative approach to individualized psychotherapy, tailoring my treatment approach to each client's unique needs and goals. My work is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps clients better understand and regulate their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and reactions.

I also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), helping clients develop greater acceptance of difficult emotions and circumstances that may be out of their control while taking meaningful action aligned with their personal values. With seven years of experience as a Group Facilitator and Individual Therapist in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I utilize evidence-based skills and mindfulness practices to help clients improve emotional regulation, increase self-awareness, and build resilience.

“I help people build lives—and careers—worth living.” I specialize in guiding clients through emotional intensity, identity disruption, and vocational misalignment. My approach blends DBT and Career Construction Theory with Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and evidence-based modalities rooted in meaning-making and personal agency.

Whether you're a teen navigating emotional intensity, an LGBTQ+ individual reclaiming identity amidst cultural stress, or a professional seeking to realign purpose, I offer a structured and symbolic space for change. Together, we illuminate archetypal patterns, deconstruct inherited narratives, and build lives anchored in values, clarity, and psychological flexibility.

Hello, and welcome. I'm Christine Laster, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 21 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate life's challenges. Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of settings, including child welfare, school social work, and domestic violence services. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of trauma, resilience, and the unique challenges people face at different stages of life. I earned both my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) from Metropolitan State University of Denver. In addition to my clinical work, I am an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, where I have the privilege of teaching and mentoring graduate-level social work students.