Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Salida, CO

Hello, I'm Theda. With over 25 years of experience in the mental health and addiction fields, I have had the privilege of working with individuals, groups, and families in various clinical settings, including inpatient, outpatient, in-home, and group homes. My journey in mental health began with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Education in Agency Counseling from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Does he world feel like it has gotten a little overwhelming, or even a little nutty? You don't have to navigate it alone, therapy can be a place to slow things down, talk it through and. build practical skills to help you navigate with more clarity and confidence.

Small town living is a special kind of living. I have lived in northeastern Colorado my entire life, except for a short 5 years in Olympia, WA. I understand small town life.

I decided to become a therapist 14 years ago and completed my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Northcentral University. My passion for helping families and individuals heal led me to specialize in Medical Family Therapy and to also receive advance training in EMDR therapy.

Sometimes life overwhelms us, but it doesn’t have to. I believe we all have the potential to control the way we react to situations we face.

With decades of experience, I am well-versed in many different modalities. No one approach works for everyone, so I built a large tool kit to have a broad range of tools available. Areas of expertise include individual, couples and family counseling, trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, special needs of gifted and talented, medical social work, impact of illness, traumatic brain injury, grief and bereavement, positive aging, geriatrics and end of life issues. Having been raised in a military family I enjoy working with our veterans, active duty personnel and their families.

I believe we all have unique strengths that can help us navigate life’s challenges. Seeking out support through counseling is one way to re-discover and to cultivate those strengths. I work with adolescents and adults to assist them through life’s ups and downs. I am LGBTQ+ allied and affirming and I utilize a multicultural approach when working with clients. I welcome you to come as you are— I will meet you wherever you are at.

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.