Marinda Peak, MA, LPC,  took the time to answer a few questions about herself.  It’s important to all of us at Grace that clients and potential clients feel comfortable in their care, but your sessions should always be about you.  If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Marinda, call our office at (720) 489-8555 or click here and we will reach out to you.

Tell me a little bit about yourself:

I recently became a mom and am loving this new role in my life! It has its challenges and tough days for sure, but my husband and I went through a couple of years of dealing with fertility issues and a miscarriage, so we are beyond ecstatic about becoming parents! I love that on top of being a wife and mom I get to be a therapist and do what I love and am passionate about. I love my hubby and we have been married for almost 9 years. He keeps me grounded and makes me laugh! If I’m not counseling people or spending time with my family, I am probably watching HGTV or organizing something in my house. I dislike cooking and can be an extreme introvert at times. I love learning, being creative and traveling–all of which I need to carve more time out for. I enjoy reading for work but also love sci-fi/fantasy novels in my spare time.

 

How long have you lived in Colorado?

I was born in California, but moved to Colorado when I was 6 months old. I love this state and the seasons we get to experience here. My husband is from Texas and we visit his family several times a year. I wish I could say I am an avid skier or snowboarder, but it’s actually not something I grew up doing. I do love the mountains, hiking and camping and seeing the fall colors every autumn. We are blessed to live in such an amazing climate!

 

What do you like to do on the weekends?

Weekends are our down time after the busyness of the work week. We take our son to swim lessons on Saturdays (baby swim lessons are the cutest thing ever!) and try to get some R&R. Sundays we are at church and try to stay involved and active there. I studied interior design before obtaining my BA and MA, and secretly like to visit model homes to get design inspiration even though we aren’t looking for a home to buy. My creative side enjoys this activity and luckily my husband does too!

 

What clients are you best suited to help?

I have many years of experience working with children, teens and their families. I also have a huge heart for women, especially new moms. Parenting has some unique challenges and it can be overwhelming and confusing trying to keep up with the latest “expert” advice out there. We really are living more now in the age of “mis-information” or being “overly informed” which can cause a lot of fear and anxiety. I love to work with families and individuals to help navigate issues such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, academic stress, ADHD, learning disorders, social phobias, OCD, transitions (marriage, divorce, re-marriage, re-locations), communication, pre and post-partum anxiety/depression, trauma, and abuse.

 

What can a client expect in their first session with you?

In my first session with clients, I like to do a very thorough intake. Meaning, I ask questions about your medical history, mental health history, family history, educational history, and even where you were born, raised and what your relationships with each of your family members is like. As a therapist, I often am working to understand a person holistically, and connect the pieces of what might be contributing to the presenting issue you come in with. I like to go over your goals as well so I know what you are hoping to learn or accomplish during your time in counseling. Therapy is an investment and it is important to me for my clients to feel like they are working towards their identified goals and that they are seeing progress as we go.

 

Do you offer any specialized types of therapy?

The therapy modalities I use with my clients include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Family Systems Therapy. I am also well trained in grief counseling and trauma/abuse therapy. When working with children and adolescents I like to create a team of professionals that may include school counselors, pediatricians, psychiatrists or nutritionists, as well as parents and siblings. Kids who are struggling are often needing support in many different areas and I want to be sure they are getting the help they and their parents need.

 

What drew you to become a counselor?

My parents were my inspiration for becoming a counselor. They both went through therapy when I was a young teen and I remember noticing such a transformation in both of them. Seeing them choose to work hard, heal from childhood wounds, and create a new life for their family was truly inspiring. That always stuck with me. I am also an INFJ on the Meyers Briggs and have the spiritual gifts of empathy and discernment. From a young age I knew that I wanted to help people, and feel that all of these factors played a role in establishing a career in the counseling field.

 

What is your favorite part of being a counselor?

My favorite part of being a counselor is having the honor to sit with unique human beings and hear their story. Getting to sit as a witness to people’s lives and experiences can be both heart wrenching and inspiring. I love seeing relief from people when they finally feel heard and understood. I love hearing parents telling me about how much their relationship with their teen has improved as we work on connecting, listening, and communicating effectively. I love when I can laugh (and cry) with my clients because we both get how overwhelming post-partum life can be. I love seeing families grow closer together, to heal and function optimally and want to see that spread into our communities as well.

 

How do you use your faith to guide your patients?

First and foremost, I pray. I pray every single day I come into the office for wisdom, discernment, truth, hope and healing. I pray when my day is done asking for God to take each of my clients into His care. Whether my clients are of a religious background or not, I believe in the sanctity, dignity, and value of each person I see. I also allow my clients to decide if they want their religion, faith, or beliefs to be included in their therapy and respect where they are at in their individual journeys.

 

What is your favorite book to recommend to patients?

I have many favorite books I like to recommend to my clients! My favorite author I recommend the most would be Dan Siegel. I love information about the brain and neuro-psychology and have found it to be a powerful tool for clients understanding themselves and how they are currently functioning. My favorites of Dan’s include, “The Whole Brain Child” and “Parenting from the Inside Out.” I also love “Brain Rules for Baby” by John Medina and “Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child” by Gottman & Goleman.