Background and training:

I am Deanna Fierman, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Colorado, and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). I received an MA from CU Denver in 2012 in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education, in the Couple and Family therapy program, as well as an MA from CU Boulder in 2006 in a research-focused program in Cognitive Psychology.  My BA is from Carleton College where I completed double majors in Psychology and Cognitive Science and a minor in Gender Studies.  In addition, I have trained in the martial art of aikido since 2007, and take delight in integrating concepts from aikido into my clinical work.

I have had significant professional experience in community mental health and university settings, and have been in private/group practice since 2019.  I love the work that I get to do.  Prior to private practice, I provided counseling in schools, crisis centers, hospitals, and both residential and outpatient settings.  I have also worked as a counselor at CU Denver, and as a lecturer, researcher, and academic advisor at CU Boulder. 

My training includes attachment-focused Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Gestalt Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), working with neurodiverse people, and clinical supervision, in addition to other approaches. I have participated in numerous symposia on gender and sexuality, and have attended workshops and conferences that focus on supporting multiculturally diverse communities.  

Counseling Philosophy:

The clinical approach I use is nuanced, and there's rarely just one method that fits with a client. I’m always happy to discuss this topic. I approach counseling from an experiential and existential perspective. I almost always use an attachment lens in my counseling, and I frequently draw from postmodern (feminist, narrative) therapy while occasionally integrating Gestalt therapy or DBT skills. I tend to use practical techniques from Motivational Interviewing, and work from a harm reduction perspective with concerns around substance use. With couples, I often use Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method. I draw from all these approaches, and more, whenever I feel it's clinically appropriate.

However, therapy also often requires creativity! For example, I don’t call myself a DBT therapist, but I happily use DBT techniques when the circumstances are right and when I think it could benefit the client. It's a careful and deliberate blend that's largely dependent on what someone is bringing into therapy.

I find joy in helping clients explore and heal, no matter what journey you find yourself on!  I look forward to connecting with you.