TEAM

Mark received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, master’s degree from Naropa University, in Boulder, Colorado, and brings 10+ years of clinical experience applying mindfulness-based interventions to those suffering from substance use and dual-diagnosis disorders.

Mark’s mindfulness-based perspective on treatment for substance use disorders is informed by the many Buddhist meditation retreats that he has participated in over the years, as well as by his daily meditation practice. Working in this way with his own emotional experience has allowed Mark more ability to look closely at himself in a kind, non-judgmental way to find the opportunity for growth in his pain, a practice he brings to his work with clients.

Over the course of his career working with clients to recover in residential, outpatient, and community mental health settings, Mark has seen first-hand the benefits that consistent application of mindfulness-based practices can have on people’s ability to recover. These include a greater ability to tolerate and cope in healthier ways with cravings, an increased capacity to accept oneself free from guilt and shame, as well as greater emotional and relational flexibility.

Mark is also trained in eye-movement and desensitization reprogramming (EMDR), DBT, and Motivational Interviewing facets of which he incorporates in various ways during both individual and group treatment.

In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and daughter exploring nature through hiking, camping, and paddle boarding all over the beautiful state of Colorado. Mark also enjoys watching the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, and listening to music, in whatever free-time he has leftover.

Dr. Wise holds board certifications in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry and is board certified by the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine. He currently practices psychiatry and addiction medicine at his private practice, Wise Psychiatry, and provides psychiatric care to children and adolescents with complex medical issues at National Jewish Hospital and Lighthouse Complex Care.

Dr. Wise knows first-hand the struggles of being sick, as well as the hope of being healthy. He spent the summers of his youth at a major academic hospital, where physicians thought outside the box to find innovative solutions to his severe medical problems. He owes the life he has today to these gifted physicians and crafted his patient-oriented treatment philosophy after them.

He has a love of medical knowledge and is continuously furthering his education in a number of specialty areas, including Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and the Re-Code Protocol for cognitive decline.

Kate Ziesenheim is the psychiatric Physician Associate at Flatirons Recovery. She coordinates client medical care with the clinical team, assessing each client shortly after their arrival at Flatirons Recovery, and managing their medical needs for the duration of their treatment stay.

Kate completed her medical training in Physician Assistant Studies at Pacific University, in Portland, Oregon. She currently works at Wise Psychiatry, practicing outpatient psychiatry and addiction medicine, in addition to her work at Flatirons. She has an integrative and holistic and approach, which incorporates the whole body, lifestyle, and root causes of symptoms. Prior to becoming a PA, she had over 10 years of experience in the mental health and addiction field doing program management, crisis intervention, case management, intake coordination, supportive counseling, and homeless outreach.

Over the course of her career, Kate has developed a passion for supporting individuals with substance use issues on their journey to recovery. Her passion stems from personally experiencing the joys of recovery and the knowledge that her clients can experience this joy too.
Outside of work, Kate loves getting into the mountains to ski, mountain bike, trail run, and backpack. She is also an avid practitioner of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.

Rachael has been in the mental health field in Colorado for over ten years.

With a Master’s Degree in Contemplative Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, Rachael has worked as a bilingual psychotherapist in various settings in Boulder, including community mental health, public schools, women’s healthcare, and private practice.

From her clinical background, Rachael strives to bring mindfulness, trauma - informed competence, and a holistic view of healing into her work.

When she’s not working, Rachael loves running, dancing, hiking, gardening, and playing outside with her two children.

Tobias Gale’s passion for helping people recover from addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges comes from his personal experience of recovery through 12-Step and Inner Child Work and professional experience working with adolescents and adults in residential and outpatient treatment settings. Tobias’s counseling approach is influenced by gestalt and mindfulness-based therapy, as well as attachment theory and Inner Child Work.

Tobias believes that healing addictions and trauma and supporting a client’s journey to living from greater authenticity and wholeness comes from acknowledging all parts of ourselves, encouraging their expression, and increasing our capacity to integrate these parts through self-awareness and compassion. As a result, we are less prone to addictions, emotional reactivity, anxiety, depression, and codependency. We are better able to live in alignment with our values, set healthy boundaries for ourselves and with others, have honest and compassionate relationships, and express who we are without fear of rejection or abandonment.

Walking the road of early recovery is not easy. Clients need mentors and guides who understand what they are going through and believe in their ability to heal and grow into their truest selves. Tobias’s personal recovery, education and training, and work with those struggling with addiction and mental health challenges has equipped him with the skills to effectively and compassionately support clients at any stage of their recovery process.

Tobias has a BA in Psychology from The University of Massachusetts Amherst and a MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University. When not working, he enjoys writing, reading, making art and music, and spending time in nature.

Belle Abramson, LPC, CAC III, is passionate about helping clients uncover hidden resources, overcome obstacles and embrace their life’s purpose. Her approach is to weave the best of traditional psychotherapy with mindfulness-based therapy and techniques. She brings to her work a gentle sense of humor, deep compassion, inner wisdom and a healthy respect for practical results and accountability. Belle integrates over 20 years of practice as a meditative awareness counselor with a holistic approach in caring for her clients. She has offered Transformational Counseling Services in Boulder since 2003. Belle earned her Master’s of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School. She enjoys salsa dancing, connecting with friends, and walking in the great open spaces Colorado has to offer.

Jaroed is a house manager at Flatirons Recovery’s structured recovery residence. He is completing his first year of working in the treatment industry, after having been through the treatment process as a client.

Working as a house manager at Flatirons Recovery, Jaroed is part of the recovery housing team that introduces and supports 12-step participation with clients. He also organizes attendance at 12-step meetings, day-to-day operations for clients when they are in housing, and supports them in the beginning of their recovery journey, in part by sharing his personal recovery experiences.

“My main goal when the clients come in,” he says, “is to show them that they can live a happy and fulfilling life sober. I try to inspire hope, because I know what it feels like to be hopeless.”

Jaroed spends his free time with his wife, daughter, and pets. He also enjoy disc golf, music, art, and exploring new interests.

Jaroed prioritizes his recovery by staying active in the 12-step community and working on his personal growth one day at a time.

Laura Henderson, LPC, a Colorado based therapist specializing in women’s substance use recovery, gray area drinking and trauma. She is gratefully in long term recovery and passionate about supporting other women on this journey.Kelly helps individuals in recovery uncover the biochemical root causes of their addictions and cravings and use that information to create targeted nutrition plans designed to improve mood, reduce cravings and prevent relapse.She has 3 + years experience working with both individuals in recovery and treatments centers around the Denver Metro area.

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“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself to be just as I am, then I can change.”-C. Rogers

Compassionate acceptance guides my path both as a psychotherapist, and as a fellow human traveler. Moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations can guide the way towards acceptance. From this place, we become free to make choices, which gives us agency to thrive in our lives and relationships.

I believe that you are the expert on you, and sessions with me involve a co-exploration of what it is to be you. We will do this in relationship with one another that is focused on empowering you to live the life that you want. I trust the innate wisdom of your system to guide the process, and I bring a holistic body-mind-spirit approach to the work. This involves somatic (body-based) mindfulness training, psycho-education, creativity, and recovery work.

I am humbled and emboldened by the interconnectedness of the world around us. I believe that when we authentically connect to ourselves, we connect to that which is beyond ourselves. In addition to family and society, I think it's important to consider cultural conditioning upon our development. This perspective informs my approach to working with trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, life transitions, existential crisis, and relationship issues. I hold this to be a sacred endeavor, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be of service.

Jeff Jones is a therapist, addiction counselor, interventionist, family coach and creator of The Family Recovery Solution.

Marlys is a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Being involved with performing music throughout her life, she wanted to pursue a career path that combined her love of music with her desire to serve others. While she has worked with clients ranging from developmentally disabled adults and children to military vets and those in hospice care, Marlys noticed a lack of music therapists comfortable working in recovery and sought to create and provide a specialized approach to using music in an addiction recovery setting. In 2013 she founded Get In Tune Music Therapy, which focuses on serving this population and helping to train music therapists to be knowledgeable and confident working in addition and mental health.

In recovery himself, Brian left behind a 30 year career as a pilot to join others in their
healing and become an addiction recovery coach. He loves his experience at
Flatirons as the Tuesday 10:15 am workshop facilitator. As an adventure coach
and therapeutic nature coach, his passion is to bring his clients outdoors where
they discover another dimension to themselves. Brian has developed applications of
the challenge course (high and low ropes course) and rock climbing wall for
therapeutic benefit to those in recovery. Clients coming face-to-face with
themselves in an adventure or a challenge and the experience that the mind,
body, and soul receive from that event can be absolutely transforming. Beginning
in early 2022, Brian will receive training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and
will be able to help clients heal from trauma - a very important aspect of recovery
from addiction. Please visit his website to see more details and get to know him
even better: https://www.livingcolorhealing.com.

Lindsey feels a great enthusiasm for recovery yoga and has been teaching for a handful of years. One of the greatest joys in her life is the privilege to share the gifts of the practice with those starting their recovery journeys - to give back what was so freely given her. She believes that each person can find their way to what's true through the body and begin a new experience one moment at a time.

Lindsey is a CYT, certified at The River Yoga Studio in Denver which is known for their high standards of education and teaching the teacher.She is a Hendricks Institute Leadership and Transformation program graduate, a Big Leap Coach and a leadership consultant focussing on supporting individuals and organizations to create more consciousness in whatever work they wish to do in this world.

Heather has over a decade of experience in mental health and substance abuse. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and her Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification. She also holds a CCAR certification. Recently, she has completed her facilitator training for CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach to Family Training), which works exclusively with family members who are struggling and in need of additional recovery support.Heather and her husband recently moved from the city to a beautiful 5-acre farm with three children and two dogs. They have since acquired fifteen hens, four goats, and two mini pigs. Life is an adventure, and she enjoys helping others find their next adventure.Working as a house manager at Flatirons Recovery, Jaroed is part of the recovery housing team that introduces and supports 12-step participation with clients. He also organizes attendance at 12-step meetings, day-to-day operations for clients when they are in housing, and supports them in the beginning of their recovery journey, in part by sharing his personal recovery experiences. Read more about her coaching practice at illuminatepeercoaching.com