Therapy Services for Children, Teens, and Adults in Denver

Support That Begins With Understanding

Compassionate therapy focused on understanding experiences and supporting meaningful progress

Therapy That Respects How Your Brain Works

Therapy is not about fixing who someone is.

It’s about understanding how their brain works and helping them build skills that make life feel more manageable.

Many of the people I work with have spent years trying to keep everything together — sometimes masking their struggles while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or misunderstood.

In therapy, we make space to understand those experiences and build tools that support confidence, regulation, and independence.

I provide autism-informed therapy across age groups and work closely with families, schools, and other providers so support continues beyond the therapy room.

Individual Therapy for Teens & Adults

Adolescence and young adulthood can bring a lot of change. As independence grows, so can social pressure, uncertainty, and emotional challenges.

In therapy, we take time to understand what you’re experiencing and what may be making things feel difficult right now. From there, we work together to build skills that support confidence, emotional balance, and everyday life.

Therapy may focus on:

Managing anxiety and strong emotions
Improving social understanding and communication
Navigating the transition to college or adulthood
Building organization and executive functioning skills
Developing identity and self-confidence

Autism Therapy for Children

Children often learn best through interaction, play, and meaningful connection. Therapy is designed to meet each child at their developmental level while supporting how they naturally communicate and engage with the world.

Rather than focusing on compliance, the work centers on helping children feel understood while gradually building the skills they need to navigate everyday situations.

Depending on a child’s needs, sessions may include:

Autism-adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)
Developing flexibility and coping strategies
Strengthening social communication skills
Guidance and collaboration with parents

Autism Therapy for Teens & Young Adults

For many teens and young adults, especially those who appear to be doing well on the outside, the pressure to keep everything together can be exhausting. Some work very hard to appear “fine,” even while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to navigate social situations.

In therapy, the focus is on helping teens better understand themselves and feel more comfortable being who they are. Together, we work on easing anxiety, building confidence, and developing skills that support independence and authentic connections with others.

Support may focus on:

Easing anxiety and the fatigue that can come from masking
Building more natural and meaningful social connections
Developing independence and everyday life skills
Strengthening perspective-taking and communication
Navigating transitions such as high school, college, and early adulthood

Autism Therapy for Adults

Some adults come to therapy after years of wondering why certain situations feel harder than they should. Others may have recently discovered that autism helps explain experiences they’ve had for a long time.

Therapy creates space to explore those questions without pressure or judgment. Together, we look at what has been challenging and begin building practical strategies that make everyday life feel more manageable.

Our work may involve:

Understanding what a later autism diagnosis means
Working through workplace challenges
Looking at patterns in relationships
Developing organization and executive functioning skills
Addressing burnout and the impact of masking

Parent Consultation & School Collaboration

Supporting a child often works best when the adults in their life are working together. I regularly collaborate with parents, caregivers, and schools so that everyone has a clearer understanding of what a child needs and how to support them consistently.

Parent consultations create space to talk through what you’re noticing, ask questions, and explore practical ways to support your child both at home and at school.

During these conversations, we may focus on:

Support That Begins with Understanding ∗

∗ Support That Begins with Understanding ∗

How Therapy Makes a Difference

Many of the teens and families I work with have been struggling for a while before they arrive here.

A child may look like they’re doing fine at school. They get good grades and follow the rules. But inside they may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted from trying so hard to manage social situations.

In therapy, we start by reducing that anxiety and helping things feel more manageable.

We work on practical skills such as:

Managing anxiety and strong emotions
Building coping and regulation skills
Improving communication and conversation
Developing perspective-taking and social understanding
Building confidence and independence

How We Begin

Schedule a Consultation

We start with a conversation. You can share what you’ve been noticing, the worries, the patterns, the moments that feel harder than they should. You don’t need perfect language or a clear plan. Just come as you are.

Clarify Goals and Determine Fit

We slow things down and look at the full picture. What’s getting in the way? What feels most important to change? We’ll decide whether therapy is the right next step and outline a path that feels manageable.

Begin Individualized Therapy

Therapy is thoughtful and personalized. We move at a pace that supports growth without overwhelm. Parents stay involved when appropriate, and progress is built steadily, not perfectly, but meaningfully.

Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy

Who do you work with in therapy?

I provide therapy for children, teens, young adults, and adults navigating autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and developmental or life transitions. I also offer parent consultation and school collaboration when appropriate.

What makes your approach autism-informed?

Autism-informed therapy adapts tools, communication style, and goals to fit how each person’s brain works. Therapy is not about forcing masking or compliance. It is about building confidence, regulation skills, and self-understanding in ways that feel authentic and sustainable.

Are parents involved in therapy?

Yes. Parent involvement is often an important part of the process, especially for children and teens. I provide guidance and practical strategies so progress extends beyond the therapy room.

Do you collaborate with schools or other providers?

create consistency across environments. Therapy is most effective when everyone is aligned.

Do you offer telehealth therapy?

Yes. I provide in-person therapy in Denver and telehealth services. Through PSYPACT authorization, telehealth therapy is available in participating states.

How long does therapy last?

The length of therapy depends on individual goals. Some families seek short-term support focused on specific skills, while others engage in longer-term work to support confidence, independence, and emotional regulation.

What are your fees and payment policies?

Therapy is provided on a fee-for-service basis. Payment is due at the time of service. If you plan to use out-of-network insurance benefits, documentation can be provided for possible reimbursement. Please reach out directly for current fee information.

An autism diagnosis is simply a label that someone’s brain works differently.

- Courtney Paisley, PhD

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you’re unsure which therapy service is the best fit, we can begin with a conversation and determine the right next step together.