Naomi Kirshner

Psychotherapy is a second career for me. I spent almost 2 decades creating adult education and other programs before deciding that I wanted to start working with people in a more individualized way. I received a Master of Social Work degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022, and I am licensed to practice in Colorado and Kentucky. I take an open-minded approach to getting to know a client and to working with them to identify areas of concern and goals of treatment. I take a gentle approach to treatment, allowing the client to decide which identified problems they are ready to work on and which they are not prepared to engage with yet.

I completed 3 years of supervised work at Aurora Mental Health and Recovery in Aurora, Colorado from 2022 to early 2026. There I worked almost exclusively with people on probation and parole. I gained experience treating complex trauma (mostly with EMDR), co-occurring disorders (being diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorders), substance use disorders, bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, stress management, ADHD, and helping people transition back into the larger society. I am trained in EMDR and pursuing certification in that treatment, and I am pursuing certification in DBT.

I am eclectic in my approach to therapy, using what works for the client rather than trying to fit everyone into a specific mold. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR, a highly effective treatment for PTSD and trauma more generally) . I also use a person-centered therapy approach, helping clients come to their own understanding of their lives and how to make changes that they can live with. I am currently pursuing certification in both EMDR and DBT.

In a first session, I will introduce myself and review your privacy rights with you. I will give you time to discuss what brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. I will review the entry questionnaire and administer some basic screenings, such as for anxiety, depression, and suicidality. I will ask about your personal history. I understand that this will be our first meeting and I am a stranger to you, and you may not feel comfortable telling me everything. There is no judgment if details change over time. I will also ask about substance use, and I understand if this is something you do not want to disclose right away. At the end of the session, which is generally 55 minutes, I will ask you how this felt and if you want to book another session. Over the next few sessions we will work on identifying which issues you want to focus on, discuss treatment options, and develop a treatment plan together.