Welcome To A Resilient Nature Counseling
My therapy approach builds resilience through personalized, holistic care. I see therapy as a collaborative journey, using modalities like Polyvagal theory, CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, art, and spiritual practices. I often meet clients in community settings—walks, coffee shops, outings—using humor and compassion to foster growth, healing, and resilience.
By honoring each client’s unique story, they are empowered to take charge of their healing journey, transforming pain into growth and adversity into opportunity. I am committed to being an ally in my clients’ journeys toward recovery and self-discovery. I aim to walk alongside clients as they reclaim their narratives and embrace the fullness of who they are.
My Journey
My professional journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to supporting individuals through life’s most complex and painful challenges, especially those living with complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and co-occurring conditions. My work encompasses a broad range of concerns, including trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, and the lasting effects of abuse. I view each person as a unique tapestry of experiences, and my goal is to help clients reclaim their story and move toward healing, strength, and self-discovery.
I began my career at Denver Health’s STEP Program, where I worked closely with adolescents navigating both substance use and mental health issues. I also served as Assistant Director at a group home for adolescent survivors of sex trafficking—an experience that profoundly deepened my understanding of trauma and the resilience of the human spirit.
Having experienced many of these systems firsthand as a child, my work is also deeply personal. I made a promise to myself to become the kind of support I once needed—someone who sees, hears, and stands beside those who are often overlooked. Today, I carry that promise into every session, advocating for and empowering others on their path to healing.
My Unique Approach to Nature in Therapy
Feeling Stuck in Negative Patterns?
Feeling Stuck in Negative Thought Patterns? Experiencing Panic or Anxiety?
When anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts take over, your body and mind may be reacting as if past trauma is happening all over again. These responses are not just mental—they’re deeply rooted in your nervous system.
My approach is grounded in polyvagal theory, a powerful framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges that helps explain how our nervous system responds to stress and trauma. At the core of this theory is the vagus nerve, a key regulator of the body’s stress response and emotional state.
The vagus nerve plays a vital role in helping you feel safe, connected, and calm. When past trauma is triggered, your nervous system may shift into fight, flight, or freeze—even when there’s no real danger present. By activating the vagus nerve through intentional practices like breathwork, grounding, and mindful movement, you can send signals of safety to your brain and body, interrupting the trauma loop.
This work helps bring you back to the present moment, where healing and clarity become possible. Through consistent nervous system regulation, you can begin to reframe your experience, release the past, and build lasting resilience.
Adolescents and Adults
I offer therapy for both adolescents and adults, providing a compassionate and supportive space to navigate anxiety, trauma, depression, and life transitions. Whether you’re a teen facing emotional overwhelm or an adult working through long-standing patterns, my approach is tailored to meet you where you are. Using evidence-based tools and nervous system-focused techniques, I help clients build resilience, self-awareness, and lasting emotional well-being.
Humor and Laughter
I believe that healing doesn’t have to be heavy all the time—humor and laughter can be powerful tools in therapy. While we honor the depth of your experiences, finding moments of lightness can create space for relief, connection, and perspective. Laughter helps regulate the nervous system, reduce tension, and build trust in the therapeutic relationship. Sometimes, a genuine smile or shared laugh can be just as healing as the hard work—and it reminds us that even in the midst of struggle, joy is still accessible.
Group Therapy + Events
Therapy doesn’t always happen one-on-one—group settings and events offer a unique and transformative space for healing and growth. In groups, individuals often find a sense of shared understanding and connection that reminds them they’re not alone in their struggles. Group therapy and therapeutic events provide opportunities to learn from others, practice new skills in a supportive environment, and experience community-based healing. Whether through workshops, retreats, or themed group sessions, these settings foster vulnerability, empowerment, and collective resilience in powerful ways.
Rachel Wirtanen
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW
Hello! I’m Rachel Wirtanen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in the beautiful city of Denver, Colorado. I was born here but spent my childhood and early teen years exploring the wonders of the West Coast and Pacific Northwest. However, my heart always knew it belonged in Colorado, and I returned in my late teens, falling in love with the state and endless opportunities for adventure and personal growth.
I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Metropolitan
State University of Denver in 2019. After a brief moment of uncertainty (let’s just say the universe was having a laugh), I forged ahead and obtained my LCSW certification
through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
What is the power of nature for healing and therapy?
While in nature I notice people’s defenses decrease, and motivations and inspirations increase. Clients are more at ease and appear more grounded and able to discuss the issues at hand. It enables clients to feel more comfortable being present in mind, body, and spirit-especially in an environment which is non-judgmental.
Individuals have the space to breath and the great outdoors offers space for perspective and reflection- and just like nature, it supports and reminds us we are able to grow and change. Therapy outdoors while moving is also good for the body as we process and metabolize stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) through movement and burning them just like other proteins. It also initiates bilateral stimulation to aid in processing.
Being present allows for pausing, becoming present, and regulating our central nervous systems which is where we hold stress and trauma. This shift allows us to access parts of our brain we are unable to utilize fully when we are in dysregulation- which can occur from everyday stressors, it does not have to be something traumatic. Nature allows for these things and so many more opportunities for self-discovery, empowerment, and growth.
More Than Just Therapy:
I also meet you in your community. I help you through meetings, activities and adventures you may be interested in, but need support and stability to achieve your goals. Some of these activities inclued AA, Yoga, group meetings and more.
Coming Soon: Group Activities
Exciting group opportunities are on the horizon! Soon, I’ll be offering a variety of group experiences designed to support growth, connection, and healing in dynamic ways. These will include social events for adolescents to practice real-life social skills in a safe, supportive setting, as well as immersive experiences for adults—like therapeutic hikes and wellness intensives—to deepen self-awareness and foster personal breakthroughs. Group coaching sessions and focused intensives will also be available, blending education, connection, and nervous system regulation for lasting transformation. Stay tuned—more details coming soon!
Welcome To My Office
Testimonials
