Jamie Doak, MA, LPC, NCC, EMDR
Director + Clinical Therapist
I started out as a high school teacher, but soon realized that the struggles my students were facing with anxiety, depression and PTSD were preventing them from reaching their potential inside the classroom and out. So, I became a therapist. I specialize in working with adolescents ages 12-25, specifically those who struggle with perfectionism, body image, depression, suicidal ideation and trauma. So many young people feel trapped by the belief that their achievements define who they are and that if they make a mistake, then they are failure, which can manifest in a variety of unhealthy ways depending on the teen.
After spending time as a teacher and as a school-based therapist, I believe that it's difficult for teens to learn if they don't like or trust the adult in the room with them, which is why building a trusting relationship is my top priority. Therapy should adapt to a teen's individual needs and I use an integrative approach with elements of DBT and specialize in EMDR.
Teenagers are capable, strong and resilient, but sometimes they lose their balance and need a place to find their footing again. I would love to work with your teen to provide the space to process their struggles, try new strategies, learn different ways of looking at a problem and ultimately gain insights that they can apply for years to come.
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor
Board Certified Counselor
EMDR Trained Therapist
Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy Certification
Specializations
Adolescents (13-18) and Transition-Aged Youth (16-24)
Trauma and Vicarious Trauma
Anxiety, Perfectionism, Body Image
Depression
Ellie morrill
Graduate Level Intern
I am a fourth-year graduate student at Denver Seminary, pursuing my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling. I have known since I was a junior in high school that I wanted to be a high school counselor someday, though my specific plans have changed over the last few years since I started my professional training, eventually leading me to pursue school-based therapy as well.
Both from experience and from observation, I found a calling in the difficulty of adolescence. Teenagers are navigating so much between school, adjusting to the workforce, family life, relationships, mental illness, trauma, and everything in between. So many students are walking the halls every day wondering what their purpose is, what comes next, if they really matter to anyone, if their life is worth building, or if anyone else will ever ache for their struggles the way they do. As a therapist, those are the things that matter the most to me about my job: creating a safe place that students can access the love, support, relationship and therapeutic process that they need in this stage of life, but may not have access to otherwise.
The most rewarding thing I can think of is to give teenagers a safe and trusted adult. Whether I am an extension of safety or a second chance entirely, that is ultimately the goal of my practice every day. I feel so hopeful towards the work I will get to do with teens who need help pushing through this season, and even more hopeful for how teens work in therapy will carry into and inform their adult lives.