Athena McCullough LMFT, LPC

I started the journey to become a therapist after personally ​experiencing the transformative impact of someone who truly ​saw, challenged, and assisted me in rediscovering myself ​during my own therapy. I started seeing a therapist for the first time in my 30s. At the time, I thought I was successful, put-together, and in tune with myself. I was wrong. The only emotion I could name at the time was “fine.” I had turned off so much of myself in order to be present for others that I had completely lost myself. Therapy helped me realize how much of myself I did not know. I began the amazing journey of discovering myself for the first time. Working with a wonderful therapist finally gave me a space to freely explore my emotions and get in touch with my authentic self. I found a space where I could say what I thought out loud and no one would judge me, criticize me, or look down on me because my ideas weren’t fully developed or perfectly crafted. I could explore wherever my ideas led and then decide what I wanted to do about them. I remember coming to a deep conviction that this was exactly how people should engage with one another. I specialize in relationship counseling. Most of our emotional wounds come from relationship issues and attachment trauma. In my own life, I struggled to find my voice as a wife and a mother of two children. I had a lot of religious trauma in my upbringing—I grew up in a tightly-controlled environment where I was taught to suppress my own needs and wants. That affected my sense of self deeply. As a result, I know what it’s like to lose yourself in a relationship and forget where your boundaries are, as if you have no voice of your own. I also know what it’s like to find your voice again and enjoy relationships that are nurturing and empowering. I love helping my clients discover themselves, say all the things they feared to say out loud, and find the strength within them to make changes in their lives.

I am a relational therapist, so our first session always starts with a genogram. A genogram is like an emotional family tree. I get to know what it was like in your family growing up and how you learned to be in relationship with people at an early age. I learn how you coped with arguments, what you did for comfort, and what you learned about your own emotions. Then we can discover what might be getting in your way now, as an adult.

I got to pick everyone! As the owner and clinic director, I personally hand picked each therapist. I wanted to create a team that could collaborate, create safety for themselves and their clients, and were eager to grow in their experience and training. We consult with each other on a regular basis and have lots of fun in and out of the office.

• Colorado, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFT.0002314
• Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC.0018682

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist MFT. 0002314 Licensed Professional Counselor LPC.0018682 Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Denver Seminary Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy - Denver Family Institute Prepare Enrich Certified Facilitator Completed Level 1 and 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy Completed training in Reunification Therapy Completed training in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) Level 1 Certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate