Get to Know Your Therapist: Gina

Gina began work with Between in 2023.

We want you to have an opportunity to get to know her because she’s a really good person to know. We sat down with Gina to ask her some questions about her life and work…

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am from the Midwest – born in Iowa and raised in suburbs of St. Louis,

Missouri. After leaving my childhood home to attend college in Boston, I lived a rather nomadic life that took me from coast to coast more than once and overseas. In 2012, I moved to Denver where I’ve decided to stay. My first career was in occupational therapy until more recently when I seized an opportunity to follow my heart by transitioning to full time work in psychotherapy. I love what I do … the depths at which I’m honored to know people, the parts of myself I get to connect to and express, the way I get to learn about what I’m naturally interested in, and the reciprocal nature of my professional and personal growth inherent to the work.

What kind of moments light you up as a therapist?

Witnessing (and personally experiencing) the shift from knowing something intellectually to a deeper experience of embodied understanding – the “Ah, ha” moment when it clicks in. Co-creating moments of emotional vulnerability; I feel deeply honored to be part of that process with clients. Moments of repair – sometimes it’s me repairing the therapeutic connection with a client and sometimes it's witnessing a deeply felt repair occur in a significant relationship – it’s such a powerful experience no matter which side of a repair you’re on! When clients correct me, clarify my perception of what they shared, ask me for something they want or need – when they dare to speak their truth. Being able to express the silly part of me in my work with kids and teens.

What do you wish all of your clients could know deeply after their work with you?

A felt sense of emotional and relational safety. That doing this kind of work is worthwhile.  That their subjective experiences are important and make sense. That we are interdependent and deserve support. That experiences of growth, care, recovery, safety, relatability, and belonging are not contingent on being perfect, easy, or “normal”. How glad I felt to see them and spend time together in this way. And in the words of my brilliant supervisor, Kat Austin, “It’s just important to notice.”

What are some lesser known facts about you?

For the first 40 years of my life, I had light blond hair. I taught ESL in Prague, CZ for a couple of years in my mid-twenties. I’m a decent singer. My stepmother’s father is the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. I’d rather socialize with animals then with people at most large gatherings – small talk is just not my thing.

In what ways are you growing right now?

Well, I’m literally growing a garden for the first time in my life. The process has been more rewarding than I ever imagined! I’m currently working my way through a course on interpersonal neurobiology and loving it. I’m really leaning into deeper acceptance of my vulnerabilities and creating contexts and experiences that align with my strengths and honor my limitations.

Rapid fire! Name a couple movies/shows you love …

That uplift you:

Julie and Julia

That crack you up:

The Daily Show

That tell an unconventional love story:

Under the Tuscan Sun

That capture friendship:

Celeste and Jesse Forever

That inspire awe:

Science and nature or humanitarian type documentaries, stories about exceptionally talented people doing their thing.

Last watched:

The Big Short