Community Highlights: Meet Amber Brown of Summit Peaks Counseling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Brown.

Amber, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and completed my Bachelor’s at Clemson University. At Clemson, I started out as a biology major wanting to work in laboratories doing studies. Life, however, had other plans for me. During my junior year, my mental health was declining rapidly and I was failing my classes. I decided to take a semester off to heal.

Once I came back, I had a newfound interest in psychology, so I changed my major. My counselor, who I saw the year I came back, changed my life. He sparked my interest in helping others find their own power again when feeling helpless, hopeless, and not in control of their mental health. I started working in the mental health field officially in 2017 as a behavioral health technician on an inpatient unit in Greer, South Carolina. I loved that job and learned so much. I also realized there that South Carolina had fewer opportunities for me to grow in my career. I decided to move to Colorado with the intention to attend graduate school to become a counselor. This year, 2022, I have finally graduated with my Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University. I own my own private practice and am contracted with Kim Johancen currently. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to have a private practice right out of graduate school. I have had wonderful professional guidance and encouragement from so many practicing therapists in the area.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Due to time off to heal my mental health, my educational journey took 10 long years. However, my journey in healing my mental health gives me the drive to walk alongside others through their journey. Healing is incredibly hard work. We have to look at things that we may have been burying for a long time. By doing the work, we can become the version of ourselves that we picture. I had a fantastic counselor that walked with me through my healing journey so that I could pass on that kindness.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Summit Peaks Counseling, LLC is a private therapy practice owned by myself Amber Brown. I am based in an office in Centennial and see clients in person and virtually. I specialize in play therapy and working with adults who have experienced trauma.

Trauma is complex and it can come with so much shame. Part of working with Trauma is understanding our body’s response to triggers and unpacking how our brains are wired after experiencing trauma.

I also love working with kids through play therapy. Much can be revealed in how a child interacts with different types of toys and how their behavior changes from session to session. They may use play to act out fears and anxieties, as a soothing mechanism, or to heal and problem-solve. My job is to sit with them and be present as they communicate with me through play.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I moved to Denver four years ago and I love it here. I love that there is always something going on: concerts, farmers’ markets, festivals, etc. It is also unique that we can live the city life and be so close to the Rockies. The Rockies are one of the most beautiful things I have seen thus far. I really enjoy hiking and paddleboarding so being so close is incredible.

I think that what I like the least is the traffic here. I commute from downtown to centennial on 25 and if you hit rush hour, it can be pretty miserable. During my internship, I hit both morning and night rush hours for at least a year. I can thankfully make my own schedule now in order to avoid the traffic for the most part. Growing up in a small town did not prepare me for the mass of people that commute to work every day like I do.

Pricing:

• $120 per 55-minute session

Contact Info:

• Website: www.summitpeakscounselingdenver.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summitpeakscounselingllc/