Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Orleans.
Hi Lindsay, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I often joke that my ADHD shaped my career long before I realized it. Being diagnosed as a child taught me early on that I thrive in environments that are fast-paced, meaningful, and constantly evolving. I knew I needed work that would keep me engaged not just busy, but genuinely connected to people and purpose.
While living in the hustle and bustle of New York City, I began volunteering as a mentor for at-risk youth. Each week, I met with a young girl to talk about life, navigating high school, overcoming challenges, and planning for college. As someone whose own life had been profoundly impacted by therapy, I quickly realized those conversations meant far more to me than hitting sales goals in my corporate career. That experience became a turning point. I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others.
From there, I expanded my volunteer work, supporting children and adolescents who had experienced trauma through organizations serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking across New York City. Those experiences solidified my passion for trauma-informed care and ultimately led me to make the leap to graduate school, bringing me to Denver.
During graduate school, I intentionally sought out the most challenging clinical experiences I could find. I interned in residential treatment settings and, after graduation, joined a community mental health team specializing in child and adolescent trauma. For two years, I had the privilege of walking alongside children and families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, work that was deeply meaningful, incredibly demanding, and transformative for me as both a clinician and a person. Throughout much of that journey, my therapy dog, Oliver, became an invaluable part of the healing process, helping children feel safe, connected, and understood.
As my clinical experience grew, I transitioned into private group practice, where I discovered my passion for working across the lifespan from young children to adults. I also felt a strong pull to serve the Florida community where I grew up, allowing me to stay connected to the place that shaped me while continuing to build my practice in Colorado.
Today, a little over a year and a half into owning Orleans & Co Therapy, I can honestly say I’ve found exactly where I’m meant to be. Every day, I have the opportunity to help people navigate anxiety, ADHD, trauma, life transitions, and relationships while creating a space where they feel genuinely seen, supported, and empowered. Building a practice that reflects my values, personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based care has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I feel incredibly grateful to do work that truly makes a difference.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any meaningful journey is ever completely smooth. Whether you’re starting a new hobby, a new career, or building a business, there are always growing pains, moments of reflection, and experiences that shape who you become. For me, one of the biggest learning curves as a therapist was understanding that self-care isn’t just a popular phrase, it’s an ethical responsibility. Every day, clients trust me with some of the most vulnerable parts of their lives, so it’s essential that I also prioritize my own well-being in order to show up fully present for them. I’ve learned to recharge through my community, exercise, spending time with animals, being in nature, and creative outlets like pottery and other crafts. It was a significant shift from my previous corporate career, where I could simply leave work at the office.
Owning a private practice brought an entirely new set of challenges. One of the biggest surprises was realizing that being a great therapist is only part of the job, you’re also a business owner. That means managing scheduling, billing, documentation, marketing, networking, and all of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a practice thriving. None of those skills are emphasized in graduate school, so there has been a lot of learning along the way. At the same time, I’ve genuinely enjoyed the entrepreneurial side because it allows me to create a practice that reflects my values and provides an experience where clients feel cared for from the very first interaction.
The biggest challenge has been finding balance. As a practice owner, it’s easy for the administrative work to spill into evenings and weekends, but I’ve learned that setting boundaries isn’t just important for me, it’s what allows me to provide the highest quality care to my clients. Looking back, every challenge has ultimately made me a stronger clinician and business owner. It’s taught me resilience, adaptability, and that building something meaningful takes time, intention, and a willingness to keep learning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Orleans & Co Therapy?
Orleans & Co Therapy was built on the belief that therapy should feel like a place where people can exhale, feel genuinely understood, and know they don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. We provide therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, specializing in ADHD, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, relationship concerns, neurodivergence, and emotional regulation.
One of the things that sets us apart is that we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every client has a unique story, so we tailor therapy to meet them where they are. Depending on the client, that may look like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, Polyvagal theory, Gottman methods, play therapy, or the incorporation of creative and experiential techniques. For our younger clients, therapy often looks like building emotional awareness and resilience through play, art, and movement rather than simply sitting and talking.
At the core of our work is the belief that lasting change comes from more than just learning coping skills. Every client develops practical tools they can use in everyday life, while also working to understand and reshape their nervous system’s responses. Drawing from evidence-based approaches, we help clients recognize patterns of stress, overwhelm, and protection, so they can move toward feeling safer, more regulated, and more connected to themselves and others. When clients understand not only what they’re experiencing but why their minds and bodies respond the way they do, meaningful change becomes much more sustainable.
Another aspect that makes our practice unique is the integration of a certified therapy dog, Oliver. His calming presence helps many clients, especially children and individuals experiencing anxiety, feel more comfortable, regulated, and engaged in the therapeutic process. Sometimes healing begins simply by feeling safe enough to show up as yourself.
At the end of the day, our mission is to help and empower people to create meaningful changes that lead to lives that feel more connected, balanced, and authentically aligned with who they are. We believe therapy isn’t about “fixing” people it’s about helping them understand themselves with greater compassion, recognize their strengths, regulate their nervous systems, build confidence, and develop the tools to create lasting change long after therapy ends.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve always believed that one of the greatest risks you can take is believing in yourself. It can also be one of the most intimidating. Choosing a path that’s uncertain requires trusting your abilities before you have proof that everything will work out. To me, that’s where real growth happens.
One of the biggest risks I took was leaving corporate America to pursue a career in social work with the dream of eventually opening my own private practice. There were many moments when I questioned whether I should choose the more predictable path, a stable corporate career instead of taking on the responsibilities of being a therapist, business owner, marketer, and problem-solver all at once. But I also knew myself well enough to recognize that I thrive in environments that are fast-paced, constantly evolving, and centered around meaningful work. Staying where I was would have felt safer, but it wouldn’t have felt fulfilling.
My perspective on risk is that it should be intentional, not impulsive. The best risks are calculated, you understand the potential outcomes, prepare as much as you can, and remain humble enough to ask for help along the way. Those moments of uncertainty often become the experiences that teach you the most about yourself. Looking back, every meaningful opportunity in my life has come from taking a chance, and I hope my journey encourages others to trust themselves enough to pursue what truly excites them.
Pricing:
- $170 per session
- Sliding scale available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://orleansandcotherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orleansandcotherapy/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/orleans-and-co-therapy-denver
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lindsay-orleans-denver-co/1220552
