Hidden Gems: Meet Rachel Clayton of Rachel Clayton, PLLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Clayton

Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Getting to where I’m at now has been a long journey. I’ve know that I was meant to be a therapist since 2006, when I was in ungrad studying education. It came about as a result of realizing that as a teacher, I couldn’t help victims of abuse that way I really wanted to. I myself am a survivor of child abuse, and one of the things that helped me survive was the belief that I would someday to be able to use those experiences to help others.

My alleged father abused me from the time I was a little girl until I was 19, at which time I learned he was not my father. Due to PTSD symptoms and going through a court case against him, I really struggled in college. It took me years to finally graduate with my BA in Psychology. Because of my low GPA, I thought I had no chance of getting into a Masters program to pursue my calling. I was discussing this with my therapist at the time, and she challenged me to apply to a program and see what happens. I did, and was shocked to be accepted into not one, but TWO schools!

Although I was able to maintain an excellent GPA in my masters programs, I was up against new challenges. I had a small child with special needs, I suffered a miscarriage, I moved from California to Colorado while pregnant and suffering from antenatal depression, and finally finished the coursework 3 weeks before my second daughter was born.

When that daughter was 3 weeks ago, I was faced with some difficult truths that caused my marriage to begin to fall apart. A month later, my older daughter’s preschool teachers informed that they believed she had Autism, which was not on my radar at all. During this time, my family did not have the financial resources for me to pursue the required internships to complete my degree (have you seen the cost of infant childcare?!)

After trying to make it work for 2 years, my marriage officially ended. Being a single mother of 2 small children did not make pursing my internships any more accessible. I eventually found partner who supported me and my career. I finally was able to graduate in June 2024, and am now a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate!

It is the greatest honor for me to finally be able to do this work that I feel so passionately about, and sit with my clients in their vulnerability and strength. I am so thrilled to be embarking on this journey!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oof, I fear I covered all of this in the first question! I had many, many things to work through personally while pursuing this career, which has only increased the empathy and knowledge that I bring to my work with my clients!

We’ve been impressed with Rachel Clayton, PLLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a therapist, my main focus is helping adult survivors of child abuse. This can look so different from client to client, as we are all impacted in different ways, and cope in different ways.

One of the primary tools I use, along with traditional therapy modalities, is the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a personality typing system, with a focus on core fears and motivations. I have been studying it since 2012, and have found it to be life changing! Not only does it help us understand what is behind our own behaviors, but it helps us to see other people’s perspectives and what is driving their behaviors, resulting in more understanding and empathy within our personal and professional relationships.

I also offer an online course, “Healing Through the Enneagram: A Journey for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse”, where I walk participants through understanding their type, how trauma plays a part in it, and how to heal and move forward.

For fun, I also recently started a Facebook group, “Enneagram Noobs & Nerds”! Talking about and working through abuse with clients is heavy work, and having this group is a fun outlet for me to nerd out a bit, and offer Enneagram coaching services!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
See a therapist! I absolutely would not have gotten as far as I have if I had not had the support and guidance of several incredible therapists. Pro-tip: therapy is like dating. Not everyone is going to be the right fit, and it’s ok to tell your therapist that and to find someone else!

Second, never give up on your goals and dreams. Even if there are bumps and mistakes along the way, fail forward! Use those as learning experiences to make you better, personally and professionally!

Pricing:

• Insurance Accepted
• Healing Through the Enneagram: A Journey for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse ($250
• Private Pay Therapy ($145/session)
• Enneagram Identification Coaching Session ($100)

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachel_clayton_lpcc
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/rachel.clayton.denver
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/rachel-clayton-northglenn-co/1346621

Image Credits
Family Photo: Leann Moments Photography