Hi, I’m Derek Sandos, MA, LPCC!

I began my career in community organization and politics working for Denver City Council. In this

role, I quickly developed a passion for working with people and a deeper understanding of the fundamental importance of mental health. However, finding opportunities to have a direct impact on people in my community were limited.

This experience led me to begin working at a finance start-up. However, this position still lacked the heart of what I was looking to achieve: providing immediate and visible support to others. It was this realization that ultimately turned me towards psychotherapy, a practice that unifies my passions for human connection and mental wellness. I am excited to begin exploring your story together! Schedule a consultation today to get started.

I began my career in community organization and politics working for Denver City Council. In this role, I quickly developed a passion for working with people and a deeper understanding of the fundamental importance of mental health. However, finding opportunities to have a direct impact on people in my community were limited.

This experience led me to begin working at a financial start-up. However, this position still lacked the heart of what I was looking to achieve: providing immediate and visible support to others. It was this realization that ultimately turned me towards psychotherapy, a practice that unifies my passions for human connection and mental wellness. I am excited to begin exploring your story together! Schedule a consultation today to get started.

I have been providing mental health services in the Denver metro area for the past three years. I have worked in a wide range of settings, including community mental health centers, clinical environments, and Denver hospitals. These diverse experiences have informed and enriched my practice, allowing me to work extensively with anxiety, depression, psychosis, and schizophrenia. I began my career in community organization and politics working for Denver City Council. In this role, I quickly developed a passion for working with people and a deeper understanding of the fundamental importance of mental health. However, finding opportunities to have a direct impact on people in my community were limited. This experience led me to begin working at a financial start-up. However, this position still lacked the heart of what I was looking to achieve: providing immediate and visible support to others. It was this realization that ultimately turned me towards psychotherapy, a practice that unifies my passions for human connection and mental wellness. I am excited to begin exploring your story together! Schedule a consultation today to get started.

My approach to therapy is simple: you are the expert on your story. Not only does your story deserve to be heard, but you take the lead in telling it. From the first session, I strive to create a collaborative environment grounded in trust and transparency. There are no “wrong” emotions, thoughts, or feelings; instead, we embrace immediate reactions and process what is happening in real time. No matter what your experiences may look like, your words will be the center of our work together. I hope to empower every client to use their story to find meaning and direction.

"I can be changed by what happens to me.
But I refuse to be reduced by it."

My Training Background

Credentials:

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado and my Master’s Degree in both Clinical Psychology and Business Administration from the University of Denver. My diverse training experience at the University of Denver exposed me to both community behavioral health and hospital settings. While earning my degree, I had the opportunity to work with a broad cross section of the community, which has invaluably informed my career as a therapist so far.

Professional Training:

My clinical practice is guided by the principles of existentialism and self-psychology. In other words, I believe that it is crucial to explore who we are at our core in order to make meaning of our experiences.

I also received training in Dialogic Practice from the Institute of Diaologic Practice at Yale School of Medicine. Dialogic Practice takes an open-dialogue approach to psychosis based in mutual respect and human connection.

I also have training in CBT and ACT methodologies.

No matter the specifics of your story, growth IS attainable!

Often times, we just need a voice of support to get us started in the right direction. When you are ready, we are here to be that voice. Schedule a free consultation today.