The Human team

  Carri earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from Webster University in Albuquerque, NM in 1998. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Colorado, earning her undergraduate degree in Science from Saint Mary’s College in Winona, MN in 1991. She earned a Certificate in Animals and Human Health: Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning from Denver University’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) in 2007, and is an adjunct professor in GSSW's Animal-Assisted Social Work certificate. 

She has almost 25 years of clinical experience working within the systems of child protection/welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and the public school system. In her work, she has utilized the strength of the human-animal bond while working with a variety of people in a variety of settings. She has extensive experience working in the community with high-risk youth and their families. Carri is trained and utilizes evidenced based practices to include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing,  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and principals of Multi-Systemic Therapy. She is currently training to become certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Carri is also trained in the Anicare-child treatment model that addresses the assessment and treatment of animal abuse. She also co-founded another business, Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado, in which she trains mental health professionals who are interested in integrating animal-assisted practice into their work.

She is the proud mother of one cat (Zion), four dogs  (Noah, Luke, Rainier and Yazzie), four  guinea pigs (Snickers, Kiera, Raven and Darla), and two rats (Pancake and Rebel).​ 

Lauren earned her Bachelor of Social Work  with a minor in Counseling  Psychology  from Ball  State University in 2018. Lauren graduated from  University of Denver's GSSW with her Master's Degree in Social Work with  a certificate in Animal Assisted Social Work in 2020. Lauren has  recently completed her certification for Canine Assisted Intervention  Specialist in Summer of 2023.
Lauren's clinical interests include  trauma work, anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation, among other  concerns. She enjoys working with all ages, specifically children and  young adults. She likes to incorporate nature-based interventions and  animal interactions into her work, and aims to eventually become a  certified dog trainer to assist clients to train and build relationships  with their own dogs. In clinical practice, Lauren takes a systemic  approach to explore all of the larger factors impacting their specific  situations. Lauren has been trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy  (DBT) and Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner (CCTP), but also incorporates other modalities to give a more eclectic treatment . Lauren's future goals for education are; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR),  as well as Animal Assisted Play Therapy (AATP).  Lauren  enjoys  spending time outdoors playing Pokémon Go or taking her dogs on a walk.  She also loves playing D&D and video games with her friends. Lauren currently shares  her home with her two fur babies Harp and Sirius. Lauren enjoys tending  to her hops plants but is wanting to have a larger garden again when she has  the space.

Amanda  earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Cornell  University in 2009 and Masters of Social Work from University of  Maryland, Baltimore in 2015. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in  the state of Colorado and is currently taking courses to become a  Certified Animal Assisted Psychotherapist with Animal Assisted Therapy  Programs of Colorado. Amanda moved to Colorado in 2018 from Baltimore,  Maryland and has been working as a therapist at AACC since September  2019.

Amanda  takes an eclectic approach to therapy and has been trained in play and  art-based interventions, mindfulness, suicide prevention,  trauma-informed care, social-emotional skill-building, Eye Movement  Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Therapeutic Crisis Intervention  (TCI), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and  Social-Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (SEFEL). Amanda is  currently training to become certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy  (DBT). She has experience working with children, teenagers, adults, and  families from diverse backgrounds in home, outpatient, school,  community-based, and multi-disciplinary settings. Amanda has worked  within the child welfare, public school, and non-profit systems. Through  evidence-based interventions, creativity, and relationship-building,  Amanda helps individuals tap into their unique strengths and learn new  skills to enrich their lives.

Amanda  has been an animal lover her entire life and is currently a proud  mother of two cats (Maggie and Remi), three dogs (Loki, Dakota, and  Puma), seven chickens (Fluff Nugget, Cocoa Puff, Dumpling, Waffles, Big  Momma, Little Momma, and Ivy), and rabbit (Batman). Loki, Dakota, and  Batman occasionally work at AACC. Amanda and her husband welcomed their  first non-fur-child into the world in October 2021, and baby is already  an avid animal lover! Amanda is a beekeeper and gardener and enjoys any  outdoor activity that connects her to the beauty and peace of nature.

Gwen earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in  Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University in 2020. Gwen is  currently a student in the Graduate School of Social Work at the  University of Denver where she is completing a concentration in mental  health and a certificate in Human-Animal-Environment Interactions. She  is currently completing her clinical internship here at AACC. Gwen's  clinical interests include trauma work and severe mental illness, and  she enjoys working with all ages. She likes to incorporate nature-based  interventions and animal interactions into her work, and aims to  eventually open her own therapeutic farm. In clinical practice, Gwen  takes a systemic approach and explores all of the larger factors  impacting their situation. She considers the mind-body connection in her  work and is currently learning more about somatic-based therapies. Gwen  is currently being trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Gwen enjoys spending time  outdoors and go on backpacking trips and hikes in her free time. She  also loves rock climbing both indoors and outdoors. She loves animals  and spends time volunteering at Luvin' Arms Farm Sanctuary, and she has a  dog named Mook who is her best friend. Gwen also loves to forage for  plants and mushrooms, and grow veggies and flowers in her garden.

Elissa  is a student earning her Master of Social Work degree at the University  of Denver. She is also a participant in the Human Animal-Environment  Interactions certificate program.  Elissa has spent many summers working  at camps in various positions, such as the Outdoor Education Director,  and most recently, as a member of the Wellness Team at a camp in  Colorado. Elissa also worked for an AmeriCorps program called American  Conservation Experience, where she assisted in repairing trails affected  by the California wildfires. Elissa has also been involved in animal  welfare for several years, interning, working, and now volunteering for animal shelters. Elissa is passionate about combining her love for the  natural world, animals, and human connections to create a meaningful  therapeutic experience. In her free time, Elissa enjoys spending time  outdoors either hiking or running. She also enjoys volunteering at a  local Humane Society. 

Rachelle is a Colorado Native and loves spending time with her dogs outdoors. Her education resume includes a Bachelor’s in Psychology, K-6 Teaching license, a Master’s in Education-Curriculum and Instruction, Master’s in School Counseling (K-12), and a Master’s in Business Administration. She also earned her ECE certificate through Wildwood. 

She has worked to develop PBIS systems in three schools which helped improve behaviors and recognize positive choices. She has aided students with diverse backgrounds and various needs. Rachelle loves working with kids, helping build belief, teaching problem-solving and coping skills, building leadership skills as well as promoting self-development using various resources which helps with persevering through challenges. Rachelle is well versed in the mind-body-health connection and utilizes some of these interventions in her practice. During her Master's internship, Rachelle ran Divorce Support, Grievance, Anger Management groups as well as facilitating groups to help others exhibit compassion and kindness.