Danielle developed her love of the outdoors while attending summer camp as a kid and has found deep meaning in connecting with nature ever since. She earned her bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Western Washington University. After gaining experience working in a few different treatment settings, Danielle got her first taste of wilderness therapy when she began working as a field guide in 2015. She was drawn to Open Sky because she wanted a job where she could connect with young people in an authentic and meaningful way, and she aligned with Open Sky’s holistic approach. Wilderness therapy was the perfect fit to combine her passion for the outdoors with her desire to help young people. It also helped that Open Sky was located in sunny Southwest Colorado instead of her rainy home in Washington state.

After guiding for four years, Danielle began a master’s program at Adams State University, where she earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Danielle returned to Open Sky as a therapist and has been a valued member of our team ever since.

Danielle brings over a decade of experience working with young people into her clinical work with Open Sky. She values individualizing treatment to each student’s needs and makes sure that students know she is on their team. Experienced in working with families, Danielle is skilled at inviting the whole family system into the change process and believes that this is necessary for supporting the child’s growth and change.

Danielle is experienced in working with clients who are facing a variety of challenges. She regularly works with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, low self-esteem, substance use, family system dysfunction, and emerging personality disorders. While she individualizes her treatment approach to each student’s needs, she frequently draws from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and choice theory. Danielle has specialized training in substance use treatment and is passionate about helping young people address their problematic substance use. She feels grateful to have the opportunity to engage in early intervention with teens before they may face more serious adult consequences.

In her free time, Danielle can often be found rowing her raft down the local rivers, riding her mountain bike, or exploring the wilderness with her dog, Townes. She loves to take advantage of the copious public lands in the Four Corners area. When not outside, Danielle has a seemingly never-ending list of creative projects she enjoys trying to bring to life. She enjoys baking tasty treats, quality time with friends and family, and curling up with a good book. She also enjoys visiting her family in Washington but has been too spoiled by Colorado’s sunshine to ever move back.