“Human beings need three basic things in order to be content: they need to feel competent at what they do; they need to feel authentic in their lives; and they need to feel connected to others. These values are considered ‘intrinsic’ to human happiness.”
sammy freyta.
Coach. LPC, ATR, Registered Yoga Teacher, Trauma Therapist, First Responder Counselor
I believe that we all have the power to move from a place of struggle to STRENGTH. I work from a personal psychology perspective that allows me to journey alongside my clients in a path to wholeness.
Professionally, I am trained and skilled as a clinical therapist, with a speciality in trauma. I am a clinician, AND I choose to serve my community as a guide.
Using my clinical background I support people in navigating the struggles of the mind, and with my own resiliency beliefs and empathic understanding I support navigating personal strengths.
The difference between traditional therapy and my approach is simply that I will also care with you.
I build relationships through a mindset focus. I view things from a clinical understanding and understand coping behaviors, while working through a lens of resilience fortification, community advocation and connection, strength transformation, motivation, and humility.
I support clients in understanding healthy coping and expression, in increasing their emotional agility, and in encouraging their movement towards strength. I specialize in evoking resiliency, mind and body safety, and positive response connection post transition. I am motivated to support those affected by universal feelings of pain and loss. I believe in the use of creation and empowerment to foster healing. I believe that our pain can give us purpose and I encourage the mindset of Post-Traumatic Growth.
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I began my career in broadcast journalism and production, but soon felt called to help others in a deeper way. After earning my master’s degree from Adler University, specializing in social psychology and trauma, I spent my early years working with war trauma survivors, refugees, and families in high-risk urban environments. In 2016, I moved from Chicago to Colorado, where I have since focused on trauma work with first responders.
I am the co-founder of Elevate Coaching, partnering with my husband, a firefighter at South Metro Fire. Together, we integrate clinical insight with first responder realities, leading me to become a full-time Mindset Specialist at Frederick-Firestone Fire. Beyond there, we support mental fitness across roughly ten other first responder agencies, embedding therapy and mental wellness directly into their cultures and daily operations.
As a certified yoga instructor, I bring mindful movement and recovery practices into the departments I serve. As an ultra trail runner, I try to embody the philosophy of "doing hard things," proving that resilience, grit, and mental fitness are lived values. Through both yoga and endurance sports, I model the principles I teach- mental and physical resilience go hand in hand.
My clinical story:
I received a dual Masters degree in Counseling Psychology; Art Therapy from Adler University. My experience is in utilizing a strength-based, empowering approach through talk and art therapy with adults, children & teens. I am an LPC, ATR, Supervisor, an Expert Witness in child trauma, and a First Responder Counselor. I've worked in community counseling centers, schools, residential facilities, & I currently see clients in my responder departments, facilitate couples retreats, teach and train in mental health safety and dexterity, and am a Peer Support Clinician. I have practiced therapy with diverse world populations and backgrounds, and I have a passion for supporting clients struggling with low self-esteem, complex trauma and PTSD/PTSI.