Nexus Counseling Services, LLC

12/12/2025

Nexus Therapist Spotlight: Justin Mayes, MA, LPCC

Name & Credentials: 1. Justin Mayes, LPCC, Professional School Counselor
Where did you study?
I studied school counseling and clinical mental health at University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services?
At Nexus Counseling, I work as a part time clinician. I primarily work with teens but can also work with adults and children.
How long have you been working in the mental health field?
I have worked as a school counselor since 2023 and last Halloween was my first position in the clinical mental health field.
What inspired you to become a mental health professional?
I have wanted to be a therapist since I was in middle school. The concept of having a space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgement is inspiring to me.
What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion?
I tend to work with kids and teens. I love to help people learn who they are and discover the strengths they did not even know they have.
What do you love most about being a clinician?
My favorite thing about being a therapist is that every day is a new adventure. Everyone who enters my office and a wonderful person in their own right and I love learning with them as we work together.
Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work?
"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life." - Jean-Luc Picard. This is a quote I try to apply to my personal and professional life. I believe that resilience is built from being able to forgive yourself when you do not live up to your own expectations.
How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being?
For my own mental health, I love being with my dog Daisy. She is such a big personality in such a small dog and she makes me smile even during my worst days. With my friends, I love making time to do roleplaying games as an opportunity to put on different hats and have a good laugh.
What’s something your clients have taught you?
Working with students and clients have taught me that it’s so easy to sell yourself short. It can be so easy to only see what’s going wrong that you dismiss what you’re doing right.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health or therapy?
I wish people understood that there are so many different types of work that you can do in therapy. While talk therapy is a powerful tool to encourage self-reflection and heal, there are other types of work you can engage in.
What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t know?
One thing that’s unique about me is that I love to learn about national flags and is usually my best way to score in a jeopardy game.
What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food?
Oreos are by far my favorite comfort food. If I had to pick a second best, it would probably be Jolly Ranchers.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
When I’m not working I like to spend time outside with my dog Daisy. I also love to play table top roleplaying games and write campaigns for them. Recently I have taken up drawing and starting working on overhead maps for fantasy settings.
Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others right now?
My current favorite movie would easily have to be Marcel the shell with shoes on. It’s a stopmotion about a guy who finds a shell in his Airbnb who’s looking for his family. It has something for everyone. It’s cute and funny but also has an important message about the need for connection.

12/05/2025

Stress is normal but often holiday stress can be grief secretly hiding deep in the heart of those who have lost that special someone. Read more about handling holiday stress and grief from Anastasia Romero.

Stress is normal but often holiday stress can be grief secretly hiding deep in the heart of those who have lost that special someone.

11/13/2025

Nexus Clinician Spotlight: Gordya Willis, LPC, LSC

Professional Background

Name & Credentials:
Gordya Willis, LPC, LSC — Licensed Professional Counselor & Licensed School Counselor

-Where did you study?
I earned my Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fort Valley State University in Georgia. I later completed my School Counseling Endorsement Licensure through the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

-What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services?
I serve as a contracted therapist with Nexus Counseling Services, providing both virtual and in-person therapy for adults. My work focuses on supporting individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, relational stress, and low self-esteem, helping them build healthier coping skills and greater emotional balance through compassion-focused and evidence-based care.

-How long have you been working in the mental health field?
I’ve worked in the mental health and education fields for over a decade, supporting children, adolescents, and adults across school, community, and private practice settings.

-What inspired you to become a mental health professional?
I’ve always been deeply moved by the resilience of the human spirit. Growing up, I saw how unspoken pain could ripple through families and communities, and I felt called to create spaces for healing, honesty, and self-discovery. For me, this work is more than a career—it’s a purpose.

-What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion?
My specialties include depression, anxiety, self-esteem, confidence building, trauma recovery, emotional regulation, relational patterns, and inner child healing. I’m especially passionate about helping high-functioning professionals and caregivers who often prioritize others while neglecting themselves.

-What do you love most about being a clinician?
The privilege of witnessing transformation. Seeing clients step into clarity, confidence, and self-trust reminds me daily why I do this work. Healing is sacred—and it’s an honor to walk beside someone as they reclaim their peace and personal power.

Personal Connection

-Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work?

“Your healing is sacred. Your peace is yours.”
It’s a reminder that healing isn’t something to rush—it deserves patience, intention, and grace.

-How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being?
I practice what I teach: boundaries, rest, and balance. I recharge by spending time with my family, laughing, moving my body, and staying connected to faith and gratitude.

-What’s something your clients have taught you?
That courage and vulnerability are inseparable. My clients continuously remind me that showing up, even imperfectly, is an act of bravery.

-What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health or therapy?
That therapy isn’t only for crisis—it’s for anyone ready to grow. It’s a space to unpack, to unlearn, and to rebuild yourself with intention and care.

Fun & Human Side

-What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t know?
I’m a lover of travel, music, and meaningful simplicity—I find joy in exploring new places and collecting small, peaceful moments along the way.

-What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food?
Depending on the mood—either a Iced Cookie Butter Caramel coffee or a herbal tea. Comfort food? Anything that feels like home, especially a Caribbean themed or soulful Southern-style meal.

-How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I love spending time with my husband and daughter, our fur babies, journaling, building my wellness routines, and discovering ways to live with more ease and purpose.

-Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others right now?
I often recommend The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown and the Therapy for Black Girls podcast—both offer honest, empowering insight into self-acceptance and emotional wellness.

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

A common thread in mental health and healing, whether using Narrative Therapy or Psychodynamic theory, is our relationship with ourselves. Read more from Santrielle Church.

A common thread in mental health and healing, whether using Narrative Therapy or Psychodynamic theory, is our relationship with ourselves.

10/21/2025

Couples therapy can help, but probably not in the way most people think. Let’s clear up a few of the biggest misconceptions before you even step into the room. Read more from Sophia Saviano

Couples therapy can help, but probably not in the way most people think. Let’s clear up a few of the biggest misconceptions.

10/17/2025

Meditation is about setting an intention, placing the focus on thatintention and being gentle with ourselves throughout the process. Read more on meditation from Ashley Stricker.

Meditation is about setting an intention, placing the focus on thatintention and being gentle with ourselves throughout the process.

10/09/2025

Therapist Spotlight: Taylor Larsen, MS

Clinician Spotlight– Taylor Larsen
● Name & Credentials:
○ Taylor Larsen, MS
● Where did you study?
○ Adams State University
● What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services?
○ Counselor, Unlicensed
● How long have you been working in the mental health field?
○ 4 years
● What inspired you to become a mental health professional?
○ I’ve always been drawn to encouraging others with empathy and
positivity. As I studied psychology, I became fascinated by how
our thoughts, emotions, and experiences shape the way we live,
and how, with support, they can be reshaped toward healing and
growth. Becoming a mental health professional felt like a natural
path to help people work through their struggles, return to love,
recognize that they are already enough, and discover healthier,
more balanced ways of thinking and living.
● What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion (e.g., trauma,
anxiety, teens, couples)?
○ My clinical specialties include emotional healing, cognitive and
behavioral shifts, and identity development. I’m especially
focused on helping clients process past wounds, work through
anxious thought cycles, and shift negative patterns. At the core of
my work is guiding people to reconnect with love, for themselves
and others, and to know that they are not defined by their past,
but by the choices they make in the present and how they choose
to move forward. Supporting clients in finding healing, peace, and
a renewed sense of lightness in their daily lives is what inspires me
most.
● What do you love most about being a clinician?
○ What I love most about being a clinician is witnessing the hope
and empowerment that comes when clients realize change is
possible. They don’t have to be defined by who they’ve always
been, how they’ve always felt, or the thought patterns they’ve
always carried. I love seeing the moments where they recognize
that they can heal, forgive, grow, and cultivate strength moving
forward. Above all, I truly cherish watching clients learn to love
themselves and be able to see them step into hope and a new way
of relating to life and their own worth.
● Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work?
○ There’s a few quotes / philosophies that guide me in how I
support my clients:
○ “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”
○ “I know enough. I have enough. I am enough.”
○ “You are not your emotions; you are the awareness experiencing
them.”
○ “Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off parts of the self, but by
embracing them.”
○ “You were never broken, just disconnected from your truth.”
● How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being?
○ Meditation is my go-to for staying grounded and present, and
exercise keeps me connected to my body in a positive way. I love
walking my dogs, spending time in nature, and being with people
I love, as these moments always remind me of what matters most.
These practices help me feel my cup so that I can show up with
compassion and energy for my clients.
● What’s something your clients have taught you?
○ My clients have taught me that courage is found in vulnerability
and being willing to face yourself, even when it feels
uncomfortable. They’ve shown me that resilience isn’t the absence
of pain, but rather the choice to keep moving through it with
compassion and grace. They’ve taught me that presence and
effort matter so much more than perfection and “getting
everything right.”
● What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental
health or therapy?
○ I wish more people understood that supportive reflection and
guidance allows you to understand yourself better and see
yourself in a more honest and truthful way. It helps remove the
illusion that pain, shame, and trauma have created. Therapy can
be so helpful in living a more peaceful life and living in alignment
with your natural path. It challenges you and feels uncomfortable
at times, but it can also bring healing, happiness, and fulfillment.
● What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t
know?
○ I am passionate about health, fitness, and movement and have
competed in 6 bodybuilding competitions. That season of life
taught me a lot about discipline, commitment, and the importance
of creating balance.
● What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food?
○ I love a good cold brew with matcha cold foam, or really any cold
brew with a yummy flavor, (I like trying new things). Brownies,
cookies, pancakes, steak and potatoes are always winners in my
book.
● How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
○ I love trail walks with my dogs, trying new restaurants, and
spending time in the kitchen baking or cooking. I’m also a big fan
of watching baking shows for inspiration. Movement is a big part
of my life, so I enjoy exercising regularly, and I find balance by
reading a good book and rejuvenating my body through a yoga
flow.
● Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others
right now?
○ Right now I would recommend The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
and Frequency: The Power of Personal Vibration by Penny Peirce.
As far as podcasts go, I would recommend Know Thyself hosted
by André Duqum.

10/07/2025

We are proud to be nominated for the Gazette’s Best of the Springs 2026, and we would love it if you could take the time to show your support and vote for us! We are under Mental Health Care Provider.

Have a beautiful day!

https://gazette.revfluent.com/bestof/portal/a252063b-1b09-4724-89e6-39165601e509?fbclid=IwVERDUANNOe1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHuH5rGkC_n_JsggyjDVYOoflAiFio4sf0AmUfeatmsHYlss-IcxGUX6Drqap_aem_HPFMwQQrAjBmco4eAWYxeg #/group/16

Vote in any or all categories once per day October 3rd through November 9th MST! For your votes to be counted, make sure to vote in at least 5 categories. Not seeing your favorite in a category? You can still cast write-in votes through November 9th MST!

09/03/2025

We recently did an interview with CanvasRebel! Read more here!

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bobbie Warren a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below. Bobbie, appreciate you joining us

08/27/2025

Therapist Spotlight: Shylee Hine, MSW, SWC

Name & Credentials: Shylee Hine, MSW, SWC
Where did you study?: Colorado State University-Pueblo
What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services? Counselor/Psychotherapist
How long have you been working in the mental health field? 3 years
What inspired you to become a mental health professional? My own mental health struggles as a child. When I realized what a difference it made to finally be able to talk through my feelings, make sense of what I was experiencing, and release all the unnecessary shame I had been carrying for years, I felt such a sense of relief that I decided (at the age of 11) that I would one day do everything I could to help ease the
suffering of others.
What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion (e.g., trauma, anxiety, teens, couples)? I love somatic (body-centered) psychotherapy. I used to be a yoga teacher and massage therapist, so I have a deep understanding of how the body and mind work together, and how much we can learn about about and resolve within our mental/emotional state by quieting our minds and tuning in to our bodies. I also love to work with new mothers in the postpartum period navigating this major life transition.
What do you love most about being a clinician? Being able to witness positive shifts in my Clients, whether they are big or small, gradual or sudden, getting to see their light coming back on.

Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work? “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul, be just another human soul.”–Carl Jung
How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being? I play with my kids and let all the silliness hang out. I meditate regularly. I use my breath as my simplest and most powerful tool for shifting my state of being. I pay attention to cues from my body. I practice being gentle with myself. I spend time in nature. I keep my body moving (Yoga,
dancing, hiking, walking). I try to stay hydrated (this is Colorado, after all). I listen to music. I sing. I laugh. I cry it out. I write. I check myself and my perspective regularly. I set boundaries. And I ask for help when I need it.
What’s something your clients have taught you? I have seen just how impactful relationships of all kinds are in a person’s life, for better or for worse. Regardless of why someone comes to see me, this ends up being a central focus. I have also learned how truly strong, resilient, and capable of evolving humans are. And I have learned that every person has a unique story filled with memories, dreams, and struggles, and every story is worthy of being heard and honored.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health or therapy? That everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. There is no shame in needing help. In fact, there is great strength in being able to ask for it. Life can be hard. But you don’t have to do it alone. Healing is possible. Change is possible. It is never too late. And your life, your happiness is worth it. YOU are worth it.

What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t know?
I also love to travel/adventure solo (though this is much more limited now that I’m a Mom, haha). One of my favorite adventures was a ten-day solo canoeing/camping trip on the Green River, in the desert canyons of Utah. Without another soul in sight, there was lots of time for self-reflection! 😉 I also used to practice and perform acro yoga
(acrobatic yoga) which was a super fun and playful hobby.
What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food? I like strong coffee with cream, no sweetener. And my comfort food is Indian or Thai food.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work? With my family, outdoors or playing games. I also love to be in or near water.
Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others right now? Right now, I’m reading “Wired for Love” by Stan Tatkin. The author does a great job of breaking down the complex parts and functions of the nervous system in a simple way, and helping us understand how we can foster connection rather than conflict in relationships.

08/12/2025

Grief doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. It’s not always quiet. It’s not always sad. It doesn’t follow a timeline or unfold in five orderly stages. And it certainly doesn’t fit into the boxes our culture tries to place it in. Read about grief management from intern Isa Kevorkian.

Grief doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. It’s not always quiet. It doesn’t follow a timeline or unfold in five orderly stages.