Nexus Counseling Services, LLC

02/09/2026

Therapist Spotlight: Fabian Sigala Orozco, MSW, LSW, SWC

Name & Credentials: Fabian Sigala Orozco, LMSW, ACSW, SWC.

Where did you study? University of Texas at El Paso

What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services? Mental Health Therapist Candidate.

How long have you been working in the mental health field? I have been with Nexus for two months and have six years of experience in Social Work, including work in higher education. My most recent role involves working with older adults and providing support as a Medical Social Worker.

What inspired you to become a mental health professional? Coming from a family with a strong Latino background, mental health was often not openly discussed. Becoming a bridge for my family to understand the importance of mental health inspired me to pursue this career path.

What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion (e.g., trauma, anxiety, teens, couples)? My clinical interests include trauma-informed care, anxiety and depression, and relational issues rooted in early life experiences and family dynamics. I am especially passionate about working from a strengths-based, culturally responsive approach and enjoy helping clients navigate life transitions, burnout, and identity development using practical, skill-based interventions.

What do you love most about being a clinician? What I love most about my work is witnessing the growth and self awareness my clients develop as they recognize their progress throughout their therapy journey.
Personal Connection

Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work?
I’m guided by the belief that every person deserves to be met with compassion, dignity, and understanding. My work as a social worker is rooted in genuinely listening to people’s stories, honoring their resilience, and walking alongside them as they navigate challenges and reconnect with their strengths.

How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being?
I practice what I encourage others to do. I have my own counselor and believe that seeking support is an important part of self-awareness and growth as therapists are human too. I also make a conscious effort to set healthy boundaries between my work and personal life so I can stay grounded and present.

What’s something your clients have taught you? My clients have taught me that we are often our own harshest critics. They remind me that each person carries experiences only they fully understand and that many people are doing the best they can with the tools they were given at the time. From them, I’ve learned the importance of grace, patience, and honoring resilience, especially when healing had to begin without the support or resources that were needed.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health or therapy? I wish more people understood that therapy takes time. Change is not quick or linear, especially when someone has spent years coping without support. The mindset you bring to therapy matters, but so do patience and self-compassion throughout the process.

What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t know? I enjoy writing and consider myself a strong writer, though most people do not realize that I usually write in Spanish. It is the language of my heart and where my thoughts flow most naturally. English gets the job done, but Spanish is where my words feel at home.

What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food? It’s reached the point where my close friends and family know my favorite drink so well; they could order it without asking; my white chocolate mocha. Apparently consistency is one of my coping skills.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work? My favorite activity outside of work is traveling, even though it does not quite fit into a “one-day activity.” At times, it has reached a point where people are unsure whether I am in town, in the city I most recently posted about, or already somewhere new. Traveling has become an important way for me to recharge and maintain balance outside of my professional role.

Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others right now?One of my favorite books is The Four Agreements, which has definitely earned a permanent spot in both my personal life and my work as a social worker. As for podcasts, I tend to stick to social work and mental health topics. It may not be the most thrilling choice outside the field, but I genuinely enjoy staying current, learning new trends, and expanding my knowledge. I’ll admit it might sound a little nerdy, but I actually do it for fun.

01/13/2026

One way to navigate exhaustion, ambivalence, and uncertainty in the new year is by using values as an anchor. Read more about a new year new perspective from Camille Dysart

One way to navigate exhaustion, ambivalence, and uncertainty in the new year is by using values as an anchor.

01/09/2026

Therapist Spotlight: Lisa Tober, Intern Pursuing MA in Social Work

Name & Credentials
Lisa Tober, Clinical Mental Health Intern
Where did you study?
Adams State University
What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services?
Clinical Mental Health Intern
How long have you been working in the mental health field?
I’ve been with Nexus for 1 year, but I have a year and a half experience in the social work field and 5 years in career coaching prior to becoming a counselor.
What inspired you to become a mental health professional?
I grew up in a very intense evangelical community, and as an adult I found myself needing to unpack some of those experiences. Finding a counselor who could hold space for the trauma, without telling me what to believe or not believe, proved more difficult than I thought! Once I found the right counselor to work with, got to a healthier mental space and worked through what I needed to, I wanted to become that person for other people.
What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion (e.g., trauma, anxiety, teens, couples)?
My special interest in counseling is working with people who are recovering from bad experiences with religion or spirituality. I also really love working with the LGBT+ community, and I’ve really enjoyed working with teens.
What do you love most about being a clinician?
I love seeing the moment when a mindset shift clicks for someone. A close second is that following session when a client says they made progress on something and we get to celebrate!

Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work?
I tend to take an experimental approach to trying out new skills and coping strategies- let’s try something, and if it doesn't work, you haven’t failed at counseling, that strategy just wasn’t your style. Let’s try something else until we find a strategy that does work!
How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being?
I’ve learned the importance of rest and boundaries. Burnout doesn’t do anyone any good, so I carve out time to be outside in nature, spend time with family and friends, and do my own journaling.
What’s something your clients have taught you?
People are usually doing the best they can with what they have, but people tend to be very harsh with themselves. Be gentle with yourself, you’re doing better than you think.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health or therapy?
You get to decide the outcome of therapy! Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need or what you want to work on.

What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t know?
I grew up with horses and I used to barrel race in rodeos! (And I have the pictures to prove it!)
What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food?
I’m pretty sure my blood type is tea! My current favorite is a homemade hibiscus rose blend.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I’m often out hiking with my dogs, doing something artistic like photography or crochet, or relaxing with a good movie.
Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others right now?
The TV show Severance on AppleTV!

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!