About Us
Meet Lisa — Founder of Golden Aspen Counseling
Hi, I am Lisa, the founder and owner of Golden Aspen Counseling. My practice supports the transformative process of rebuilding identity and purpose, even when grief feels overwhelming. Emotions may rise heavily, or pass through in surreal, dreamlike waves, yet this natural ebb and flow can be part of the healing process. Grief support helps validate these shifting experiences and will honor the nonlinear rhythm of renewal and reconciliation in loss.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 18 years of experience, I have had the honor of walking alongside individuals and families through some of life’s most intimate moments with loss. Throughout my career, I’ve developed Grief Services programs and provided leadership in hospice and palliative care for over 14 years. These experiences have taught me that meaningful care isn’t just clinical. It begins in quiet, intentional spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.
At the heart of my practice is a deep commitment to supporting individuals through the complex and often painful terrain of loss with clarity, empathy, and compassion. Losing my mother to cancer at 24 was a devastating unexpected rupture that left me feeling consumed and paralyzed by grief. It wasn’t until I found my way into support groups and individual counseling that the heaviness began to lift. Through that healing process, I discovered that hope was possible, that I could move beyond the daily tears and begin to restore a sense of life beyond the loss.
Rooted in compassion-focused care, my approach honors each person’s unique experience of loss. I integrate evidence-based frameworks such as the Dual Process Model, which acknowledges the natural oscillation between grieving and restoring, and Meaning Reconstruction Theory, which supports individuals in rebuilding a sense of identity and purpose.
Grief is deeply personal, and healing doesn’t mean forgetting. My practice is here to offer a safe and supportive space to share your story, whether your loss is recent, anticipated, or carried quietly over time. Our work together isn’t about “moving on,” but rather honoring what remains, understanding what’s shifted, and learning to live forward with meaning, connection, and renewal. My hope is that, here, you’ll begin to rediscover the possibility of healing.
The Meaning Behind Golden Aspen Counseling
At Golden Aspen Counseling, we find deep inspiration in the Aspen tree, a powerful symbol of transformation, connection, and resilience. Aspen groves flourish through unseen root systems and regenerate after adversity, reminding us that healing is possible through compassionate support and meaningful connection.
A Sanctuary for Transformation
In autumn, Aspen leaves turn a brilliant gold, shimmering with both beauty and vulnerability. Their seasonal shift reflects life’s impermanence and the quiet invitation to embrace change. We honor this transformation, trusting that even in loss, something meaningful can emerge.
Rooted in Connection
Aspen groves share a vast, interconnected root system, sometimes spanning thousands of years. While individual trees may fall, the living network endures, offering regeneration and continuity. This mirrors the experience of grief:
Support and community are essential in times of sorrow.
No one should walk through grief alone.
Even in moments of fragility, unseen sources of strength can sustain healing
Resilience After Loss
Aspens are among the first to return after wildfire, their regrowth a testament to nature’s resilience. Their story is our metaphor: through connection and guidance, individuals can rediscover strength and begin to heal.
Grief may feel overwhelming, yet the capacity for renewal lies within.
Our practice exists to nurture growth, transformation, and hope.
Healing doesn’t erase loss — it reshapes what remains, allowing us to adapt, grow, and honor what was.