Maxx Myers
A Decade of Powerful Experience
I’m Maxx Myers, a licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addictions Counselor, and Nationally Certified Counselor based in Longmont, Colorado.
Professionally, I have worked in a variety of agencies, hospitals, and clinics helping every population imaginable for over 10 years. From helping those with extreme schizophrenia with individual in-home care, to hospital grief counseling, to groups of court-mandated addiction clients, to struggling marriages, I have seen it all. You can trust that whatever issues you bring to me will not be overwhelming or insignificant and you will find useful help. Counseling and coaching are my passion and my purpose, I believe that pursuing personal growth is the noblest work.
I have experiences aside from the therapy world as well. I am a writer and editor, and a designer of tabletop games. I have been a part of running large conventions and managing staff. I have worked many blue-collar jobs, as well as manager positions overseeing several teams. I had my first job at 14, buying peanuts and cola off of loading docks and reselling them at my snack stand, outside Coors Field.
Personally, I am a huge nerd. I read a lot of books, play tabletop role-playing games, watch space shows and sing to my pets when (I think) no one can hear me. I have also always enjoyed hiking and the outdoors, especially when I can find a shady spot to read with my fiancée. I have a quick wit and a dry sense of humor, I love to laugh. I find that having something in common with someone is often simply a matter of openness, and I highly value my friendships, connections and family.
My Qualifications
Work Experience, Certifications, and Education
2018 - 2020
Primary Therapist- Outpatient and Residential Substance Abuse Treatment
• Held a caseload of clients in substance abuse recovery in both 90-day residential treatment, as well as IOP and sober living level of care.
• Outstanding performance reviews from both clients and staff.
• Clients I worked with for at least 3 months had a 50% higher rate of sobriety 1 year after treatment as compared to national averages.
• Offered opportunities to advance position.
• Trained all onboarding clinical staff.
• Created group therapy programming for both residential and IOP treatment.
2017 - 2018
Unit Therapist- Psychiatric Hospital
• Primary therapist and case manager for the adolescent unit, with fill-in on adult unit.
• Highest client-rated therapist at the psychiatric hospital throughout my time working there.
• Skilled at working with high acuity mental illness, particularly with adolescent clients and families. Ran family sessions for families in crisis, individual sessions, and group therapy.
• Worked directly with suicidal and homicidal clients, developing strong aftercare plans and developing life support skills.
• Worked in an integrated hospital team, directly participating in treatment planning, insurance billing, and case management services.
• Worked directly with insurance to ensure continued coverage and directly connected families to resources for continued care.
2016 -2017
Primary Mental Health Clinician- Integrated Low-Income Clinic
• During my time at this clinic, it became the highest rated of all clinics in its network for mental health services.
• Facilitated individual therapy and intensive outpatient groups for diverse clientele in a low-income integrated healthcare setting alongside doctor and nursing staff.
• Strong focus on interventions with substance use disorders and medical grief.
• Connected clients to continuing care resources, developed and implemented successful brief interventions for crisis patients.
2016 -2018
Group Facilitator- Survivors of Incest and Sexual Assault
• The group I facilitated had been called the most stable and most effective group by organizational administrators and evaluators.
• Facilitated a weekly psychotherapy trauma group for adult survivors of incest and sexual abuse.
• Responsible for handling donations, group records, and training new facilitators.
2009 - 2017
Psychiatric Basic Attender
• Known for my effectiveness, good attitude, and teamwork-oriented approach on various therapeutic teams, with outstanding employee reviews throughout time at the agency.
• Regular roles as art teacher, job and life skills coach, and case manager.
• Taught meditation skills and ran meditative groups.
• Worked the majority of cases with high-intensity mental illness, either in client homes or in public spaces.
• Held a clinical role as a therapeutic roommate to a client with a severe mood disorder for one year.
2019
Licensed Professional Counselor
• Licensed to provide therapy services.
• Requires a Master's Degree, plus 2,000 additional hours and two years of postgraduate experience.
2019
Licensed Addictions Counselor
• Licensed to provide specialty substance abuse therapy services.
• Requires a Master's Degree, plus 10 additional specialty classes, 3,000 hours of addictions counseling work experience, and passing a national exam.
• Designates a true behavioral health clinician who can provide co-occurring services
2019
Nationally Certified Counselor
• Recognized as meeting the rigorous standards set by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
• Allows for advancement into higher levels of certification.
2018
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship
• Specialty training in EFT therapy techniques specializing on relationship issues.
• Signifies qualification to provide couples counseling and family therapy.
2017
Master of Arts in Counseling- Regis University
• Graduated with Honors at the top of my class.
2012
Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology- CU Boulder
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Help Center
What does therapy with you look like?
I use my experience to build on your expertise of your own life. My sessions are 50 minutes long, and is tailored to focus on the specific issues you are concentrating on.
I use a variety of mindfulness and life-skill techniques to help with 'body' issues and to help build mental discipline.
I am well versed in emotional management techniques, and will help you identify and learn to gain control over feelings of depression, anxiety, and fear. I will also help you to have better recognition and awareness of your positive emotional states.
As you gain awareness of your inner life and your default patterns, you will gain the ability to change. By becoming more aware of yourself, you gain the ability to choose different actions and thoughts instead of going through life on default. This is the root of change that I will help you achieve.
Do you offer sliding scale rates?
I offer only a limited number of sliding scale spots. The reality is that I need to charge my fee in order to support having any of these sliding scale slots in the first place, and to meet the demands of my business. I do my best to work with people to establish an affordable, long-term therapeutic relationship.
Research also shows that investing in your therapy leads to more consistent sessions, greater investment into change, and better results.
Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make.
Therapists have a lot of letters after their names, how do I identify a good therapist?
Studies have shown that the absolute most important thing in the therapeutic relationship is simple trust. Unfortunately, that is very hard to identify at first glance, and finding a therapist can be a frustrating game of trying different professionals. The only true way to know is to try, and to be honest about whether you are seeing benefit.
The best thing to do is to schedule a consultation with me or another therapist, and see if you will be a good fit. Human beings are naturally social creatures, so pay attention to your "feel" about the person you contact. If you like them in a consultation, you will likely enjoy working with them.
Do you take insurance? Which ones?
I do accept insurance. However, much like my sliding-scale spots, I only accept a certain amount of insurance clients at any time. When we have our initial phone consultation or session we will make a clear payment arrangement.
I am currently paneled with Cigna, Anthem, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and United insurance. I also am also a Colorado Medicaid provider, although client with Medicaid should call me to ensure coverage before we start having sessions.
Do people really get better?
YES! Study after study have shown the positive effects of therapy. There is no known mental illness that has a 0% rate of recovery. Therapy is an effective treatment, and I have personally seen even very severe cases cured. Mental 'illness' is a very specific term, as we see these thought disorders as temporary afflictions that can be cured.
The fact is, nearly every human being will struggle with some for of mental illness, large or small, during points in their life. Sometimes, they go away on their own. Sometimes, they fester and worsen. But expert help is very valuable in either case.
Is therapy just a scam for people who have no one else to talk to?
The therapeutic process is innately human. Think about the people in your life: who you rely on, who has given you good advice, and what the support of others means to you.
Therapy is a way to directly target the areas of your brain that value those relationships and interactions, by using a nonjudgmental expert to help you make healthy changes to your worldview and behaviors.
Like it or not, we already lean on each other to provide a kind of therapy in every relationship. But not every relationship is a therapeutic relationship, because a therapeutic relationship has a purposeful focus on YOU, and is based in honesty and openness.
I run Very Good Counseling because that is what I aim to provide, and therefore I see clients that I can do very good work with. If our work is not a good match and you are not seeing the results you want, than I am happy to refer you to one of my very good colleagues in a specific recommendation.