Meet Chris Gioielli, PsyD | Clinical Psychologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Gioielli, PsyD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The life of a therapist can be really lonely. My job is to keep secrets, to care for the innermost parts of others, and to offer myself and expect nothing in return. Being a therapist for others creates real moments of connection with others, but they are not for me. I also can’t come home at the end of the day and “talk shop” with my family like others can. In some senses there is a whole part of my life that others can’t know and this makes it difficult to be fully known in my work. It might be surprising for some and obvious to others, but I am affected by my patients. I believe that when I care for another person, we interact in a manner that actually changes our perceptions of life. In fact, there are studies showing how therapists can experience vicarious trauma just for helping others. It is a liability to care for people who are hurting.

What should our readers know about your business?
I did not always want to be a psychologist. In fact, I came from a religious tradition that devalued psychology and psychotherapy. I initially pursued a career in pastoral ministry and it wasn’t until I was in seminary that I began to find my true calling. During my graduate work in spiritual formation, I went through a deconstruction of my faith. I became disillusioned with Christianity and aware of how much pain I had experienced from religious leaders. Rather than leave my faith completely, I was able to reconstruct it with the help of others and found that I wanted to help others in a similar way. I also discovered that I was gifted in listening, caring, and helping others. Sadly, there are many people who have been hurt by well-intending, religious or spiritual people. I hear stories like this all the time. I’ve also found that people avoid seeing a therapist for something that is spiritual or religious, which can keep people stuck from receiving the help they want. There are also many people who have been hurt in ways that prevent them from living the spiritual life they hoped for and I’ve learned just how essential spirituality can be for someone’s vitality. This pain and trauma is particularly true for folx within the LGBTQ+ community. My heart and passion is to care, affirm, and value a community that has experienced a unique kind of pain connected to religious contexts whether they want to remain a person of faith or not. Now that I am in my own private practice, I am able to focus on this vision. To get to where I am now, I’ve had to work in university counseling centers, group practices, and community mental health sites to gain the necessary experience and credentials to be free to pursue my passion. It’s been difficult to hold on to this vision when I’ve worked in contexts where my passion was not understood or valued. In taking the risk to start my own practice, my family and friends have encouraged me to be true to myself and have integrity about what I do. They have challenged me to trust myself and cheered me on as I built my vision for my work. They reminded me that what I was doing was good and important, even when I doubted. They held me up so that I could find success, the very thing I hope to do for others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being relatively new-ish to the Denver area, I have to say that my list of favorites is actively growing. Hands down my current favorite place to grab a drink is Death & Co. It has great vibes and drinks that are exquisite. For dinner, I’d visit Alloy Modern Thai for my favorite Thai dish, Kao Soi. Another dinner would be at El Five, since their paellas are incredible and the views of the skyline are unrivaled. While in Denver, I’d also have to catch an Avalanche game (or two), since I’m a big hockey fan and want to support the 2022 Stanley Cup Champions. Since I also love a good cup of coffee, we’d have to visit Huckleberry Roasters, Sweet Bloom Roasters, and return to Death & Co. for a good cortado. Outside of the city, I love mountain biking and would have to take a friend to my current favorite, the Buffalo Creek trail system, where we can go camping and spend the day exploring the national forest on bike. We’d also have to spend an afternoon and evening enjoying Golden, floating the river and then hopping between breweries and eateries in one of my favorite towns. Maybe afterward, we’d find a show or performance at Red Rocks. Another must-see would also be a visit to WeldWerks, my favorite brewery of all time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It is impossible for me to be successful without the people who support me. First and foremost, my wife, Bethany, has been my greatest support through all of my personal and professional pursuits. I’m also privileged to have a family that ensured me that I wouldn’t fail if I took a risk to start my own business. My friends and colleagues have been persistent in their care and encouragement.

Website: www.drchrisgioielli.com

Other: Psychology Today – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/chris-gioielli-lafayette-co/783623