Meet Clayton Norman | Mental Health Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Clayton Norman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Clayton, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I first went to therapy when I was fifteen. As is often the case for teens, I didn’t go by choice but was sent as a consequence for getting into trouble. I remember sitting in the waiting room and seeing the word PSYCHOTHERAPY in bold letters on the therapist’s door and becoming very upset. I thought, “I’m not a psycho! I don’t need PSYCHOtherapy!” Clearly, I didn’t understand what psychotherapy meant. To me it resembled the principal’s office- just another place that would tell me something was wrong with me. I fought my way out of that first session and never returned. About 10 years later I returned to therapy on my own accord and was surprised how much I benefited from it. So much that I became a therapist myself. Now I am committed to creating a therapy space that kids actually want to be in. I know therapy could have been tremendously helpful for me as a teen if only I felt welcome. So my approach to therapy often includes things like skateboarding, birdwatching, or songwriting to make it more accessible for teens.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m a therapist that brings creative approaches into therapy for adolescents. I created a program called Skate Therapy which infuses the principals of play therapy with skateboarding instruction. Skate Therapy has recently evolved to also include providing therapy and mental health support for professional skateboarders which has been really fun and meaningful. Additionally, I train counseling centers, summer camps, and educational centers in making their programs connective for the kids they serve. My business just seemed to unfold before me. To be honest, I don’t know much about entrepreneurship haha. When I first started out as a therapist I thought I had to look and act in a certain cookie cutter “professional” way. Overtime I took that mask off and brought more and more of my authentic self into my work and followed my creative ideas and that seems to have made all the difference for me.

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.
Usually when I have a friend visit we have brunch at Stowaway Kitchen. I love the food and people there and think that it represents an authentic and spirited side of Denver. Then we usually take my dogs on a long walk at Westminster dog park, its a massive dog park that you van spend a couple hours in. After that we would probably check out the Denver Art Museum or Clyfford Still museum before grabbing a drink at Fort Greene or ESP lounge.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout Dr. Lisa Forbes who has supported me along my journey and also runs a program called Professors at Play which helps professors bring play into higher education.

Website: https://Skate-Therapy.Com

Instagram: Skate_Therapy

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/clayton-norman-denver-co/1181341

Image Credits
Menne Photo