Meet Hannah Dorsher | Licensed Professional Counselor

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

Hi Hannah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have a love/hate relationship with risk, mostly love, but there is definitely some dislike. As I’ve gotten older I’ve become a more cautious and perhaps more anxious, so for me taking risks comes with a side of worry, sometimes even short-lived panic. However, I think I can honestly say, I do not regret a single risk I’ve taken—even the ones that didn’t go as I’d hoped. Some of the best experiences in my life have been the result of taking what felt like a risk at the time. And some of my most important lessons came from taking risks. Starting my own business during the early stages of the pandemic was a risk and I realized that my practice was not guaranteed to be successful, but I had great people in my life cheering me on and that gave me just enough confidence to take the leap. And I am so glad I did!

As a bit more anxiously wired individual, I am pretty calculated and thorough with my risks. I tend to not be overly impulsive, and I strangely enjoy planning things to death. Thankfully, I also have a wonderful support system who offer plenty of encouragement when I do take risks, so I must give credit to them. Without such steady people in my life, I am not sure I would be as willing to jump when it’s hard to know how things will turn out. Each risk I take, gives me more confidence for the next opportunity that presents itself. Like I tell my clients, fear of the unknown is never a great reason to stay stuck.

What should our readers know about your business?
I love my private practice. I love that I can niche down and really focus on clients who are looking to work on a few specific issues. I feel like this allows me to sharpen my expertise in these few areas so I can really deliver high-quality therapy to my amazing clients.

I feel like the road to get here felt long and a bit daunting during the process, but now that I am here in my own successful private practice, I feel like it was doable and absolutely worth it. After getting my undergraduate degree, I worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center for teen girls. I absolutely loved working there and knew that if I wanted to go further in the psychology field I needed to get my masters degree. After graduating with my masters, I started as a crisis counselor in a 24/7 crisis center, then moved to a community health center working alongside primary care physicians to support patients with mental health concerns and helped start a Suboxone clinic. From there I moved onto a group private practice doing outpatient therapy for a very wide variety of client issues. After a few years of working 5-6 days a week at the group practice I decided it was time to start my own practice to have more freedom and control over my schedule and the types of client issues I chose to work with. The process of starting my own business went quickly. I met with other therapists in private practice to get advice on how to start my own practice and got to work immediately.

The challenges for me have mostly be related to having faith that things with work out and feeling confident in myself. I have taken two maternity leaves since starting my business and each time I go through a few panic-fueled weeks, worrying that I won’t have clients come back or that I won’t become busy again. Both times I have gotten back to a full caseload quickly and have maintained being full. I’ve learned that if you stay consistent in providing high quality services to clients that they will come back and they will refer their friends or family as well.

Overall, the process of starting my own business has helped me feel more confident and at peace in my career. I absolutely love being my own boss and having the freedom to make my practice work for me and my family. I also feel that by specializing in attachment issues, anxiety, self-esteem, and trauma, I have been able to develop a much deeper skillset in treating those issues. I feel excited to meet with my clients and I become energized by our sessions because I’m truly passionate about the work we are doing together.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am big into getting outside. I would have to suggest going on a hike together. My husband and I love having a beer at the top of our hikes as we sit and enjoy the scenery. Horsetooth, Grey Rock, or Arthur’s Rock are easy hikes not too far from the city. If it were winter, I would suggest snowshoeing up at Cameron Pass. After a nice hike or snowshoe trip, I’d love to have a late lunch at Austin’s or even try a new restaurant together. Later we could grab a glass of wine at Ciao Vino, a cute little wine bar I was recently recommended and really enjoyed. The next day we could go kayaking or paddle boarding at Horsetooth Reservoir with a picnic and then ride bikes to get ice cream in Old Town. We could end the day with going to the drive in movie theater to watch a movie or two outside.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had several mentors along the way. My previous supervisor Jen Meyer was pivotal in helping me build self-confidence. Also, my old therapist, Lotte Muster, (who has sadly passed away) was a great guide for me while I was just starting my practice. She helped me personally in relationships as well. It’s hard to think where I’d be without her guidance and support. And, of course, my husband and parents have been so helpful in encouraging me and loving me through my many career transitions.

Website: https://www.hannahdorshercounseling.com/

Instagram: @healing_with_hannah

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahdorsherlpc