Meet Malia Doss

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

Hi Malia, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Created for Community is where evidenced-based group therapy meets the reflective depth of spiritual formation. Our model is based on the work of Dr. Curt Thompson who integrates neuroscience, attachment theory and Christian spiritual formation to help people seeking healing and wholeness. We offer structured group therapy, facilitated by highly experienced licensed clinicians, enhanced with guided spiritual exercises designed to offer pathways to growth, resilience and deeper connection. In our sacred space, group members journey together towards wholeness, share struggles, discover grace and learn to hear the voice of God in the midst of everyday life. We provide a clinically grounded, spiritually informed path to love, creativity and flourishing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Sadly, group therapy makes up at most 5% of treatment in private practice. We are enthusiastic fans of the group therapy experience as much research shows it is frequently more effective than individual therapy. We are wounded in relationship and we heal in relationship. In a group we realize that others share similar struggles, we feel less alone and “broken”. We received feedback from multiple people with different lived experiences and members act as mirrors for one another, revealing blind spots gently. We get to practice all of our relational skills and grow our capacity for empathy and compassion. We can see how others cope, we form bonds that provide emotional and social support, and we foster a sense of belonging which is deeply healing. We hold each other accountable and encourage each other in our inner work and transformation. It is wildly cost-effective, running about 40% the cost of individual therapy. After 20 years in private practice seeing individuals, couples and families, we find ourselves more enthusiastic and energized by our group work. It is really tricky filling groups as most people don’t really know what group therapy is and the thought of coming into a room with up to 9 people and revealing your most personal business is quite intimidating! We believe that vulnerability, community and faith transform lives. What we know is that group therapy works, is affordable and group members will tell you that group is the highlight of their week!

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?
Well, it depends on the time of year but I would want to take my friend to Buena Vista/Salida to do some hiking and visit Mt. Princeton hot springs. In the warmer months, we would definitely float the Arkansas and spend some time in the shops of Salida. I’d want to do the Manitou Springs incline and relax afterwards at the Broadmoor for some hot tub time and good eats. We would hang out with friends and family and mix it up between being in nature and enjoying some good ol’ girly self care.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As therapists and spiritual journeyers, we are in a long line of love. There are so many whose work and writings inform our work and whose contributions we seek to share with all we come in contact with. A very incomplete list includes John Mark Comer, John Eldredge, Dr. Curt Thompson, Larry Crabb, Henri Nouwen, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sustainable Faith, Fr, Timothy Gallagher, Dr. Peter Levine, Terry Real, Sue Johnson, Dr. Jordan Peterson, and St. Theresa of Avila.

Website: https://createdforcommunity.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/direct/t/17845503177330794/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malia-doss-15560513/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreatedForCommunityCounseling/#10161501611177062

Image Credits
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