We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Trujillo, Ph.d. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, how do you think about risk?
I try to think about life from both a gains and losses approach. Any life event, desirable or undesirable, will have gains and losses associated with that. Inherent in both is also risk. So, I think that risk is nearly everywhere, and part of the work in life is to figure out which risks are worth it, to what extent, and how you can maintain a growth mindset and learn from the risks, regardless of their payoff. I also try to look at risks from a process standpoint instead of just a results perspective, because we can’t always control all of the variables that lead to a given outcome.
Taking risks has played a huge role in my life. I am a first-generation college student, I am the first in my family to obtain a Ph.D. and move across the country on my own… there is a long list of the ways I’ve risked things not previously done in my family. This is similar for my career. Certain job prospects and interviews I’ve chosen to throw my name in the hat for all come with risk, but I have always assessed the potential reward to be greater than the fear that would prevent me from trying. I’d say starting my own practice and writing a vulnerable book have been two of the biggest risks I’ve taken lately. I am glad in both cases that I did, although I still don’t understand or know the full implications of the risk, so the feedback is forever ongoing. Essentially, I think that risk is inevitable – we just have to learn how to trust ourselves and our decision-making capacities to risk wisely and to live with the things we can’t control.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I have been in private practice for about 2.5 years now, and my time is pulled in several different directions. Clinically I focus mostly on individual clients. I specialize in grief/loss (death and non-death), eating disorders, trauma, anxiety/depressive disorders, perfectionism, life transitions/identity work, and performance psychology. I work mostly with current or former college, pro, and Olympic athletes, and high school athletes in the midst of recruiting/trying to take things to the next level. I also work with teams and organizations including the Colorado Ballet, DU Women’s Basketball, Wilhelmina Denver, and Castle View High School Football. In these capacities I work with their athletes and staff either providing individual care, team interventions, coaching consultations, or giving presentations from either a mental health or sport performance lens. I also provide education and consultation to other groups and individuals. I am licensed in around 40 states, so that means I work all over the country which has been an incredibly cool part of my career. Then of course, you have to tackle all of the things that being a business owner x2 entails, so there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes admin tasks that go into the process as well.
I recently published my first book as well (And She Was Never the Same Again; andshewasneverthesameagain.com), so that has led to a lot more appearances on radio shows, podcasts, written articles, and even a few TV interviews. I hope to get more into a few speaking engagements and continue to promote/expand the book’s reach in the post-launch phase.

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.
I am all about experiences! I love to bounce around to several places in one day to keep things fresh. I am a nerd at heart so I’d definitely have some type of event that induces deep learning or critical thinking – I love things like the theater or museums for this (most recent thing I checked out was the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy!). I’m also a HUGE sports buff, so any live event would be on the list. My favorite sport is basketball, but I also love football, hockey and baseball live. Although truly – I will see and enjoy any live sporting event.

As far as eating or drinking – I LOVE trying new places, and things that are a little off the beaten path. Some of my favorite neighborhoods in the city are Cherry Creek, RiNo, and Wash Park. I love speakeasys like MIllers and Rossi and Retrograde. I am a huge fan of Forget Me Not and Ay Papi, and really enjoy Barcelona and Death & Co. I’d likely bounce around to several spots to try out a variety of vibes. I find that also makes it a lot more fun and exciting and gives you the opportunity to meet more people. We would check out Pearl Street, sections of Colfax, the Dairy Block, the Stanley Marketplace, all that RiNo/Five Points has to offer! My friends would be exhausted, but satisfied!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a solid group of family members and friends who are steadfast in their belief and encouragement toward me. I don’t have enough space to name them all, but in particular I am so grateful to my parents, brother, my mom’s two siblings, and my grandma Pryde. I am also very luck to have a variety of mentors both personally and professionally who have seen me through some of my darker moments and been alongside me to celebrate the victories (Jennifer Sheaffer, Mary Alice Bruce, and Riley Nickols, to name a few). I also have to shout out some of the incredible people who have been part of the team to help launch my practice and book successfully (Pryde Designs, My Word Publishing, Smith Publicity). I don’t believe that anyone’s success is solely individual – rather we have a series of events and interactions with others that help us navigate the path that leads to both successes and failures.

Website: https://www.npttherapy.com

Instagram: npttherapy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-p-trujillo-phd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/npttherapy

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NatashaP.TrujilloPh.D.

Image Credits
Angelina Butler (photos)
William Dalton Frizzell (Book Cover)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.