We had the good fortune of connecting with Paulina Siegel, LCSW, CAS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paulina, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I’ll start off by saying that happiness is not a normal state of being even though society has taught us that it is a state in which we should maintain consistently. This messaging is not only misleading but creates a dysfunctional trap of suffering. Pain is inevitable and what matters most in life is how we deal with ongoing adversity. Tapping into resiliency is our greatest gift. The way in which I create inner peace, joy, and delight is by living in alignment with my core values while acting in accordance with these values each and every day. Additionally, I make sure to practice mindfulness daily to develop psychological flexibility as I adapt to any situation that comes my way. I actively work towards decreasing the impact of self-defeating thoughts while making room for emotional discomfort using self-observation techniques. Although I desire consistent happiness, I am willing to fully accept the spectrum of emotions that accompany the human experience.

What should our readers know about your business?
Before I started Courageous Paths Counseling, I was in a tough place. I had just endured major leg surgery and came from a company who treated me pretty poorly. The combination of leg surgery and a toxic work environment left me feeling helpless and uncertain about the future. 

One day as I was laying on the couch elevating my leg, I thought to myself, “What if I just started my own counseling practice!?” It was that moment in time where the helplessness faded away and empowerment emerged. It was that moment exactly that I felt compelled and inspired to start my own business. 

As I continued to recover from surgery, I got everything in order to start my counseling practice and began spending hours reading generational research to become one of the leading Gen-Z and Millennial experts. 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Addiction Specialist, and master-level trained mindfulness practitioner. I own a counseling practice in Denver that exclusively serves Gen-Z and Millennials (15-40 years of age). Currently, I am providing teletherapy (video-conferencing) to clients to avoid disruption in care due to the pandemic. 

My mission is helping Gen-Z and Millennials learn how to create a full, rich, and meaningful life. I help my clients gain greater internal awareness while teaching them how to connect to their core values. Once you can live in alignment with your core values and create space for emotional discomfort, you can be set free.  I am always eager to share therapeutic tools with clients that will help them discover who they want to be and what they want their life to be about.

During my clinical training, I learned practical and proven skills that help clients to cut through the confusion and life dissatisfaction and allow them to start reliably getting more of what they want and need. Unfortunately, there aren’t many counselors who specialize exclusively with Gen-Z and Millennials. Additionally, many clinicians in the field don’t have the extensive generational research knowledge to inform their practice. I am incredibly grateful to possess this knowledge and be able to utilize a generational approach to address the unique needs of Gen-Z and Millennials while publicly speaking about the generational research across the United States.

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?
Food: Safta Root Down Sushi Den Uchi Uncle El Five Cart Driver Work & Class Duo Avanti Hiking: -Apex Trails -Enchanted Forest -Green Mountain -Kenosha Pass -Booth Falls -Maroon Bells -Hanging lake -Alberta Falls Parks: -Cheeseman Park -Wash Park -City Park

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My success and achievements are absolutely impacted by the support I receive from others and I am deeply grateful for their generosity. First and foremost, my immediate family and best friends have been my greatest cheerleaders along the way. My business coach has also been a tremendous help each step of the way. Lastly, everyone who supports my mission and passions deserve a shoutout as well.

Website: www.courageouspathscounseling.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourageousPathsCounseling/

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