Meet Tory Becker

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

Hi Tory, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
Over the last couple years I have immersed myself in the genre of feminist retellings and reimaginings of traditional mythology, such as the stories of Medusa from Greece, the goddess Inanna from Ancient Mesopotamia, and the founding emperor of China’s Ming Dynasty. These three books, ‘Athena’s Child’ by Hannah Lynn, ‘Inanna’ by Emily H. Wilson, and ‘She Who Became the Sun’ by Shelley Parker-Chan share a common thread of taking a critical and creative eye to the stories that have shaped our society and culture. By retelling these stories from the female perspective, and often altering details that have historically sent patriarchal and harmful messages, these authors are carving space for women and LGBTQIA+ voices who have traditionally been neglected from the narrative or depicted as powerless and subject to cruelty. This shift in perspective mirrors the shift that I try to bring to each session with my clients; I seek to empower my clients to love themselves and take up space in a world that is constantly telling them otherwise. I have found many parallels to my work as a therapist in the books that I read: all three books I mentioned tell stories of grit, hardship, and deep personal growth without allowing fantasy to wipe out the struggles of these characters. I am grateful for these stories because they help us all reflect on our own struggles and relationship with ourselves, which I believe to be central to my work as a therapist and human.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Reaching the point where I was licensed and even able to start my own practice was a 6 year rollercoaster and by the time I got there I was ready to take more control of my career. I needed a better work/life balance than I was getting in community mental health agencies. So many mental health agencies and systems that focus on supporting underserved populations employ high numbers of graduate level and beginning therapists because the need for services is so high. However, the provider burnout rate is also high. I realized I had to care for myself in order to be able to care for others. For me, the best choice I could make once I got licensed was to step away and start my own practice, Tory Becker Therapy. Running my own practice allowed me to honor the boundaries I needed for my mental health and the flexibility and autonomy to create my own schedule and work from home with my dogs and cat. I recognize the privilege of running my own practice so I always keep a commitment to provide affordable therapy for those in need. I always have space for clients who can only pay a significantly reduced fee, work with clients who need to utilize sliding scale pricing, and I accept as many health insurances as I can to continue meeting the huge need for services from outside an agency. I’m grateful that this solution has allowed me to keep doing what I love.
One of the core components of my practice and brand is authenticity; I have done the work to know who I am, both as a person and a clinician, and that person is a good fit for some and not for others. I don’t try to change myself like a chameleon for every different person I work with- I try to show up authentically and let that guide the relationship. To be clear, that doesn’t mean I don’t adapt to what a particular client is comfortable with or needing in the moment- I will always do that, but at my core I try to show up authentically. For example, I prefer insight-oriented therapy and if someone were to book a consultation with me looking for strictly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I would have no problem helping them find another therapist that might be a better fit. I think its tempting to try to conform into whatever someone is looking for, but that doesn’t create good, transformative therapy. I am an empath who gravitates toward depthful conversation, takes wisdom from nature, wants to talk about your nervous system and your childhood, and holds a feminist lens throughout all her work- I am not the right fit for everyone. When I show up authentically I hope that it invites my clients to also be authentic to themselves.

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?
One of my favorite pastimes is wandering through antique malls- some of my favorites are Colorado Antique Gallery and Art District Antiques. I also love painting pottery at Glaze and Phase, and walking Cherry Creek off leash dog trail.
Some of my favorite restaurants are Dio Mio, Jerusalem, Los Dos Potrillos, Carrera’s Tacos, and Adrift. For a special meal, A5 is the best. The Perfect Landing is a favorite with my family when they come to visit- we love to watch the planes take off and land while having breakfast.
When I am looking for a cocktail I go to The Broken Cage, for the best patios I go to Denver Beer Co., and I will always be happy to have a Mai Tai at Adrift.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents have been instrumental in my confidence and ability to become a therapist and to start my own business. Both of my parents are artistic people who have had creative careers; my parents met when they were both working in TV production and broadcasting for an NBA team. I grew up seeing parents follow their passions and have unique job experiences; through their example I knew that I was free to follow whatever excited me. I know now that it was a gift not to feel like there was a certain path I needed to take when it came time to exploring majors and career options in college and I credit that to them. My parents have also consistently provided encouragement for my goals and dreams. I treasure their consistency in my life.

Alex, my husband, has been the best co-worker since we both transitioned to working from home. He keeps me laughing throughout the day and is the person I lean on the most when life or work is overwhelming.

Website: https://torybecker.com