I’m Dr. Arnica Buckner, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience in the mental health field. I’ve been in private practice in Denver, CO since 2008 and  I have dedicated my work to providing effective, evidence-based therapies in an accepting, compassionate environment.  My treatment aims to teach cognitive and behavioral skills, including mindfulness, acceptance and interpersonal skills, in order to help those I work with move toward more full, meaningful lives.  My approach is to help illuminate how our minds work so that we can put our cognitive processes to better use and move more flexibly in our lives. I help people clarify for themselves what direction they want their lives to go and what a meaningful life looks like for them. From that point, I aim to help clients learn the skills they need to overcome barriers to the life they want. Some of these skills include learning to cope with and regulate difficult emotional states, relating more effectively to unhelpful thinking patterns, learning behaviors that lead to more healthy, fulfilling relationships, and understanding how to approach emotional pain in order to heal. I also regularly incorporate self-compassion practices into my work and believe our relationship with ourselves is a foundational aspect of creating a life worth living.   I have received extensive training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindful Self-Compassion. I regularly draw upon and incorporate strategies drawn from other evidence-based approaches, including Behavior Activation, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy.

Some of the specific issues addressed in my practice are:

Transition into Adulthood

Perfectionism and Work Burnout

Parenting Difficulties

Parenting Children with High Needs

Difficulties with Shame and Guilt

Grief and Loss

Anxiety disorders

Depression

Trauma

Relationship difficulties

I am authorized by PSYPACT to provide therapy services in 42 states.