Doing Good for the Community: Spotlight on Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW

Maria Droste Counseling Center is a Denver-based nonprofit mental health service organization comprised of mental health professionals, learners and volunteers who are passionate about community, learning, and service. Our uniquely sustainable model of traditional and co-located mental health counseling and clinical training is delivered in collaboration with a group of expert private clinicians, The Therapist Group (TTG).

The Therapist Group is a collective of licensed counselors, social workers, and psychologists with varied areas of expertise that are committed to providing high-quality, private counseling services to ensure that each individual is receiving the best care possible. With a unique model for giving back, TTG trains and supervises more than 20 graduate level therapists from six universities throughout Colorado. These student therapists treat individuals in a variety of settings including schools, supportive housing, and integrated care settings. They provide services to a diverse group of people regardless of their ability to pay. Learn more about our educational and service model here.

In 2022, we will be featuring a TTG member each month to highlight our many wonderful providers and the importance of the work they do with Maria Droste. This month, we will be featuring TTG therapist Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW. 

TTG Highlight: Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW

Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW knew that she wanted to help people from a young age. Her own positive family therapy experience and love of animals led her toward Animal Assisted Social Work (AASW). Lindsay wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, but was worried she would have to give up incorporating her passion for social justice in her work. She was concerned about the cost of living in Denver, but didn’t want to sacrifice providing services to historically underserved communities by working in private practice.

Lindsay heard about TTG through social media, and knew it was the place for her. TTG is where social justice and private practice meet. Lindsay says that “I had an instant connection to other TTG members who shared MDCC’s mission and values. Being a TTG member allows me to provide accessible mental health services to populations I am passionate about.”

Lindsay continues to be a TTG member because of the structure at Maria Droste. She appreciates being able to rent affordable office space in exchange for supervising interns and fellows and accepting sliding scale clients. Lindsay feels empowered to continue making a difference because of Maria Droste’s support and understanding when it comes to workplace boundaries and abilities.

If I have the passion and time to do something good for the community, I’m going to do it. If we have the resources to be involved and make change, why wouldn’t we?

Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW

Lindsay truly embodies this commitment to do good for the community. On top of her role as a therapist and supervisor, she is now the Chair of the Credentialing Committee. This means that she is the first point of contact for new TTG members. Her role enables her to connect with other therapists who are passionate about providing accessible and affordable care for all Coloradans.

Stories from Supervisees

As with most aspects of her work, Lindsay Rojas goes above and beyond to supervise not one, but two, individuals. Her supervisees this year, Claudia Kouakou and Taija Thomas, both spoke to Lindsay’s impact on their development as therapists and as a positive force in their lives.

Claudia:

Lindsay is my first BIPOC supervisor, which means a lot to me. It’s very helpful to have Lindsay as a supervisor. I like having someone to check in with weekly to talk about clients and to get someone else’s perspective. For example, Lindsay and I had supervision yesterday, and right after that I received a crisis call from a client. I was able to text Lindsay to share how I handled the situation, ask for feedback, and see if there was anything else I should do. Having Lindsay as a supervisor feels like a safety blanket. Especially as a young therapist, the countertransference and imposter syndrome are real. It’s nice to have reassurance from a supportive supervisor.

Taija:

There are many people at Maria Droste committed to anti-oppressive practices, but having a BIPOC supervisor makes me feel more comfortable bringing things up when cultural considerations arise with clients. I appreciate that Lindsay is really encouraging and respectful of my clinical opinion and theoretical orientation. She never says “don’t do something like this, you should do it the way I do it,” which is important to me; especially in this stage of my development, as I need to build my skills and gain trust in myself. Lindsay also encourages me to talk about being a whole person, a human being in the field of counseling. We don’t just talk about clients and how to help them. Lindsay will ask, “how are you today as a person? How are you taking care of yourself?” and encourages me to put myself first, because my health and wellbeing is top priority.

Lindsay’s Approach: Animal Assisted Social Work

Lindsay uses Animal Assisted Social Work (AASW) in her practice. This means that she partners with her therapy dog, Dante, to support her clients. Lindsay has always been a big animal lover. She really saw the impact that animals could have on a person’s mental health when working in the foster system. The science behind the human-animal connection has been very compelling for Lindsay. In addition to the science behind it, AASW has the flexibility to be structured or casual to fit the clients’ needs.

Dogs are unconditionally loving, and completely non-judgmental. A lot of my clients haven’t experienced that before, but Dante can easily provide that for them in our sessions.

Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW

Animals are also an easy connection point for Lindsay and her clients, and can often help them get more comfortable with each other. Connections such as being an animal lover, bilingual, and Latinx allow Lindsay to break down the typical power structure that exists in therapy between therapist and client. Lindsay lets her clients know that they are capable of using the skills they have cultivated to continue to grow and change after their sessions have ended.

How to contact Lindsay

Interested in seeking therapy from Lindsay Rojas, LCSW, AASW? Feel free to reach out via email (preferred), or by calling her Google Voice number 720-432-0604. Please keep in mind that Lindsay may be with another client and may not be immediately available to speak over the phone. Lindsay prefers that clients reach out over email when seeking services.

If you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis, please contact Colorado Crisis Services. Call 844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255.

Learn more about Maria Droste’s counseling services here.