About Us

Samantha Torres, LPC

Lead Counselor

Reflecting Light Guidance is a mental health practice based in Colorado that offers trauma-informed individual and group counseling for adults. Our approach incorporates personalized guided meditation, CBT-A for increased awareness of thought patterns, IFS techniques, and art and creative therapies in our sessions. We originally opened in 2019 under the name Mesa Guidance and later rebranded to Reflecting Light Guidance to better represent our counseling style and approach. We stand out from other mental health telehealth practices with our concierge-style practice, small caseloads for personalized care, and a partnership with hands-on prescribers. Individuals who have used our services describe their experience with Reflecting Light Guidance as insightful, compassionate and transformative, and are appreciative of the in-session skill-building and reflective feedback provided.

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Our Services

Telehealth Counseling

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The relationship with your therapist, just like all relationships, is bound to have some things deserving of working through- actually therapy can be a great place to practice conflict resolution skills that may feel too daunting or unpredictable in other relationships. It also gives your therapist a chance to either adjust things that they're doing and/or encourage you to explore and challenge those interpersonal barriers both of which can lead to a healthy resolution to conflict. We're human and we make mistakes, it's worth bringing it up if you feel like there's something that needs to be addressed. Your therapist can hold space for your experience and you are allowed to speak up! Periodic check-ins are also the responsibility of your therapist to open the door for such conversations. Some examples of things it's okay to bring up with your therapist:

"I'm angry about something that happened in session."

"I feel like I hold back the truth at times because I'm worried I'll be judged"

"When you take notes during session without letting me know what you're writing down, I'm uncomfortable"

"When you got back to me the day after I messaged you, it made me feel anxious or like you didn't care"

"I'm worried about telling you the truth, that you'll think I need to be hospitalized."

"I sometimes feel like I don't want to disappoint you."

"That coping skill we worked on did not work!"

"I'm worried you'll say the same thing my (parent, ex, etc.) said if I share this with you."

"I feel like I need more support."

"I feel like I'm ready to stop coming to therapy."

"You did something that reminded me of a parent/sibling that I don't get along with."

#coffeandtea #therapistoffice
#mentalhealth #fortcollinstherapist #nicegirls #recoveringpeoplepleaser #grouptherapy #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #fortcollins #foco

A topic that often comes up in therapy is how slow change can feel after you've experienced chronic trauma. If you've ever heard of a 'growth mindset', and thought 'why can't I just do that?', know that if you've experienced repeated trauma or a lack of a supportive environment during key developmental stages, it can be especially difficult to feel a sense of hopefulness when facing new challenges. Building new pathways for change can look like acknowledging your feelings of helplessness/hopelessness or defeat without accepting that as the full story.

Some examples of this:

Addressing something that was hurtful to me feels impossible AND simply acknowledging that I'm allowed to feel hurt is what I'm capable of doing at this moment.

I cannot control how I feel right now which is scary AND I can meet this feeling with compassion and understanding or reach out for support if I need to.

Hearing someone share how I hurt them feels like an attack AND I can ask for space to address my feeling myself before holding space for their experience.

I cannot control world events which is so distressing AND I can decide to take action towards something I care about when I'm inspired to.

I didn't choose the environment I grew up in which makes me feel powerless AND I am capable of healing and one day building a healthy environment

I can't control how much healing my family members are capable of which is heartbreaking AND I can acknowledge my grief and build relationships with people at my own level of healing.

I'm disappointed that I said yes when I wanted to say no AND just acknowledging that I have a right to say no is a big deal for me.

My health issue feels debilitating this week AND I can support by body by staying in the limits of what's possible right now.

I'm frustrated that I have so much anxiety lately AND I know that it's just one part of me and I can learn new ways to support myself/heal my nervous system.

I didn't handle that situation the way I hoped to AND I can learn from it and use it as practice for self-compassion.

#mentalhealth #fortcollins #fortcollinstherapist #grouptherapy #mentalhealthawareness #peoplepleaser #foco #coloradotherapist

🌬️ Take a pause and tune into your breath. 🌿✨

In the midst of our day, it's easy to forget the power that lies within our own breath. Today, I invite you to stop, notice, and embrace the rhythm of your breathing.

Step 1: Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can sit or lie down. Close your eyes and allow your body to be supported by the ground beneath you.

Step 2: Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of five seconds. Feel the air filling your lungs.

Step 3: Hold your breath for a moment, savoring the stillness and the energy flowing within you.

Step 4: Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth for a count of seven seconds. Release any tension or stress, letting go with each breath out.

Step 5: Repeat this cycle of inhaling for five seconds, holding, and exhaling for seven seconds for a few minutes, focusing solely on your breath.

Step 6: As you continue this practice, let go of any thoughts or distractions. Be fully present in the moment, embracing the clarity that comes with each breath.

Allow this simple exercise to bring you back to the present, to anchor you in the here and now. Let your breath be your guide, your source of calm.

Remember, you can return to this practice whenever you need a moment of stillness and grounding. Embrace the power of your breath and let it be a gentle reminder of the peace that resides within you.

#BreatheIn #BreatheOut #Mindfulness #SelfCare #InnerPeace #Wellness #mentalhealth #nervoussystemregulation

There are a lot of opinions about the use of personal disclosure from the therapist in a therapy session. Traditionally, it has been frowned upon and only to be used judiciously when in the best interest of the client.

But what we also know about therapy is that a very large percentage of an individual benefiting from therapy is simply the relationship with therapist.

Another consideration is that therapy was not created in diverse spaces. To be honest, the original model was based on one type of demographic providing care for the same type of demographic. There was already an inherent trust and made self disclosure almost unnecessary for building trust and knowing that your provider was coming from the same place with similar experiences even.

It's my opinion that when you are working with clients who have C-PTSD/relational trauma, self disclosure may be an important part of building trust, especially when the client wants to know more. This doesn't mean you share your hardships or put the client in a position where they are caretaking, this means you share some of your experience and your journey. Maybe that is just the name of your pets who are wandering around in the background, or maybe it is honesty about the similarities of what you went through if it mirrors their own experience. Either way I don't believe that it is something to be avoided or dodged if a client asks for more, I feel that it can be a tool to connect, build trust, and demonstrate a shared humanity.

"We must forgive those we feel have wronged us, not because they deserve to be forgiven, but because we love ourselves so much we don't want to keep
paying for the injustice."
-Don Miguel Ruiz

Do you agree?

As therapists, we spend most of our day in the space of one-on-one connection. Because our work is done in the shadows, I just wanted to say hi from the other side and hopefully shed some light on the inner workings of the therapy experience 👋🏼 I'm Sam & I'm glad you're here. I hope that if you choose to follow along you can give yourself a few moments of rest when we pop up on your feed. 🌻

#mentalhealthawareness #therapist #latinatherapist

#repost

#mentalhealth #nervoussystemregulation

Is there one that stands out to you that you would like to engage with more?

"All of nature is doing her best each moment to make us well—she exists for no other end. Do not resist her.”

🤍

1853, Henry David Thoreau

#mentalhealthawareness #pikespeak #nervoussystem

You can practice this for up to five minutes a day, while in a calm, quiet place.

#mentalhealthawareness #breathwork

Studies have shown that time in nature can positively impact the brain and nervous system by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. How can you incorporate more time in nature into your daily life? -Bring 'work' outside whenever possible, going through mail, checking emails, ect -Walking vs driving if possible -Starting a garden -Adding in 10 extra minutes in the morning or evening to do a breathing exercise outside. #nervoussystem #nervoussystemregulation

When we’re in a rest and digest a.k.a. parasympathetic nervous system state, we’re in a place of being ready to process, not just food and nutrients, but the events of our lives. Often dysregulation of our nervous system can show up as G.I. issues but here are some other ways we can know if we are ‘digesting’ :

-Responding versus reacting
-Higher HRV
-feeling that we are making choices that are not rooted in self-preservation/protection only versus Reacting out of the four F’s.
-Laughing, and connecting with others easily
-Non-avoidance of ‘negative’ emotions
-Deep belly breathing
-Play and creative activities
-Ability to see multiple angles and perspectives
-Others emotions don’t overwhelm your own
-Sense of trust

#nervoussystem #mentalhealthmatters

Which state do you think our daily lives encourage more?

When the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, it slows our heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure and promotes digestion. Our body enters a state of relaxation. The more time we spend in a PSNS state, the healthier we are.

Take a moment to check in with your body.

⚪️Notice if there are any areas you’re holding on to tension.
⚪️Make a conscious effort on your next exhale to release.
⚪️Continue throughout your whole body using your breath to guide you.

#nervoussystemregulation regulation #breathwork #therapy #skillbuilding

Brain seeking dopamine with endless scrolling? Try these instead:

1. Make a small list of tasks and complete them
2. Move your body- 3 pushups, 3 crunches, or another set sequence.
3. Research something- a new recipe, new music, a new exercise.

Our system is wired to seek until we complete but since scrolling is never ending, we keep doing it, searching for ‘something’ and sometimes feeling worse along the way. Give your self the opportunity to complete something by trying one of the exercises above and notice the difference in how you feel. As always be gentle with yourself during the process 🤍

#nervoussystem #revoussystemregulation #therapy #coloradotherapist #endlessscroll #dopamine

Take a moment to check in with your breathing- just notice it. That's all. #soundon #nsr #nervoussystemregulation #mentalhealth # nervoussystem #parasympathetic

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Samantha provides a balance between validating my experience and challenging me. She allows a place where I can explore, disagree, feel emotions and slow down. It is the exact opposite of what I was allowed growing up in a restrictively religious environment and I feel like I'm getting to build so much more compassion and understanding for myself through this experience.

- BG 2023

Testimonials

I really like how active my sessions with Samantha are and that it's not just me talking and her listening all the time. She definitely gives me things to
think about throughout the week and I have seen huge improvements in my life from 'doing the work' out of sessions. I don't know if I wasn't ready to do it before or if her approach just works better for me but I get the feeling she's really invested and engaged.

- DW 2019

I reached out to Samantha due to some relationship issues I was having with my family. She really helped me to work through what patterns were present with them that were preventing me from setting the boundaries that I wanted to and helped me to find the words and strength to stand up for myself. I didn't realize how angry I was and that by not acknowledging my anger, I was also responsible for the issues within my relationships. She allowed me to feel heard without encouraging staying in a 'victim' mindset which was personally important to me.

- IS 2022

Samantha is very compassionate, professional, intelligent, and kind! She is an excellent listener and frames issues in insightful ways while providing me with various tools that have been incredibly helpful in improving my overall mental health.

- AC 2024

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Current In-Person Therapy Groups

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Contact

If you're interested in learning more about our services or would like to book a complementary introduction appointment, please don't hesitate to contact us by creating an account and requesting an appointment.

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