Alexandra Irish
I’m Alexandra Irish, an LMFT and LPC with over a decade of experience working in the mental health field and six years of experience as a therapist. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of needs, including individuals involved in mental health and drug court programs, high school students, veterans, and clients in private practice. Over the past three years, I have focused on building my private practice with the goal of creating a therapeutic environment where clients feel supported, understood, and empowered to make meaningful changes in their lives. I started my private practice to create greater balance for my family while continuing to pursue my passion for providing compassionate, high-quality mental health care. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process, and I strive to create a safe, welcoming space where clients can feel comfortable being themselves and working toward the life they want.
First session
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another, review some initial paperwork, and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. I will take time to answer any questions you may have about the therapy process and make sure you feel comfortable with how we’ll work together. During the session, I’ll ask assessment questions to better understand your current concerns, what you’ve been experiencing, and any relevant mental health history that may be helpful for us to consider in the therapy process. We’ll also talk about your decision to pursue therapy at this time and what you are hoping for from this process. As we get to know each other, we’ll begin identifying your goals for therapy and discussing what the next steps might look like. This may include talking about a specific type of therapy that may be most appropriate, how often we might meet, and what you can expect from future sessions. Most importantly, there is no pressure to have everything figured out during the first session. Therapy is a collaborative process, and the first meeting is simply a starting point. We’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable and appropriate for you, and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions, share concerns, and decide together what feels like the right direction moving forward.
Strengths
One of the things I value most as a therapist is my ability to build genuine rapport with clients, regardless of their background, circumstances, or previous experiences with therapy. I have developed this skill through working with a wide range of individuals, including those who were court-ordered to treatment and teens in juvenile detention. These experiences have taught me the importance of meeting each person where they are and creating a therapeutic environment where they feel respected, understood, and comfortable being themselves. My approach to therapy is relaxed, collaborative, and individualized. I believe therapy should be tailored to you and what you need from the process. Sometimes you may simply need a safe space to vent and have someone truly listen. Other times, you may want structure, education, and practical tools to help you better understand what you are experiencing. Whether you are looking to learn CBT strategies, build coping skills, work through difficult emotions, or navigate the everyday challenges of life, I will work alongside you to develop skills that are meaningful and practical for your life. I also value honesty and open communication. I appreciate when clients feel comfortable being direct about where they are, what is working, and what may not be working. Your feedback helps me ensure that therapy is meeting your needs. My goal is to provide the support, encouragement, and tools you need while empowering you to create meaningful change. When appropriate, I will also provide accountability and gently challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone. Ultimately, I want therapy to feel like a space where you can be yourself, feel heard, and work toward becoming the person you want to be.
Ideal clients
I work with adolescents and young adults who may be experiencing anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, or other challenges that are making it difficult to feel like themselves or navigate everyday life. My ideal client is someone who is ready—or is beginning to feel ready—to make a change and is willing to work collaboratively in the therapeutic process. You do not have to come to therapy with everything figured out. You may know exactly what you want to work on, or you may simply know that something isn’t feeling right and you need support. Either is completely okay. I especially enjoy working with individuals who may feel unsure about therapy or uncertain about what their goals should be. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, and you don't need to have all the answers before you begin. We can take the time to explore what is bringing you to therapy, identify what you would like to be different, and work together to develop goals that feel meaningful to you. What matters most to me is your willingness to show up, be open, and try. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I will meet you where you are while providing support, practical tools, encouragement, and accountability along the way. You don't have to know exactly where you're going before you start. We can figure that out together.
Treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I utilize DBT to assist clients in becoming more aware of their emotions, tolerate distress, improve relationships, and respond to difficult situations in healthier ways. Rather than expecting clients to simply stop experiencing difficult emotions, DBT teaches them practical skills for accepting their emotions while making positive changes in their behavior and lives.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize CBT to focus on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The way we think about a situation can affect how we feel and how we respond to it. The goal of CBT is not to eliminate difficult thoughts or emotions, but to help clients understand them and develop more effective ways of managing them so they can make meaningful changes in their daily life.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 12689
- ColoradoLicense LPC.0019046