Justin Watts
I believe that real change begins with authenticity, with ourselves first, and then with the people around us. So much of what brings people to therapy is not really about the problem on the surface. It is often about feeling disconnected: from a sense of purpose, from other people, or from parts of ourselves we have learned to hide or ignore. My approach is grounded in existential therapy. I am interested in who you truly are, and in helping you find your way back there. Together, we will explore the choices you are making, the meaning you are creating in your life, and the ways you might be holding back from full, authentic engagement with yourself and others. Part of that means getting back in touch with our feelings, which are real and authentic, and can direct us if we let them. I work with adults navigating life transitions, stress, and identity or relationship struggles. I also have particular experience supporting trauma survivors, including those who experienced childhood maltreatment and psychological abuse. Sometimes our past shows up unexpectedly in our present, in how we relate to others, the choices we make, or the beliefs we carry about ourselves without realizing where they came from. In the room, I am warm, genuine, and yes, I bring some humor too. I believe in relationship, the kind where you feel genuinely seen, and where I bring my full self to the work too.
First session
Your first session is really about getting to know each other. There is no pressure to have everything figured out or to explain yourself perfectly. We will talk about what brought you to therapy, what feels hard right now, and what you are hoping might be different. I will ask questions, but you are always in control of how much you share and how quickly. I also want you to get a sense of whether I feel like the right fit for you. Therapy works best when the relationship feels genuine, so I encourage you to notice how you feel talking with me, and to ask me anything you are curious about, including about how I work. By the end of our first session, we will usually have a general sense of what you would like to focus on, and what a path forward might look like, though this often shifts and deepens as we get further into the work together.
Strengths
I do not believe in quick fixes or checklists, and I am not interested in offering a script or a list of coping skills without understanding the fuller picture of who you are. My work is not about analyzing every part of you. It is about creating enough space to notice what feels true, what does not, and where the two have drifted apart over time. I bring years of study and practice in this approach, not as a technique I apply, but as something I believe in deeply, a way of being human together. I stay present with what is actually happening between us in the room, rather than following a fixed protocol, which means our work together will be shaped by you, not by a formula. I also bring particular depth in working with trauma survivorship, especially childhood maltreatment and psychological abuse, and an understanding of how the past can resurface unexpectedly in present day struggles, even when the connection is not obvious at first. My goal is not to hand you answers, but to walk alongside you as you find your own.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is ready to look honestly at their life. They may be going through a life transition, feeling disconnected from a sense of purpose, or noticing that old patterns keep showing up in new situations without understanding why. They may not be able to name exactly what is wrong, only that something feels unsatisfying or incomplete, and they are ready to explore that rather than push it aside. They want a therapist who will be genuinely present with them, who will ask real questions, and who values the relationship itself as part of the work. They are willing to sit with discomfort, explore their feelings rather than avoid them, and do the ongoing work of self-reflection, trusting that real lasting change comes from within rather than from being told what to do.
Treatment methods
Existential
A lot of our work together may center on your sense of self, not a fixed self to be found, but one that is shaped by the choices you make and the roles you have taken on, sometimes without realizing you were choosing them. This is not about analyzing every part of you, but about creating enough space to notice where you are living on autopilot versus living deliberately, and where those two have drifted apart.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- ColoradoLicense LPC.0019152