My name is Pedro Zabala III, and I am a licensed professional counselor in Colorado with over 15 years of experience helping individuals through various mental health challenges. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and holistic, grounded in the belief that we all possess the inner strength and wisdom to overcome life’s challenges. I see my role as a guide, helping you uncover your resilience and empowering you to create lasting change. I specialize in assisting clients in re-evaluating their relationships with substances and behavioral addictions, fostering self-awareness, and supporting their journey toward commitment and change. I also work with individuals facing: • Anxiety Disorders: Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorder. • Depression: Major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder. • Relationship Challenges: Improving communication and understanding. • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Recovering from trauma and building resilience. • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Addressing intrusive thoughts and compulsions. • Adjustment Disorders: Navigating life transitions and stress. Additionally, I assist clients in managing stress, self-esteem challenges, identity exploration, and workplace issues. Together, we will develop therapy goals tailored to your strengths and needs, integrating evidence-based practices such as person-centered care, motivational interviewing, CBT, DBT, solution-focused strategies, and narrative therapy. I hold a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. My diverse experience—spanning addiction recovery, family counseling, career guidance, and crisis intervention—enables me to provide comprehensive care. "Within you lies the capacity for healing and growth. Together, we can cultivate mindfulness, nurture your inner strength, and walk gently toward a fulfilling life."

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In sessions with me, clients can expect to gain practical tools and skills to better understand and manage their emotions, build meaningful connections, and navigate life’s challenges effectively. Together, we work toward fostering resilience and creating a life that reflects their values and aspirations. Guided by principles of acceptance and change, I support clients in developing strategies such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—all tailored to their unique needs and goals. As a person-centered therapist, I prioritize creating a safe, empathetic, and collaborative environment where clients feel heard and understood. Through motivational interviewing, I aim to evoke intrinsic motivation for change and help clients identify and harness their strengths to achieve personal growth. Using cognitive and behavioral approaches, we address unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior to promote positive transformation. Solution-focused therapy enables us to build on existing strengths and successes to find practical pathways toward desired outcomes, while narrative therapy invites clients to re-author their stories, embracing their identities and possibilities. I believe in empowering clients to become active participants in their own journey, fostering hope and supporting them in bringing newfound skills into their everyday lives.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

In my practice, I believe that authentic relationships form the foundation of meaningful therapy. I approach each client relationship with warmth, empathy, and a deep respect for their unique experiences, ensuring that they feel seen, heard, and valued. I strive to create a collaborative space where clients can explore their emotions and challenges without fear of judgment. Drawing from person-centered principles, I meet clients where they are, tailoring my approach to honor their individuality and inherent strengths. Motivational interviewing allows me to evoke and support clients' intrinsic desires for growth and change, fostering a sense of empowerment. With CBT and DBT techniques, I help clients develop practical strategies to manage their emotions, navigate relationships, and approach challenges with resilience. From a solution-focused perspective, I guide clients to recognize their existing strengths and successes, building on these to create practical solutions. Through narrative therapy, I invite clients to reframe and re-author their life stories, embracing a sense of agency and purpose. My role is not simply that of an expert but as a compassionate partner in their journey, holding space for emotions and issues that need to be addressed while empowering clients to create a life that reflects their values and aspirations.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I am best positioned to work with individuals who are facing life transitions, grappling with substance dependency, or navigating behavioral addictions. My clients tend to be open to growth and change, willing to explore their own roles in perpetuating patterns, and eager to find new ways to live in alignment with their values. I specialize in helping clients re-evaluate their relationships with substances and behavioral addictions, fostering self-awareness and supporting their journey toward commitment and change. In addition, I work closely with individuals dealing with: • Anxiety Disorders: Including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder. • Depression: Supporting those facing major depressive disorder or persistent depressive disorder. • Relationship Challenges: Facilitating open communication and understanding in interpersonal relationships. • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Guiding individuals in recovering from trauma and building resilience. • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Addressing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. • Adjustment Disorders: Helping clients tackle stress and challenges tied to life transitions. In addition to behavioral health concerns, I work with individuals managing stress, facing challenges related to self-esteem, navigating relationship dynamics, redefining identity, or seeking personal and professional growth. Whether addressing workplace stress, exploring vocational identity, or embracing life-role balance, I provide a collaborative and supportive environment for change. My approach integrates person-centered care, motivational interviewing, CBT, DBT, solution-focused strategies, and narrative perspectives. I aim to empower my clients to re-author their life stories, uncover strengths, and embrace possibilities, working together to develop skills that promote meaningful and lasting change.

About Pedro Zabala III