Licensed to practice in Colorado and accepts 10 insurances. Specializes in Child or Adolescent, Life Transitions, Men's Issues and 5 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
I’m Michael Heckendorn, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and a National Certified Counselor. I specialize in working with adolescents, young adults, and new fathers. Many of the young adults I work with are trying to understand who they are, what they want to do with their lives, or how to manage the expectations and uncertainty that come with adulthood. I also support new fathers navigating the major adjustments of parenthood, including changes in identity, relationships, priorities, and emotional well-being. My goal is to provide a space where you can feel understood while gaining greater clarity and direction.
Our first session will focus on getting to know you and understanding what brought you to therapy. We’ll talk about what has been feeling difficult, what you would like to change, and what you hope to gain from our work together. You won’t need to share everything at once or arrive with clearly defined goals. Part of therapy may be figuring out what you need in the first place. We’ll move at a pace that feels manageable and begin creating a direction for our work that fits your life and priorities.
My work is guided by four goals: connect, reflect, challenge, and grow. I bring warmth, authenticity, curiosity, and a sense of humor into sessions, creating a space where you can speak honestly without feeling judged. I’ll listen and support you, but I’ll also ask thoughtful questions, challenge patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and help you translate insight into meaningful change. Because therapy is not one-size-fits-all, I draw from cognitive behavioral, humanistic, mindfulness-based, trauma-focused, and meaning-centered approaches to tailor our work to you.
I work especially well with adolescents, young adults, and new fathers who feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or stuck as they navigate a period of significant change. You may be trying to understand who you are, decide what you want to do with your life, manage the expectations placed on you, or find a greater sense of direction and purpose. New fathers may be adjusting to changes in identity, relationships, responsibilities, and the pressure to hold everything together while supporting their growing family. You don’t need to have a specific diagnosis or know exactly what you want from therapy. You may simply recognize that something is not working or that you want life to feel different. My ideal client is willing to be curious, reflect honestly, and consider new perspectives—even if they are not yet sure what change should look like. Together, we’ll identify what matters to you, understand what may be keeping you stuck, and work toward practical, meaningful growth.
I use CBT to help you understand how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another. Together, we’ll identify patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, self-doubt, avoidance, or feeling stuck. We’ll then practice more helpful ways of thinking and responding, with practical strategies you can use outside of therapy.
I use DBT-informed strategies to help you manage intense emotions, tolerate difficult moments, communicate more effectively, and respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. We may practice mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress-tolerance, and relationship skills that you can apply in everyday situations. These tools are tailored to your needs rather than taught as a rigid program.
I use a humanistic approach to create a genuine, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard and understood. Rather than treating you as a set of symptoms, I work to understand your experiences, values, strengths, and goals. I believe you already have the capacity for growth, and my role is to help you access it with greater clarity and confidence.