I have very limited availability for individual, couples, and family therapy sessions. At this time, my availability is open for new client consultations to learn about our team, individual supervision, group supervision, and our psycho-educational group and self paced resources.
But first, let me introduce myself…
My name is Josephine Ampaw (CSW.09928835, MFTC.0014363, ADDC.0000527), but most people call me Josie. I am a wife, mom of twins, and a proud Black, African, Ghanaian-American woman born to immigrant parents, younger sister, aunt, cousin, and friend whose cultural wealth and lived experiences shape both my life and my work. I’m learning that perfection is overrated and that growth comes from showing up fully as I am!
Outside of sessions, I teach social work graduate students, supervise therapists building their own practices, and enjoy time with my family and friends, crocheting, and soaking in sunny days.
Now that you know a bit about me, here’s how I work:
I’ve broken rules my family didn’t even know existed. I challenged the status quo that made my parents, and family overall, very worried for me. I was the first to leave my home state of California, the first to start a business out of my siblings and cousins, the first to attend college and grad school more than 100 miles away from home, the first to attempt and complete multiple post-secondary degrees at once. I share these experiences because I’ve learned that being the first( feels like standing on the edge of a cliff: thrilling, lonely, and terrifying all at once.
That’s exactly why I do this work. As an individual, couples, and family therapist with seven years of clinical experience (five post-masters) and four years of experience teaching and training social workers and professional counselors, I own and run this group practice. However, I am a therapist and teacher at heart. When I sit with clients, I slow down and fully lean in; it’s the most meaningful part of my day! I create spaces where you can bring your whole, messy, brilliant self without apology. We name the patterns you inherited, untangle the pressures you carry, and give you tools to rewrite your story, in your own timeline and on your own terms. We work against the ingrained belief that we should just survive; we dig into building a life that’s truly yours. You carry excitement and possibility, but also pressure, doubt, and isolation that others might not see.
When I say you can bring your whole, messy, brilliant self into this space, I mean you don’t have to arrive clear, confident, or “ready.” You don’t have to know the right words or have a plan. You just have to show up as you are. This work is about slowing life down enough to hear yourself again, especially if you’ve spent years listening to everyone else. My approach is rooted in the belief that people who have been constantly told to go with what is expected actually need room. Room to tell the truth. Room to make sense of what they’ve carried. Room to decide what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is your current rate for therapy? Do you accept insurance?
Our practice operates on a pay what you can scale! Each clinician has a specific rate based on their current experience and the types of therapy they offer.
My current out of pocket rate is $95-$160 per session, with a $10 increase each year until you reach $160 per session.
Our practice currently accepts Medicaid in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park, and Teller Counties. Click here to read more about Medicaid. I currently do not have any Medicaid slots open.
Our practice also accepts Aetna and United insurance and will be accepting Cigna and Kaiser in the coming months. These slots are limited and available upon request.
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What Modalities do you use most?
I believe in being a person centered therapist, first and foremost. This means that I do not plant my flag on any hill for any modality, because most of these modalities did not consider most of our team, our clients and our communities in their development. However, I’ve done extensive training to be able to apply many modalities as appropriate. Here are modalities and interventions clients love:
- Narrative Therapy
- Liberation Psychology
- Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
- Structural Family Therapy
- Gestalt Therapy
- Attachment Theory
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
- Intersectional Sex Therapy
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Who do you go to when you need support with your work?
I tell my clients, supervisees, and team that I am continuing learning the art of therapy. Because of this, I continue utilizing individual supervision, a consultation group for relationship therapists, a business mentorship and business development group, and continuing education to build my skills as a therapist and entrepreneur.
I discuss my cases in full detail with my supervisor, Dr. Darin Wallis, who has over 20 years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, and families. I use hypothetical explanations with no client health information shared are used in all other learning spaces in order to preserve HIPAA.
My supervisor is Dr. Darin Wallis, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, LAC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: CSW.00000426
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: MFT.0000750
Licensed Addictions Counselor: ACC.0006033
Want to hear what I have to share?
Check out some of the many podcasts I have been on over the years!
Even though I am a therapist and consultant, I am most importantly an ongoing learner.
Licenses
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: CSW.09928835
Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate: MFTC.0014363
Addictions Counselor: ADDC.0000527
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Feminist Studies, Minor in History, University of California, Santa Barbara
Master of Social Work (MSW), University of Denver
Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction (MA), University of Denver
Post-Master’s Certificate in Marriage & Family Therapy(MFTC), Denver Family Institute
Post-Master’s Training in Progress in Addictions Counseling, (LAC)(In Progress), The Colorado School for Family Therapy
Advanced Trainings
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy EMDR Level 1, River’s Edge Institute EMDR in Color
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Level 1, Level 2 in Progress, AEDP Institute