About

My Practice

As a psychotherapist I bring a grounded interplay of body, mind, and spirit rooted in my connection to nature and first-hand experience working with chronic pain and physical limitation. I'm committed to continually cultivate spiritual connection through meditation and to grow through my own inner psychological work. I strive to bring as much presence, acceptance, and kindness as I can to each session.

Professional Bio

Dan Entmacher is a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing in Boulder, Colorado. He works with adults, teens, couples, and groups. Dan is passionate about helping others discover and realize their full potential and fundamental wholeness in order to live a joyful life of freedom, choice, and connection.

Dan practices mindfulness-based experiential psychotherapy, a methodology that focuses on transformation in the present moment and is effective at treating a wide array of issues. He gently guides clients inward and into what is happening now in order to facilitate a deeper integration of mind, body, and spirit. This approach allows for powerful healing and growth that lasts and continues to transform one’s life far into the future.

Dan’s approach is grounded in and informed by Gestalt Psychotherapy, Somatic Psychotherapy, Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy, Attachment-Informed Psychotherapy, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.

Dan received his Masters in transpersonal counseling psychology from Naropa University and has been working in the mental health field since 2005. In addition to being a counselor, Dan is a certified life coach for teens and a trained meditation instructor. In his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing, playing music, and meditation.

My Journey

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a psychotherapist. My first academic pursuit was environmental sciences, which arose out of my deep connection to and relationship with the land where I grew up. In fact, it was there, among the lush forests and streams surrounding Asheville, North Carolina, that my inward journey began, spurred by the Native American survival skills and spiritual traditions that I encountered.

However, it was not until my mother became very ill, and I chose to come home to take care of her, that I first faced truly difficult trials and inner demons. In the midst of my struggle, surrounded often by depression and severe self-criticism there came a point of surrender, where I realized that I could not overcome my demons alone, so I sought help through spiritual traditions and counseling.

I eventually found my way back into the daylight and discovered that my true gifts lay in working with others, in helping them both to discover their true divine indestructible essence and to act as a guide to help them through whatever time of pain and confusion they may find themselves in. This knowledge led me to pursue a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology, a school of psychology that incorporates and integrates the world’s wisdom traditions and sees that there is a realm beyond the personal egoic self. Call this realm whatever you want —spirit, the collective unconscious, love, nature, the spirit that flows through all things— I have found that a balanced mix of connection to this larger realm, combined with solid grounding in developmental and trauma therapy, provides great potential for healing and transformation.

FAQs

Is asking for help a sign of weakness or failure?

Take a moment and ask yourself, “What would take more strength right now, to admit I could use some help and to ask for it, or to keep quiet and suffer alone?” In our culture, seeking out support is sometimes seen as a sign of weakness. However, it takes great strength and courage to admit that one needs help and then be willing to ask for it and do the work to change your life.

If I’m in therapy does that mean something is wrong with me?

There is a common fear that going to a counselor means that there is something wrong with you or that you are defective in some way. This is simply not true. Psychotherapy is for everyone! Life can be very challenging. Everyone is trying their best, and still we all need extra support at times. Because of our unique makeup and life experiences, some people need more support than others. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong, just that you are human.

Will therapy go on forever?

My role as a psychotherapist is similar to that of a guide or ferryman. I am here to assist you on this particular leg of your inward journey and help you navigate safely to the other side of what may at times feel like rough waters. Your therapy will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. In our initial meeting we will go over your goals and will regularly check in to see how we are doing in meeting those goals, if they need to be adjusted, and if we are in fact nearing the end of your therapy. After your therapy has ended you are always welcome to come back at anytime for a “tune up” or to embark on a new leg of your journey.

What about therapy and medication?

There is nothing wrong with taking medication, however if medication is your only form of treatment you may find yourself in a never-ending uphill battle. Psychotherapy can help identify and transform many of the underlying causes of your symptoms and lead to a long lasting change. Where medication is necessary, combined with counseling may be the most effective form of treatment.

What if I feel anxious and overwhelmed when I think of talking about my problems?

Though it may seem counterintuitive at first, it is important to understand that facing your problems actually helps to reduce your anxiety. What we resist persists, but when we accept what is happening it immediately begins to shift. It may seem scary to confront your problems, but I can assure you that relief and healing wait just around the corner.

Is therapy expensive? Do you take health insurance?

I charge $125 per 55-minute per counseling session and offer several sliding scale spots on a need basis. I do not take insurance but do provide invoices with the necessary codes to file your own claim. I see counseling as an investment in yourself and what is more important than enjoying your life?

What exactly will we be doing in therapy?

It is impossible to say what exactly your process of integration will look like. You are a unique being with a particular set of strengths as well as wounds. Counseling may involve work with harmful hidden beliefs, work with inner parts of yourself, processing trauma, mindfulness training, etc. My therapeutic approach is client-centered, meaning it is open and always responding to the needs that are arising in the moment.

Verified by Psychology Today

Risk-Free Consultation

In this 55-minute appointment you can come in to see if therapy may help and if I’m a good fit for you as a counselor. The appointment is 100% risk-free, so if you choose not to continue with psychotherapy for any reason, you will not be billed. Take the next step.