Meet the
Team
Anastasia Mitchell (she/her)
Anastasia Mitchell is a Licensed Professional Counselor that specializes in helping teens and adults overcome past traumatic experiences and better manage their anxiety. She brings creativity to her practice with her Master’s of Arts degree in Counseling and Art Therapy from Ursuline College. She has speciality training in treating PTSD with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and treating OCD with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). She combines these approaches with tools from Acceptance and Commitment therapy as well as other cognitive based approaches to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and other concerns.
“I wanted a career where I could use my skills and knowledge to help others. Counseling and art therapy allowed for me to blend my love of art with my interest in helping and problem solving with people. We all struggle and endure suffering. It’s how we approach it that varies. Being a counselor places me in the unique position of walking with people along their journey and seeing them find their voice and autonomy as they address adversity. It’s pretty fantastic. I’m most excited when I see others move through the obstacles and traumas that have impacted their lives. It's rejuvenating to see the power of healing.”
Rachel Kirkman (she/her)
Rachel Kirkman is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an anxiety and trauma specialist. She started her schooling with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida State University, followed by a Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific in California. She has a strong background in clinical healthcare settings working with chronic pain and the transgender population. She frequently utilizes her specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients navigate generalized anxiety, specific phobias and panic disorders. She has a wealth of experience with using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for treating traumatic experiences.
“I love to empower my clients to be the best versions of themselves by uncovering and building upon their innate capacity to cope and thrive. I find it meaningful to sit with someone through pain they’ve felt alone with and guide them to a space of self-compassion. I feel honored to be able to witness people’s stories and help them rewrite the narrative.”
Mitra Lebastchi (she/her)
Mitra Lebastchi earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from UCLA, a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pepperdine University and then went on to complete her doctorate degree at the University of Denver in 2016. Dr. Lebastchi has received specialized training in EMDR, PE, CPT, CBT-I, and ERP. With a sincere desire to help others, she became a supervisor for doctoral students at the University of Denver for several years.
She specializes in working with adults, veterans and new parents.
Mitra approaches therapy as an honor and views the counseling relationship as sacred as she supports people at their most vulnerable, dark, desperate, and raw when they are feeling hopeless or lost. She does not hold that position lightly.
Andrea Potas (she/her)
Practice Manager
Andrea has a Bachelors of Science from Iowa State in Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Production. After a few years in Alaska she made her way to Colorado. She is a people person so a conversation with a stranger can light up her day. Andrea is passionate about working in the mental health space because she wants to help people get access to care that allows them to recover and heal from past experiences that are affecting their lives.
In her spare time you can find her cruising on her bike, dancing with her two young children, and enjoying the outdoors.
Why choose
The Emerald Couch?
The Emerald Couch is a small family of specialists that care for trauma, depression and anxiety disorders in adult individuals and teenagers. We specialize in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP). Not only do we provide care, but we provide hope and a plan for you to find relief and actually feel better.
What makes us different?
A relationship with us means you will learn valuable skills and unforgettable tools that will ultimately help you cultivate and grow. If you are feeling unsafe in the world or even in your own body, frightened of other people, things or yourself, unable to find peace in your day-to-day life, it’s okay to need help in order to gain control and comfort in your world again.
The Emerald Couch is a safe place where you can practice your vulnerability – your authentic, real and raw self. By practicing, you can build confidence and courage to be able to go out into your world and conquer whatever has been keeping you from living the life you want to live.
Healing takes time.
Our values.
We believe in healing. You can feel better and we are here to help you get there.
01
We believe in compassion. You are more than what happened to you.
02
We believe in collaborative therapy. We want to work with you to help you heal, overcome and live freely.
03
We believe in helping you help yourself. We value teaching valuable skills to build and support your mental and emotional scaffolding to live a more fulfilled life.
04
You have the power to change your life trajectory.
If you are ready to feel better, to overcome, to heal, to truly prioritize your mental health – we are here for you and will help you take that first step.