Hello! I am Jesse Whitney. I’m a therapist here at Denver Mental Health Collective, but you can also call me an Appreciation Magnifier, Feelings Navigator, & Habit Extinguisher.
I help anxious people feel more confident that they can face life’s challenges with dignity and pride.
My ideal clients are motivated to see a positive difference in the way they approach themselves, their relationships, and the struggles of daily life.
Are you overly critical of yourself or feel worried that you’re a disappointment?
Worrying that you don’t “measure up,” to anyone’s expectations, even your own, is normal. That critical part of you wants what’s best for you, even if it has a harsh way of showing it. As an Appreciation Magnifier, I want to help you embrace all of the wonderful and unique things that make you who you are. Together, we can shine a caring light on your gifts and your faults, so you can welcome them all with kindness, curiosity, and compassion.
Are your feelings overwhelming or unusually strong? Do you find yourself unable to feel certain emotions?
Some emotions take their jobs too seriously, and some hardly ever show up for work! If you feel like some of your emotions are pulling double duty (looking at you, anxiety) while others are slacking off (wasn’t joy supposed to show up today?), making space for a multitude of emotions can help you feel more balanced, peaceful, and content. As a Feelings Navigator, I hope I can help you maneuver the spaces of your internal world to make room for a variety of emotions that can work together effectively.
Do you feel stuck in old habits that just don’t seem to stop, no matter what you try?
Constantly repeating patterns of self-criticism and reliving old emotional wounds can be exhausting. If you find yourself reaching for easy, short-term “fixes,” that leave you more miserable than they found you, you’re not alone. As a Habit Extinguisher, I understand that things like doomscrolling for hours, drinking and using drugs every day, or vaping like your life depends on it don’t happen over night. These habits, and others like them, build up over time as we fight to protect ourselves from emotional pain. I hope I can help you identify, face, and unburden your pain so you can build new habits and live a happier, healthier, more connected life.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
I’ve been a Certified Addictions Specialist since 2018 and got my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado in January, 2024. Since then, I’ve run a Residential Dual Diagnosis Treatment program in which I facilitated therapy groups and provided individual counseling to people with both mental health and substance use concerns. In that time, I’ve learned that unprocessed emotional pain, grief, trauma, and stigma are often the drivers of anxiety, depression, and self-criticism. By working with my clients on the deeper issues, I’ve seen people grow through their pain to create fulfilling, healthy, and successful lives.
MORE ABOUT ME
I am a self-proclaimed dork, video game enthusiast, and Lego collector. I’m an indoor boy who loves cinema, well-crafted stories, and lazy days on the couch. Steering-wheel karaoke and walks with my dog, Kida (who knows I’m a sucker for her big brown eyes), are some of my favorite ways to unwind. I love to watch nature documentaries and stand-up comedy because sometimes I need to remind myself that life is both bizarrely picturesque, magnificently peculiar, and remarkably weird!
Please contact our office today to schedule a free phone consultation. During this time our Client Care Coordinator can talk more about what’s going on and how I can help you feel better.
