My Background
I have always had a knack for listening to others and offering support in a compassionate way. Ever since I was a young child, my friends and classmates sought me out to talk about the problems they faced. Even then, I knew how fulfilling it could be to help someone through a difficult moment of time in his or her life.
In my 20s, I continued to develop my listening and leadership skills while working as an outdoor guide. This job took me all around the world, leading wilderness trips and teaching children and adults how to backpack, ice climb, white water raft and much more. Around the same time, I also managed an adaptive ski school, instructing ski lessons for children and adults with disabilities. While both of these positions allowed me to help others in an engaging and rewarding way, by the time I was 30, I knew I wanted to go back to school to become a therapist to help people on a deeper level.
Soon after finishing Naropa University’s Transpersonal Psychology Master’s Program with a concentration in Wilderness Therapy, I found my passion for helping individuals and couples build foundations of love, understanding, openness and compassion in their relationships.
I believe relationships are truly one of the most fascinating and important building blocks to creating a happy and fulfilling life. Throughout my personal, educational and professional experience, I have been intrigued by how different relationships work, and dedicated to learning how to navigate road blocks when they arise. I’ve learned that resolving conflict and increasing closeness and awareness in a relationship is often achieved through improving the communication between partners. By optimizing the ways in which we communicate, we are more likely to get our needs met, better understand the needs of others and ultimately reach a higher quality of life.
During counseling sessions, I bring my naturally-genuine, warm, open and inquisitive personality to help you feel as comfortable as possible as you are exploring your experiences and the potential solutions to your struggles.
I aim to create meaningful connections with all of my clients, no matter their genders, ages or life preferences. This is especially helpful when I work with couples in relationships because I can model how important it is to relate, listen and open up to someone else who might not share your exact point of view. In addition, my diversified skill set allows me to address your very specific needs and help tailor an ideal approach for your growth and healing. Depending on the type of therapy session, I may be able to provide additional insight from my personal experiences as a husband and a father.
Outside of my professional work, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife and two daughters. I also like to socialize with my friends and community. My favorite hobbies include being outdoors, going to the beach and playing basketball and golf.
My wife and I have also taken on a new project together. We are currently writing a book tailored to new parents, showing them different ways to maintain a loving relationship after having children.
No matter the worry or pain you may be experiencing in your relationship, there is always hope to change and build resilience. I honestly believe every person and relationship can benefit from meeting with a thoughtful and experienced therapist. If you are interested in learning more about how I can help you to improve your current challenge, please call me at 303-641-2023 to schedule a free phone consultation.
Education
Dan Riggan completed his Transpersonal Psychology Master’s Degree at Naropa University with a concentration on Wilderness Therapy in 2005.
Additional Training
Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
Somatic Attachment Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Wilderness Therapy
Adventure Therapy
Functional Family Therapy
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy