About Me
Hi! I’m Dr. Eileen Chen. I use she/her/hers pronouns, and I am a second generation Chinese American.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Denver, Colorado. I specialize in trauma and co-occurring mental health concerns, including substance misuse, in adolescents (ages 12-17), young and early adults (ages 18-35), and persons of color.
My expertise are in delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and person-centered interventions, helping young people and their families resolve their psychological barriers and gain the insight and skills necessary to take ownership of their lives and build healthy relationships. I have extensive experience in working with adolescents and young adults coping with substance misuse, trauma, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, attachment-related issues, and minority/immigrant experiences.
My values are community, social justice, compassion, balance, and authenticity. I believe that the opposite of addiction is connection, and the more we are able to connect with others, feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted, the more easily we are able to heal, tolerate, and make peace with the inevitable anxieties and stressors we experience through simply existing. As a high school drop-out with a checkered past, I believe that all humans have the capacity to make the changes that matter to them, but it’s hard doing it alone. I believe that people are people because of people and our relational experiences make up our sense of self and how we navigate the world.
My goal as a therapist is to provide you with a relational experience that allows you to safely confront the necessary parts of yourself to help you move toward self-actualization, clarify your values, and feel empowered with the strength and skills to take control of your life again—to live a life that is true to you and driven by your values. My clients describe me as authentic and easy-going, and I enjoy bringing humor into therapy because not everything needs to be so serious all the time.
In my personal life, I enjoy doing yoga, hiking, singing karaoke, dancing, trying new foods, and rewatching The Office, Stomp the Yard, and You Got Served over and over. I try to be outside as much as a I can, but let’s be honest—I’m usually just watching TV in my down time. I describe myself as an introvert, so I value and enjoy spending time alone, taking on various creative pursuits—currently, I’m really into macrame.
Credentials
Licensed Psychologist in Colorado — PSY.0006258
Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) Granted by the PSYPACT Commission** — APIT #17424 | Date issued: 1/19/2024
Education and Experience
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Substance Treatment, Education, and Prevention | Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO
Pre-Doctoral Internship: Child and Family Integrated Substance Use Disorders | Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO (APA-accredited)
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology | University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT (APA-accredited)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Psychology | University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology | George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
**PSYPACT is an interstate compact which offers a voluntary expedited pathway for practice to qualified psychologists who wish to practice in multiple states. PSYPACT is designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries. In order to practice telepsychology in PSYPACT states, psychologists licensed in PSYPACT states only, can apply to the PSYPACT Commission for an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT). In order to conduct temporary practice in PSYPACT states, psychologists licensed in PSYPACT states only can apply to the PSYPACT Commission for a Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP). The PSYPACT Commission is the governing body of PSYPACT and is comprised of one representative from each PSYPACT state. More information regarding PSYPACT and its requirements can be found at www.psypact.org.
Philosophy
You may have noticed the lotus flower throughout this website. In Chinese culture, it is one of the most significant flowers—it symbolizes the heart and mind’s resilience and strength because it grows out of muddy waters beautiful and unscathed— 莲花出污泥而不染. In Buddhism, the flower represents the act of rising above despite challenges and moving toward wisdom, love, compassion, and peace. The importance of the lotus flower is seen in many cultures throughout Asia and the middle-East.
My philosophy embodies the lotus flower, as I strive to provide services from a trauma-informed approach and keep culture at the forefront of all aspects of treatment. I make space for the unique contexts that have influenced your growth (the mud and the water) and help you nurture the parts you want to bring into your present and beyond (the lotus flower).
In the Media
As Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month came to a close this year, I joined Fox31 News to talk about mental health stigma in the AANHPI community and some ways we can address that stigma.