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In the past, medical experts have treated mental health and addiction as separate issues. However, today, experts agree that these two problems are inexorably linked. Mental health treatment is critical for long-term sobriety.
If you suffer from both a substance abuse issue and a psychological disorder, it is vitally important to seek dual diagnosis treatment. We offer excellent dual-diagnosis treatment programs in Denver, Colorado.
To learn more about Denver dual diagnosis treatment, contact us today.
Contact our mental health treatment and addiction therapy center to talk to our admissions team.
Our dual diagnosis treatment center in Denver, Colorado offers a treatment program where our licensed clinicians treat both your mental illness and substance abuse simultaneously. This treatment is vital for many people in recovery. According to research from SAMHSA, 9.2 million American adults struggled with a mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2018.
Why do these issues so often coincide? The cause differs from person to person. Some people use substances to help regulate their mental illness. For example, a person who uses Benzodiazepines such as Xanax to control their anxiety can quickly end up addicted to the medication.
Alternatively, some substances cause mental illnesses. For instance, amphetamine abuse can lead to amphetamine-induced bipolar disorder, depression, or amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. Moreover, substance abuse can increase your mental illness symptoms. In some cases, addiction can cause additional marks of mental illness to appear.
Common Symptoms of Mental Health and Trauma
Withdrawal from friends and family
Sudden changes in behavior
Using substances under dangerous conditions
Engaging in risky behaviors
Hopelessness
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of control overuse of substances
Developing a high tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
Feeling like one needs a drug to be able to function
Treating the Underlying Causes of Addiction
Because mental illness can make you more exposed to addictions and vice versa, dual diagnosis treatment becomes critical. Without addressing both of these issues, you run the risk of relapse for the treated problem.
In other words, if you just get treatment for your addiction, your mental health symptoms come back full force. Without a way to cope with these problems, you may return to drinking or using drugs. On the other hand, if you leave the addiction untreated, continuing to use the substance can cause your mental illness to get worse, or add another diagnosis to the mix.
However, when you get dual diagnosis treatment, we can identify the cause of your substance abuse and mental suffering. Moreover, you understand the obstacles that these disorders cause to the healing process and how to overcome them.
Our Therapies
At AspenRidge, we offer a range of therapies that we can use to help you overcome your mental disorder and addiction.
For example, we offer:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
Life skills training
Trauma therapy
Brainspotting
EMDR
Acupuncture
And more!
How AspenRidge Recovery Works
1
VERIFY INSURANCE
We’ll check your insurance coverage
2
COMPLETE A PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT
Answer a few questions and tell us your story
3
START TREATMENT
Your healing journey and new life starts now
At AspenRidge Lakewood and AspenRidge Fort Collins, we know that there are many addictions around the country today. Each of these substances can affect each person in different ways. Therefore, each person requires a different approach to treatment.
For example, a person can detox from alcohol within a few days. However, detox from Xanax can be dangerous if you quit cold turkey, so many experts recommend easing yourself off of the drug. Therefore, you must seek out an addiction treatment program that can evaluate where you are and help you choose the right treatment option.
At AspenRidge, we pride ourselves on making sure that you safely break through your addiction.
Then, we can focus on helping you stay free of your substance at our dual diagnosis treatment center in Colorado.
We offer many addiction treatment programs, including:
We have a treatment center and recovery residences available in Fort Collins and for individuals living in the Denver area, we also have locations in Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
At AspenRidge Recovery, we offer a continuum of care focused on transitioning clients through different levels, which provides better and sustainable long-term recovery. Our therapists work with people and families to determine the best level of care.
Alisha works with adults navigating the more complex chapters of life—high-risk, challenging situations, co-occurring challenges, crisis, and recovery. She’s skilled at helping clients untangle chaos, regain stability, and build practical next steps. Her style is “tough love meets hype squad”: direct, transparent, and honest while creating a safe, judgment-free space where people can be real and do the hard work of change.Alisha earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma and holds licenses as a Social Worker (LSW) and Addiction Counselor (LAC). Originally from Arlington, Texas, she recharges with her dogs, travel planning, and the occasional epic LEGO build.Just for fun: If she won the lottery, she’d start a nonprofit animal sanctuary and service-animal training program—and still keep doing this work. Favorite advice she lives by: “Let your freak flag fly.”
Anna Smith, LPC – Assistant Clinical Director
Originally from Tokyo, Anna earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from Denver Seminary in 2015. She brings a decade of experience across the full continuum of care—from medical detox through private practice, helping clients address substance use alongside trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders. Anna integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) within a steady, trauma-informed, and client-centered stance, focusing on achievable goals and sustainable skills.
Beyond work, Anna’s happy place is equal parts barbell and books: she loves weightlifting, reading, writing, Dungeons & Dragons, and time with her dog, Strax, and cat, Finn. Best advice she lives by: be a human being, not a human doing. In another life, she’s pretty sure she was a cat.
Michael Damioli, MSW, CSAT – COO
Michael completed his MSW at the University of Denver (2017), followed by a Family Therapy certificate (Denver Family Institute, 2018) and advanced CSAT certification. He’s worked across inpatient, outpatient, detox, and psychiatric hospital settings, and enjoys helping families and couples impacted by substance use, as well as men navigating compulsive sexual behaviors and intimacy concerns. His lens is family systems (Bowen/structural) with a Rogerian, humanistic stance.
Off hours, he’s with his dog on a trail—camping, hiking, or mountain biking. Favorite advice: You can sleep in your car, but you can’t drive your house. Lottery dream: a BBQ restaurant (and yes, he’d still show up here).
Chandler D. Arnold – Therapist
A U.S. Army veteran, Chandler began his clinical path working with at-risk youth and completed formal addiction-counseling training before moving into individual and group therapy. He served in the Colorado Department of Corrections treating substance use, trauma, and personality disorders, and later worked in private practice as well as inpatient and outpatient mental-health settings, including rehabilitation and crisis centers. Before AspenRidge, he was a clinical-psychologist intern while progressing toward his doctorate. Chandler’s approach is practical and eclectic, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Transactional Analysis to tailor care to each client.
When he’s off the clock, Chandler is equal parts maker and explorer—reading, crocheting, gaming, crafting, puzzling, hiking, rafting, and snowboarding. If we held an office talent show, he’d try to win it with comedy. In another life, he’s pretty sure he was a Viking explorer—and he might still lobby for a holiday that celebrates Viking culture.
Jasmine Crockett, LPCC — Therapist
Jasmine earned her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health from Adams State University (May 2025). Before AspenRidge, she spent six years in substance-use and mental-health roles. Jasmine takes a person-centered approach—humanistic and narrative—blending brief solution-focused work and elements of Internal Family Systems to build compassionate, collaborative change.
Outside work, she’s a devoted mom who loves concerts, hiking, travel, and time with friends and family. If she weren’t in this field, she jokes she’d be a police officer; superhero power of choice: mind reading (for good!).
Kayla Humes, LPCC — Therapist
Kayla earned a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University (August 2024) and completed Brainspotting Phase 1. Through internships at a substance-use facility and private practice, she’s worked with individuals (also couples/families) ages 11–80, addressing anxiety, trauma, depression, substance use, grief, and relationship conflict. She draws on DBT, CBT, Brainspotting, solution-focused work, and motivational interviewing—tailored to the person, not the label.
Beyond sessions, Kayla is a games-and-puzzles ringer—monthly speed-puzzling and domino nights, exploring new places with her husband, playing with their puppy Willow, and unwinding with TV or psychological thrillers. Lottery dream: start a travel company. Best advice: feedback is like salt and pepper—use it if it helps.
Mary de Verges, LPCC — Primary Clinician
Originally from Northborough, Massachusetts, Mary has supported adults cycling through the legal system—often with co-occurring mental-health and substance-use concerns. She uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and systems theory within a trauma-informed lens to help clients address substance use, process addictions, personality disorders, PTSD, gender-minority-related trauma, and mood/anxiety disorders.
When she’s not in session, Mary’s happiest outdoors, with family, or in the garden. If she hit the lottery, she’d launch a fairy-garden company; if she weren’t so good at this work, you might find her watching her favorite baby-eagle livestream.
Meghan Stemke, LAC — Therapist
Originally from New Orleans, Meghan earned her master’s degree from Arizona State University (2021) and became a Licensed Addiction Counselor in 2024. She is a Brainspotting practitioner and is currently completing requirements toward the LPC. Meghan has worked six years in residential settings, including five years serving pregnant women and mothers with children and one year in acute psychiatric residential care. She specializes in supporting adults navigating addiction, trauma, and mood disorders. Clinically, Meghan blends an existential framework with mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, and Brainspotting to help clients build insight, reduce symptoms, and move toward meaningful change.
Outside the clinic, Meghan keeps a balanced, down-to-earth perspective—her favorite advice is to “pick your battles.” If you ask her spirit animal, she’ll tell you she was definitely an otter in another life.
JORDAN ADSIT – Primary Clinician
Originally from Nashville, TN, Jordan moved to Colorado with her family at age five. She has worked in behavioral health since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2019. Jordan developed her clinical approach in various inpatient, hospital, outpatient, and private practice settings. Jordan continued her studies and earned a master’s in clinical and mental health counseling. Between post-graduate work and additional training courses, she honed her skills in treating first responders and military personnel from a trauma-informed perspective. In 2023, Jordan joined the clinical team at AspenRidge Recovery. Jordan describes her approach as eclectic but most beneficial and includes a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and family-oriented practices.
Outside AspenRidge, Jordan enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and playing volleyball and soccer. She believes she was probably a rodeo queen in another life and recharges by spending time with friends and family.
DANNY SAN FILIPPO, LPC, LAC – Clinical Director
Originally from Boca Raton, Florida, Danny moved to Denver to study at the University of Colorado and earned a master’s degree in counseling. Danny spent the first nine years of his career working in youth residential treatment. After managing that program for six years, Danny moved to AspenRidge and now leads the clinical team.
Danny specializes in brainspotting and reality therapy. He describes his area of expertise as treating substance use disorders, compulsive behaviors, and co-occurring mood disorders such as depression and anxiety that may travel with a substance use disorder. Danny has extensive experience in effectively treating incidental and complex trauma. He further describes his approach as science-driven, constantly reviewing the latest literature and theory. Danny ensures he has as many techniques as possible to help people improve their well-being and achieve their goals. Outside of work, he divides his time between family, basketball, and rock climbing. If Danny won the lottery, he’d start a tech company focusing on deep learning to support people in coping strategies. And, you know, keep working here.
