Our Evidence-Based Treatment Approach in Denver
Why Our Evidence-Based Approach Works
At Mountainside Behavioral Health, we believe that effective therapy is built on science — and delivered with heart. As a female-owned behavioral health practice in Denver, our evidence-based therapy approach combines the most rigorously studied behavioral health treatment methods available with a deeply compassionate, trauma-informed lens. Every treatment plan we create is grounded in decades of clinical research and shaped by the unique person sitting across from us.
Whether you are navigating anxiety, trauma, emotion dysregulation, or a life transition, you deserve a clinical team whose expertise goes beyond the surface. Here, you’ll find therapists with over a decade of intensive, specialized training — not weekend certifications — who are committed to helping you build a life that feels meaningful and manageable.
A DBT & CBT Treatment Approach Built on Deep Expertise
The foundation of our clinical work rests on two of the most well-researched modalities in modern psychology: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These evidence-based therapies are recommended by leading mental health organizations for conditions ranging from depression and anxiety to borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and suicidal ideation.
What sets Mountainside apart is the depth of our team’s training. Our Clinical Director, Emily Biggs-Heisler, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has dedicated more than ten years to intensive DBT and CBT training — including specialized protocols for suicide prevention and trauma. Anabelle Brecker, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Co-Owner, brings rigorous training in DBT, CBT, and trauma-informed interventions. Audrey Fisher, LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor, adds expertise in substance use treatment and athlete mental performance alongside her DBT and CBT foundation. And Diana Huizar, Ph.D., a School Psychologist and former U.S. Marine, integrates DBT with Motivational Interviewing and Loving Kindness practices, offering bilingual services in English and Spanish.
This isn’t a practice where clinicians attended a single workshop and checked a box. Every member of our team has pursued years of sustained, advanced study so that the behavioral health treatment methods we offer truly reflect the gold standard of care.
How We Integrate Multiple Modalities
Mental health challenges rarely fit into one neat category — and neither should your treatment. Our DBT and CBT treatment approach is integrative by design. Depending on your needs, your therapist may draw from:
- Comprehensive DBT — including individual therapy, phone coaching, and skills groups — for emotion dysregulation, self-harm, and interpersonal difficulties.
- CBT protocols — structured, goal-oriented techniques for anxiety, depression, OCD, phobias, panic disorder, and insomnia.
- DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) — a specialized protocol that layers trauma processing into a DBT framework, allowing us to treat PTSD without destabilizing your progress in other areas.
- Motivational Interviewing — to strengthen your internal motivation for change, especially when ambivalence feels overwhelming.
- Loving Kindness and mindfulness-based practices — to cultivate self-compassion alongside skill-building.
By weaving these modalities together, we create a treatment plan that addresses the full picture of your experience — not just a single symptom.
The Role of DBT Skills Groups
A cornerstone of our evidence-based therapy in Denver is our DBT skills group program. Research consistently shows that pairing individual therapy with group skills training produces stronger, longer-lasting outcomes for people struggling with emotion dysregulation.
We offer two dedicated skills groups:
- Adult DBT Skills Group — a two-hour weekly session on Tuesdays, designed as a six-month to one-year commitment that builds mastery in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Teen Multi-Family DBT Skills Group — a two-hour weekly session on Mondays, spanning 24 weeks, where adolescents and their families learn skills together to strengthen communication and resilience at home.
These groups are led by Dr. Biggs-Heisler and Anabelle Brecker, ensuring the same high level of clinical expertise carries through every aspect of your care.
Trauma-Informed Care at Every Level
Being trauma-informed isn’t a label we attach to our marketing — it is woven into every interaction at Mountainside. Our trauma-informed care in Denver means that from your very first phone call to each session that follows, we prioritize:
- Safety — creating an environment where you feel physically and emotionally secure.
- Choice and collaboration — you are always an active partner in your treatment decisions.
- Pacing — moving at a speed that honors your nervous system and readiness.
- Cultural humility — recognizing how your identity, background, and lived experiences shape your relationship with mental health care.
For clients with complex trauma or PTSD, our DBT-PE protocol offers a path to trauma processing that is carefully integrated with skills you have already developed — so you are never asked to confront painful material without the tools to stay grounded.
Inclusive, Affirming Care for Every Client
Mountainside Behavioral Health is proud to be an affirming practice for the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, and anyone who has felt unseen or marginalized in previous healthcare settings. We are committed to creating space where you feel seen, heard, and empowered.
Dr. Diana Huizar offers bilingual therapy in English and Spanish, expanding access to evidence-based therapy in Denver for Spanish-speaking individuals and families. Our team works with children ages 11 and up, adolescents, adults, couples, and families — tailoring our approach to meet you exactly where you are.
Treatment Tailored to You
No two clients at Mountainside receive the same treatment plan. Your therapist will begin with a thorough assessment to understand your history, current challenges, goals, and strengths. From there, we collaborate with you to design a plan that integrates the right combination of individual therapy, skills groups, and family involvement to support lasting change.
This personalized approach is what allows us to serve such a wide range of concerns — from ADHD and eating disorders to bipolar disorder and substance use — without ever relying on a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Begin Your Healing Journey
You don’t have to navigate this alone. If you are looking for evidence-based therapy in Denver delivered by a team that genuinely cares about your well-being, we invite you to take the next step.
Request a Consultation — we offer a free consultation so you can learn more about our approach, ask questions, and find out how Mountainside Behavioral Health can support you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “evidence-based therapy” mean?
Evidence-based therapy refers to treatment methods that have been rigorously tested in scientific research and shown to produce positive outcomes. At Mountainside, our primary evidence-based modalities are DBT and CBT, both of which have decades of research supporting their effectiveness for a wide range of mental health conditions.
How is your DBT & CBT treatment approach different from other practices in Denver?
Our clinicians have invested over a decade in intensive, specialized training in DBT and CBT — far beyond the brief workshops or weekend certifications that many therapists complete. This depth of expertise allows us to deliver comprehensive, adherent treatment protocols that match what the research actually studied.
Do I need to attend a DBT skills group, or can I do individual therapy only?
It depends on your treatment goals and clinical needs. Research shows that the combination of individual DBT therapy and skills group training produces the strongest outcomes for emotion dysregulation. During your consultation, your therapist will recommend the best path forward for you.
Is your practice affirming for LGBTQIA+ clients?
Absolutely. Mountainside Behavioral Health is committed to providing inclusive, affirming care for LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families. We create a safe environment where every client can show up as their authentic self.
Do you offer therapy in Spanish?
Yes. Dr. Diana Huizar provides bilingual therapy in English and Spanish, making our trauma-informed care in Denver accessible to Spanish-speaking clients and families.
Start Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Mountainside Behavioral Health is a female-owned practice in Denver, Colorado, offering evidence-based DBT and CBT therapy for children, teens, adults, couples, and families. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.