Nakoma Garcia MS, LPC
Nakoma graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1997. She went back to finish Grad School for Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University a few years later. Nakoma is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Colorado. She has worked as a Social Service Director with The Salvation Army and a Counselor at a Therapeutic Boarding School. She has spent time working in adoption and foster care agencies while working with children, youth and families.
Nakoma has worked with individuals and families who have dealt with life changes and helped them find peace and strength. She is passionate about working with people who feel change is hard and helping them understand that it doesn’t have to be. Nakoma feels that we all can benefit from some help in healing the brain from our small and large traumas that we have gone through in our lives. She is trained in EMDR and uses Equine Therapy along with an array of modalities to meet each client where they are at. Nakoma delves in with a Holistic Approach and understands the need for wellness in the mental, spiritual and physical side to create our mental wellness. She focuses many of her sessions outside in nature where a deep balance of our natural world can heal the soul. She and also offers teletherapy in our everchanging world.
She is a mother to 3 active boys and one daughter in law. In her spare time, Nakoma enjoys reading, crafts, and exploring this beautiful state that she has been blessed to call home.
Ava Matheson
Ava graduated in May 2024 from Colorado Christian University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Psychology, with an emphasis in Clinical Counseling. She is currently a graduate student in the School of Counseling at CCU, preparing to begin her practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Drawn to the counseling field by a desire to help others overcome life’s struggles and heal from hurts, Ava believes in the capacity of every individual to grow through adversity and to access their inner strengths and resilience. She values the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative process in which healing, growth, and meaningful change can occur for both client and counselor.
Ava’s primary theoretical orientation is Adlerian, a holistic approach that emphasizes the influence of family of origin, individual perspective, and social context in shaping one’s personality and behavior. She believes in addressing the whole person, mind, body, and spirit, and values an integrative approach that supports clients in all areas of life. Ava also believes strongly in the individual’s power to pursue meaningful goals and create change through intentional effort, healthy relationships, and support. While Adlerian theory informs her foundational perspective, she also draws from a range of therapeutic techniques to meet clients’ unique needs and presenting concerns. As a developing counselor, she is committed to lifelong learning as an essential part of her personal and professional growth.
Outside of her clinical training, Ava enjoys spending time with her family, which includes five children and four grandchildren, as well as enjoying the outdoors, reading, and investing in meaningful friendships.
Kellie Forrest – Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
Kellie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and spent over two decades working with children and families in both classroom and home-based settings. After years of supporting others through learning and growth, she returned to school to pursue clinical training in mental health. She is currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Adams State University and is working toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado.
Kellie’s areas of focus include trauma recovery, family systems, and navigating major life transitions. She has a special interest in the emotional impact of family estrangement, midlife identity shifts, and the challenge of breaking long-held relational patterns. She is particularly drawn to working with women navigating motherhood, marriage, and burnout, as well as individuals exploring their identity after leaving high-demand belief systems. Her approach is client-centered, practical, and grounded in empathy. She believes that healing starts with being heard and supported in a space where it is safe to be real.
Kellie enjoys working with both individuals and groups, especially in settings where clients can reflect, connect, and grow through shared experience. She incorporates reflective conversation, psychoeducation, and a supportive presence to help clients find clarity, self-trust, and movement forward.
She lives in Colorado with her husband and their four adult kids. Outside of clinical work, Kellie enjoys painting, writing, walking her dogs, and making space for rest, creativity, and honest conversation. She has a strong interest in the intersections of personal healing, family dynamics, and community repair.
Call Peace Within Counseling today
(303)888-9042
(303) 888-9042 