Here in the Peak to Peak mountain community, we value self-reliance. We chop our own wood and forage for our own mushrooms. We count the miles we’ve hiked, not the miles on our cars. We live and breathe by the land and weather that surrounds us. When our head needs clearing we call a trusted friend or set out alone to ski, camp, knit, hike, read, fish, chop, quilt, or climb.
But sometimes this isn’t enough. We find our woodsheds full, our bookshelves exhausted, and our friends too busy to climb with us. This is the moment to contact Peak to Peak Counseling.
Peak to Peak Counseling is dedicated to honoring every person’s life and history, genetic and cultural inheritance, physical, emotional, and spiritual experience in a carefully cultivated environment optimized for health, healing, and wellness.
At Peak to Peak’s office, you’ll find an environment specifically designed to promote health and healing.
We are currently offering both Telehealth and In-Person psychotherapy sessions, depending on client needs. Call for more information to see which fits best for you!
Peak to Peak Counseling is located west of the traffic circle in Nederland. We are directly west of Nederland Community Presbyterian Church and east of the Nederland Community Library, on the north side of the street. Free parking is available in the Peak to Peak Counseling parking lot or on the street. Map is here.
Peak to Peak Counseling is partially powered by solar energy and uses eco-friendly products when possible.
Peak to Peak Counseling is partially powered by solar energy and uses eco-friendly products when possible.
At Peak to Peak’s office you’ll find an environment specifically designed to promote health and healing.
We are currently offering both Telehealth and In-Person psychotherapy sessions, depending on client needs. Call for more information to see which fits best for you!
Peak to Peak Counseling is located west of the traffic circle in Nederland. We are directly west of Nederland Community Presbyterian Church and east of the Nederland Community Library, on the north side of the street. Free parking is available in the Peak to Peak Counseling parking lot or on the street. Map is here.
Peak to Peak is a family business owned and managed by married-couple Amy Skinner and Richard Brandon, residents of Gilpin County. Amy and Richard supervise a staff of counseling and social work student interns and are grateful to live and work in this beautiful mountain community!
As an organization we highly value community participation and currently volunteer with the Peak to Peak Housing & Human Services Alliance, Peak to Peak Prevention Coalition and Communities that Care. Additionally, we created and manage the Mountain Health Collaborative, a group of healthcare professionals that volunteer during local disasters. Finally, we volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corp and Mile High Red Cross.
Peak to Peak Counseling is a family business owned and managed by married-couple Amy Skinner and Richard Brandon.
A Gilpin County resident since 2001, Amy Skinner opened Peak to Peak Counseling in 2008 to put her heart and energy into serving the mental health needs of the community in Nederland, Gilpin, and the surrounding mountain areas along the Peak to Peak Highway. In the local area, Amy has served and consulted in different capacities, including being a past board member of both TEENS, Inc. and Nederland Area Seniors, Inc. In the Denver-metro area, Amy has worked in the human services field for over 25 years developing and implementing psycho-education curriculums for non-profits and businesses. Additionally, Amy has been a Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Licensed Professional Board (LPC) Board member since 2020, helping the state of Colorado keep counseling clients safe and professional counselors accountable.
However, Amy’s passion for personal growth and commitment to change (on both the individual and community levels) began years prior, during her work in Denver, Boulder, and Mexico.
Her past work includes mediating between diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups, providing emotional support for children in an orphanage, developing and implementing wrap-around services for victims of crimes, and providing case management for single mothers.
Amy enjoys photography, running, travel, reading mysteries, hiking, playing the piano, snowboarding on a fresh powder day, or enjoying a trip to the theater in Denver.
Education Information:
MA in Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder; BA in English and Women’s Studies, cum laude, from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Licensure Information:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #6118) in the state of Colorado; National Certified Counselor (NCC #290030) through the National Board for Certified Counselors; Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS #01953) through the Center for Credentialing and Education; Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT #S1823) through the National Association of Play Therapy.
Peak to Peak Counseling is a family business owned and managed by married-couple Amy Skinner and Richard Brandon.
A Gilpin County resident since 2001, Amy Skinner opened Peak to Peak Counseling in 2008 to put her heart and energy into serving the mental health needs of the community in Nederland, Gilpin, and the surrounding mountain areas along the Peak to Peak Highway. In the local area, Amy has served and consulted in different capacities, including being a past board member of both TEENS, Inc. and Nederland Area Seniors, Inc.
However, Amy’s passion for personal growth and commitment to change (on both the individual and community levels) began years prior, during her work in Denver, Boulder, and Mexico.
Her past work includes mediating between diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups, providing emotional support for children in an orphanage, developing and implementing warp-around services for victims of crimes, and providing case management for single mothers.
Amy enjoys photography, running, travel, reading mysteries, hiking, playing the piano, snowboarding on a fresh powder day, or enjoying a trip to the theater in Denver.
MA in Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder; BA in English and Women’s Studies, cum laude, from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Licensure Information:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #6118) in the state of Colorado; National Certified Counselor (NCC #290030) through the National Board for Certified Counselors; Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS #01953) through the Center for Credentialing and Education; Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT #S1823) through the National Association of Play Therapy.
After vacationing and living in Colorado on and off since childhood, Richard made Gilpin County his home in 2016. At Peak to Peak Counseling, he puts his three decades of work experience in customer service to good use.
Richard’s volunteer work with programs such as CROP Hunger Walk and Meals on Wheels opened his eyes to the complexities of living with limited resources as well as the difficulty involved in effectively addressing systemic social challenges such as substance abuse and poverty.
Richard’s midwestern roots and what he learned volunteering left him with a strong commitment to serving his community and working toward social justice.
Whether greeting guests in hotel management, feeding hungry college students, balancing the books, or creating decadent desserts as a pastry chef, Richard has always appreciated balancing his detail-driven business skills with a passion for helping people feel safe and cared for.
When he’s not at work, Richard enjoys hiking, traveling, honing his skiing skills, singing in choirs, playing the piano, participating in spiritual groups, and experiencing the beautiful art and culture available to residents of Colorado’s mountain region.
New students on their way, check back soon for updates!
I was born just outside of an Army base in Aschaffenburg Germany, and lived in over 10 different army installations before turning 18. My father served in several combat tours, and living such a transient lifestyle was challenging for me as I grew up. Working with therapists throughout my childhood was what initially sparked my passion for counseling as a career.
After moving to Colorado I quickly developed a passion for outdoor recreation, and became an avid outdoor rock climber. I received a Bachelor of Arts from Western Colorado University in both Outdoor Leadership and Psychology. I became fascinated by the intersection of mental health and outdoor sports which led me to work as wilderness therapy guide and adaptive instructor, all while traveling throughout the Southwest as a climber. I now work as an American Mountain Guide Association Certified Rock Guide, a certification only 25 women in the United States hold.
Working as a Rock Guide, and being fully enveloped in the climbing community has given me the most rewarding and challenging moments of my life. In 2020, I lost two dear friends from climbing accidents. Witnessing myself and those I love process the grief of their passing, and finding resources like the Climbing Grief Fund, was what gave me the final push to enroll in a counseling graduate program.
Currently, I am receiving my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adams State University. My theoretical orientation is humanistic, feministic, and human-centered.I believe in an integrative approach that utilizes somatic and mindfulness modalities to promote self-exploration, awareness, and healing.
I currently live in Estes Park, Colorado. In my free time I enjoy running or climbing in the mountains, reading, or practicing and teaching yoga, which I hold a 200 hour Yoga Instructor certification.
