Some of the Things I Do

I whole-heartedly believe that no person is born wrong and that this world becomes a better place when we are at home in our bodies. Let’s get you resourced!

I've worked successfully with youth and adults in the areas of:

  • Eating disorders: body image issues, challenging relationship with food/eating and exercise

  • Anxiety/depression

  • Trauma & PTSD

  • Correcting experiences of getting gaslit out of your truth

  • College access and success

  • Anti-oppression work for women, people of color (POC) and LGBTIQ folks. Listed by Violet for Excellence (Top 5%) with BIPOC and LGBQ and TGNC communities

  • Sexuality, coming out, polyamory

  • Identity - who the heck am I? Where am I going? What do I need? Who loves me?

  • Domestic violence

  • Addiction and recovery (post detox, working a program)

  • Relationship with Self: from self-loathing to self-love

  • Relationship with Others: communication, boundaries, conflict, emotional intelligence 

  • Relationship to Life: spiritual dilemmas and practice

  • Parenting issues

  • Healing from childhood or partner abuse

  • Chronic illness, pain or bodily discomfort

And in more formal settings:

  • Educating and training in non-profit and for profit settings

  • Life and Career Coaching

  • Workplace Culture Improvement

  • Internship program development and implementation

check out my interview with the Marvelous Marisol Solarte Erlacher on Workplace Trauma for BIPOC folks

Here’s a news article I was quoted in (although not entirely accurate) on the state legislation proposed to prevent eating disorders and support treatment access

MADE WITH SQUARESPACE

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Tara Topper, MA, LPC, ACS (she/her)

Professional Therapist

Clinical Supervisor

Somatic Therapies

Educator/Trainer

Writer

 Education & Training

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA): Psychology and Sociology, cum laude. UCLA. 1999

  • Massage Therapist specializing in craniosacral and connective tissue since 2001 (*I do not do massage for psychotherapy clients)

  • 5-Rhythms Dancer in Los Angeles. 2000-2005

  • Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT): in CO LMT#8147 since 2011, FL MA93745 since 2019, CA Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) since 2022

  • Master of Arts (MA): Somatic (body-centered) Counseling Psychology, concentration in Dance/Movement Therapy. Naropa University. 2008

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): CO since 2010 #5729;

  • Somatic Trauma Trainings from: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, Love and Trauma Center, Co-Regulating Touch from Austin Attached

  • Functional Nutrition Certificate: Holistic Nutrition Labs. 2015

  • Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), #2960 since 2017

  • Screenwriting: CO Film School and Jacob Krueger Studios

What People Are Saying

“I come to Tara for guidance and advice because I know I can rely on her for a judgement free, thoughtful perspective. I can also count on her for wisdom I can't ask other people for.”

— Ivy League College Student

“Tara is an excellent collaborator, a compassionate leader. She helps others find peace so we can all work together. She sees things through many lenses, which makes her perspective so valuable.” — Educator

“Tara has a keen perception, she’s very smart and is able to get a read on a situation very quickly. At the same time, she doesn’t jump to conclusions or assume. She is very compassionate and empathetic. I find her wisdom invaluable for guidance.”

— Spiritual Leader

“ I think about that time you were observing the women’s group I was facilitating. You saw a racial dynamic I hadn’t realized and pointed it out to me in a way I didn’t feel shamed by. I realized I could learn from you and that was priceless.”

—Non-Profit Director & CEO

Tara is extremely reliable and hyper aware of details. I can talk to her about what is ailing me and she has a deep understanding of psychological behaviors, drivers and triggers. Also, she’s very attentive to my needs. She’s very good at providing information that is directly applicable to what I need and extremely solutions-oriented. I can spend that freed up energy creating and it opens my capacity to feel and sing with greater emotion.

- Singer/Songwriter/Performer

You’re already motivated. Now you just need support to achieve results.

Chat with me

Relationship is everything. This only works if we’re a good fit.

 NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION:
I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

  • Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.

  • Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

  • Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

  • I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:
The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your person health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

  1. Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:
    a. For my use in treating you.
    b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
    c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
    d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
    e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
    f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
    g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
    h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.

  2. Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

  3. Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION. Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

  1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.

  2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.

  3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

  4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.

  5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.

  6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.

  7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.

  8. Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.

  9. For workers' compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers' compensation laws.

  10. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT.

  1. Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:

  1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.

  2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.

  3. The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.

  4. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost based fee for doing so.

  5. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made.You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.

  6. The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.

  7. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.