About

About the Mariposa

The mariposa (“butterfly” in Spanish) signifies our inherent capacity to transform. Even in darkness, we possess the ability to grow into something more beautiful than we ever imagined.

Emily McNeil, LPC, BC-DMT, CIMI, EMDR cert., is the owner of The Mariposa Center for Infant, Child, and Family Enrichment. She is an early childhood and family therapist, with specialties in infant mental health, maternal pre- and peri-natal mental health, trauma, adoption/foster care, and developmental delay. She received her Master of Arts degree in Somatic Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Dance/Movement Therapy from Naropa University. She is a registered Dance/Movement Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She also is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and holds advanced training in EMDR – a trauma-treatment modality and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She co-founded the Adams County NICU Task Force and Team in order to improve the support and therapeutic services premature and medically fragile babies and their families receive post-discharge. She has trained extensively with Drs. Joy Brown and Ayelet Talmi in the BABIES Model – a specialized approach to working with NICU grads and their families. She is a member of The American Dance therapy Association and the Colorado Association of Infant Mental Health. She has worked with children and families for over 11 years.

Emily’s approach to therapy is warm, honest, playful, and creative, while also being grounded in theory and best-practices of the field. She has a deep affection for the families with whom she works and is committed to being a “family helper” for the long haul, if need be. Emily welcomes family members into the therapy session as she recognizes that a child’s mental health is directly tied to his caregiver’s wellbeing. She values coordinating care with outside agencies and professionals in order to provide consistent support to her clients. Emily is committed to finding what really works for a family in order for the child and family to achieve a greater sense of well-being and better mental health. Emily also enjoys teaching, early childhood mental health consultation, and providing supervision and training to students and new therapists.

Contact Emily: emily@mariposacenterdenver.com

Megan Hall, MA, LPC, R-DMT, is a licensed professional counselor and registered dance/movement therapist with a wide variety of experience and training in mental health for the last 7 years. After receiving a Master of Arts degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College Chicago Megan pursued 4 years of extensive training and application in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a structure and concrete form of behavior therapy. She interned at Rush University Medical Center in the Child Life Program and has worked with children and adolescents with special needs in the home, community, classroom and inter-disciplinary therapeutic settings. She sought additional training in trauma counseling (specifically Judith Herman’s model of trauma recovery), couples counseling, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the Love and Logicä curriculum as an extern at Noeticus Counseling Center and Training Institute in Denver. Megan combines structured interventions from ABA with creative arts therapies to build a therapeutic relationship and to help children self-regulate. Her approach to therapy involves a calm and playful demeanor, tending to the sensory needs of the child as well as the needs and values of the family system.

Contact Megan: megan@mariposacenterdenver.com

Sloan Solomon received her Masters of Psychology with an emphasis in Couples and Family Counseling from the University of Colorado-Denver. Sloan has been with the Mariposa Center since 2016, first completing her graduate internship and externship and then staying on as a child and family therapist! She brings many years of experience and practices therapy through trauma-informed care, attachment, play, and strengths-based modalities. Sloan also integrates systemic and holistic work in meeting the needs of each family unit.

Simultaneous to her time as an intern and extern at The Mariposa Center, Sloan was mentored by Jerry Moe, National Director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Children’s Program, for three years. During her time at the Children’s Program, Sloan practiced counseling from a trauma informed lens and specialized in addiction, recovery, grief and loss, and adoption/foster care work. She also utilized psycho-education and expressive type-therapies geared to meet the needs of each individual child and family.

Sloan continues to seek additional training to support children and families with new techniques. She is passionate about developing strong rapport with her clients and providing them an open environment where each person can utilize the space to freely express themselves openly and honestly. Sloan’s approach to therapy is warm, authentic, and supportive; she incorporates play, art, and dance into her practice and promotes creativity for each person to grow and thrive!

Contact Sloan: sloan@mariposacenterdenver.com

Amy Jones, LPC, ATR-BC is a registered and board-certified art therapist and licensed professional counselor with specialized training in trauma-informed therapy, parenting skills, and mindfulness-based practices. She draws on years of expertise from working with children and families in classroom, hospital, and community settings.

Amy combines her knowledge of creative arts therapies and her belief that growth and development happen throughout the lifespan to help people increase self-awareness, enhance coping skills, and adapt to stressful experiences. She believes that the creative process is accessible to all people to promote hope and healing.

Contact Amy: amy@mariposacenterdenver.com

Amanda Chatelain, LPCC, received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Transpersonal Art Therapy from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Amanda has been with The Mariposa Center since 2021, completing both her internship and externship before becoming full time child and family therapist. She carries out trauma-informed creative-arts and play therapy treatment with children and adolescents, while simultaneously providing caregiver support to strengthen the family unit. Amanda practices therapy through developmental and strengths-based modalities. She implements contemplative practices and creative arts into treatment to support the client’s individualized well-being and healing.

Amanda has experience facilitating art therapy in both school and clinical settings, as well as working with children and families in their place of residence to support family dynamics, trauma healing, and individual growth. Amanda has also spent time working with individuals navigating the dying process and providing grief and bereavement services to clients and their loved ones. Additionally, Amanda has experience carrying out 1:1 reflective supervision consultation where she provides the space and opportunity for professionals to intentionally reflect, explore, and grow in their roles of working closely with young children and their families.

Amanda’s approach to treatment is creative, open, and warm, with the intention of providing a space for children to be themselves and work through their feelings and experiences. Amanda believes in the child’s capacity to heal and transform through engaging with the creative process in a safe and supportive environment – art is a significant vehicle that a child can use to strengthen self-regulation, foster self-exploration, and work towards positive change.

Contact Amanda: amanda@mariposacenterdenver.com

Erin Mudgett received a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Transpersonal Art Therapy from Naropa University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is working towards her Registered Art Therapy (ATR) credential. Erin has worked in various capacities in the mental health field since 2007 and is passionate about supporting children, families, and community partners. Erin practices a trauma-informed, creative arts approach while engaging in all facets of her work, including child and family therapy, early intervention support, social emotional learning opportunities, and reflective consultation services. Erin has a warm and gentle presence and fosters a nurturing environment for growth and healing.

Contact Erin: erin@mariposacenterdenver.com