About Emily MacNiven, LPC
You Don’t Have to Keep Running on Empty.
Your mind is always going—juggling responsibilities, anticipating problems, and trying to meet expectations that never seem to let up. You hold yourself to impossibly high standards, push through exhaustion, and keep saying yes—even when you’re stretched too thin. You care deeply about your work, your people, and showing up the right way, but somewhere along the way, stress, self-doubt, and burnout took over. Now, no matter how much you do, it never feels like enough.
It’s time to change that. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Therapy can help you unhook from the pressure, quiet the mental noise, and build a life that feels more balanced, fulfilling, and yours.
please Hear me when I say:
Being here doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re ready for something different.
I work with teachers, high-achievers, and people-pleasers who are used to pushing through—who care deeply, give endlessly, and hold themselves to impossible standards. You don’t need to try harder or just “be more positive.” What you need is the right support and strategies to help you step out of the cycle of stress, anxiety, and burnout without losing yourself in the process.
Using evidence-based tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I help my clients break free from chronic overwhelm, unhook from self-doubt, and build a life that feels more doable. A life where you can meet the demands of work and life without sacrificing your well-being. A life where you can find balance, fulfillment, and yourself again—even when the storm keeps swirling.
How I work
At the heart of my approach to therapy is a simple but powerful belief: you don’t have to do it all to be worthy of rest, balance, and fulfillment.
Hope & healing are possible.
I’ve spent over 20 years in roles dedicated to supporting others—as a teacher, school counselor, principal, and now as a therapist. Throughout that time, I’ve worked with teachers, high-achievers, and people-pleasers who constantly balance work, relationships, and personal expectations while feeling like there’s never enough time or energy to go around.
That’s why I created The Red Door—a mental health practice designed for those who are always “on,” who struggle to slow down, and who want to learn how to show up for themselves without guilt. Because the truth is, you deserve to feel calm, capable, and connected—not just to your work, but to your own life.
When we work together, you won’t just get therapy—you’ll get a space where you feel seen, understood, and supported without judgment. My work is rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which means we’ll focus on practical, evidence-based strategies to help you unhook from stress, overthinking, and burnout without adding more to your already full plate.
Your well-being matters. Not just so you can keep up, but so you can build a life where you feel fulfilled, present, and truly connected to what matters—without the constant exhaustion and overwhelm.
Therapy with me is…
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Therapy Without the Stuffy Vibes.
Think of it as deep conversations with a trusted guide—minus the judgment, plus warmth, humor, and the occasional nerdy analogy (because sometimes life really does feel like a choose-your-own-adventure book).
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I show up as myself so you can feel safe showing up as you—with warmth, honesty, and a little humor when it’s needed.
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A space where you’re met with deep empathy, gentle encouragement, and the occasional reality check—always delivered with warmth and care.
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—Just Like ACT.
Therapy with me isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. The ACT model is all about flexibility, and so is our work together. We’ll experiment, adjust, and find what actually works for you—because growth isn’t about getting it “right,” it’s about learning to move through life with more ease (and maybe even a little humor along the way).
My Training
& Education
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Doctoral Candidate, Learning & Organizational Change, Baylor University
Master of Education, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, The University of Texas Arlington
Master of Arts, School Counseling, The University of Northern Colorado
Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education/Bilingual-Bicultural Education & Spanish, The University of Northern Colorado
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CO Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) LPC.0019496
CO Licensed School Counselor
(LSC) 24418278
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Advanced training in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Advanced training in Mindfulness & Stress Management Techniques
Advanced training in Career Counseling
Motivational Interviewing Certification
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Certification
Internal Family Systems, IFS Institute Level 1 Certification
Hope for the Wounded, Trauma-Informed Care Certification
Cognitive Coaching Certification
