Our Counselors
At Brighton Counseling Services we are dedicated to serving the community of Brighton, Colorado with the best mental health services. And we strive to be the best step for you in your mental health journey. Whether it's for individual, family or couples counseling, Brighton Counseling Services can help you.
Each of our counselors at Brighton Counseling Services are independent contractors and are the owners of their own mental health businesses. They are providing their services under the administrative umbrella of Brighton Counseling Services.
Aaron Anderson, LMFT
Clinical Director
Aaron has been practicing counseling for over 15 years. He specializes in couples counseling, working with couples through infidelity and men's counseling. When not doing counseling, you'll catch him riding his motorcycle somewhere in the Colorado mountains or trying new food at a restaurant somewhere.
720-677-1223
Alma Arellano, MA NCC, LPCC,
Therapist
Languages: English
Populations: Children, adolescents, adults and couples
​
Alma is a mental health therapist with extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and young adults through academic, social-emotional, and life challenges. She holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Education from the University of Colorado Denver. Her background spans over a decade with school-based counseling and clinical mental health settings, giving her a strong foundation in working with anxiety, stress, life transitions, identity development, and at-risk populations.
​
She provides individual and group counseling using a compassionate, collaborative, and strengths-based approach. Her clinical work includes assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and ongoing therapeutic support, with an emphasis on creating a safe, affirming space where clients feel understood and empowered. She is especially mindful of cultural, linguistic, and contextual factors that shape each client’s experience and believes therapy should be both supportive and practical—helping clients build insight, resilience, and skills for lasting change.
720-677-1223
Rachel Clayton, LPCC
Therapist
Rachel brings warmth, empathy, and a client-centered approach to her work at Brighton Counseling Services. She specializes in helping adults navigate challenges related to trauma, anxiety, self-worth, and relationships, with a particular focus on adult survivors of childhood trauma. Rachel also focuses on couples and relationship counseling. Rachel often incorporates the Enneagram as a powerful tool for self-awareness and growth, tailoring her approach to each client’s unique needs.
Originally from a small town in Michigan, Rachel earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Concordia University Ann Arbor and her Master’s in Professional Counseling from Concordia University Wisconsin. Her counseling style blends warmth, feedback-informed care, and a touch of humor, creating a safe and supportive environment for healing and growth.
720-677-1223
Carolina Favela, BS
Intern-Therapist
Languages: English & Spanish
​Population: Individuals, couples, families and children as young as eight years old.
​
Carolina brings curiosity, compassion, and a collaborative spirit to her work at Brighton Counseling Services. She is passionate about helping families, couples, and individuals navigate challenges related to communication, relational patterns, and emotional connection. Carolina especially enjoys working with parents, children, and couples to build stronger, more united relationships. By exploring family dynamics, she helps families create changes that create lasting harmony, deeper connections and stronger teamwork.
​
She is currently pursuing her Master’s degreee in Marriage and Family Therapy at Colorado Christian University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and Advertising from Grand Canyon University. Carolina is drawn to exploring how past experiences shape present dynamics, and she encourages clients to make intentional changes that support lasting growth.
​
Carolina’s approach is warm, insight-driven, and relational. She aims to create a supportive space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered in their journey toward healing and connection.
​
Outside of sessions, Carolina enjoys walks with her energetic sheepadoodle, Charlee. She also loves practicing Pilates, reading, hiking, and exploring new restaurants with friends and family.​​
​
720-677-1223
John Herst, MA, LPCC, NCC
Therapist
Language: English
Populations: Adults, Adolescents, LGBTQ+ affirming, Veterans
Specialty areas: Trauma/PTSD, spirituality, ADHD, anxiety, depression, addiction, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, LGBTQ+ issues, human sexuality, attachment issues
​​
​John is a therapist who is also neurodivergent (ADHD), a gamer, a proud nerd, part of the LGBTQ+ community, and most importantly, a person just like you. We all need help sometimes, including with our mental and emotional well-being, and that is where talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, can help. Therapy is about taking time for you to process your thoughts and feelings and, ultimately, to heal. Therefore, if you choose John as your therapist, he would be honored to join you on your healing journey, where you can can work together through your mental health struggles, work toward your goals, and help you begin to heal.
​
John is a licensed professional counselor candidate (LPC-C) under the supervision of Scott Boyd, LPC. He received his Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Houston and a Master Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from St. Edward’s University. His primary therapeutic approach is existentialism through a person-centered lens. Also, to meet the needs of my clients, I will pull from other modalities such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), somatic experiencing, narrative therapy, attachment theory, and mindfulness techniques.
​
If you would like to work with John, he is available to meet face-to-face, via telehealth, or on a hybrid schedule in the evenings and on the weekends.
​​​
​​