Psychotherapy in Colorado


Mike Lewis
MA, LPC, LAC, IFMGA





Mike was born in North Carolina in 1974 and played soccer, skateboarded, skied, and enjoyed the surf on the beautiful Carolina coast.



Zen Priest





Mike, or Mui, his Dharma name meaning "No Rank," began meditating at the age of 18 and practicing yoga at the age of 20. Mike began formally practicing Buddhism in 2001 after witnessing the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fall to the ground on September 11, 2001. While living in South Korea for 6 months in 2002, Mike became interested in Zen Buddhism, and upon his return to the US, he lived at Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clatskanie, OR for roughly a year. From there, Mike moved to Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, near Idylwild, CA and spent another 2-3 years. In 2006, Mike moved to Boulder, CO to attend graduate school at Naropa University and found his dharma home at Great Mountain Zen Center. Mike was ordained a novice Zen priest in 2008 by Gerry Shishin Wick Roshi and Ilia Shinko Perez Roshi. In 2017, Mike completed his ordination process and became a Zen priest. In 2020, Mike became a Dharma Holder, or Assistant Zen Teacher.



Athlete





Mike has always loved being in the outdoors and having adventures with good friends and on his own. As a college freshman, Mike was introduced to rock climbing, backpacking, and mountaineering and for a period of time in his early to mid-twenties, he focused on rock climbing and was sponsored by several companies. Mike continues to pursue outdoor adventure and has climbed, mountaineered, and skied throughout the US and in Canada, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, India, South Korea, France, Switzerland, and Italy.



Psychotherapist & Counselor





Since the passing of his father as a teenager and other difficult life experiences, Mike has had an interest in psychology, understanding the human mind and emotions, and helping others. Mike gained his MA in Contemplative Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in 2009 and has worked in residential addiction treatment, wilderness therapy, and community mental health. Mike has had a private practice since 2011.



Mountain Guide





Mike began leading others in the outdoors at summer adventure camps and at Appalachian State University, in Boone, NC in 1993. Mike majored in Outdoor Experiential Education and minored in psychology. His senior internship was spent guiding on Mount Shasta (14,179') in northern California and on Mount Whitney (14,495') and other mountains in the Sierra Nevada. Since then, Mike has guided extensively in Red Rocks (NV), Smith Rock and the Cascades (OR), throughout the Washington Cascades including Mount Rainier, Mount Shuksan, and Mount Baker; throughout Colorado including Rocky Mountain National Park and the areas near Boulder, CO; in the Tetons, Vedauwoo, and Wind Rivers of Wyoming; and in Joshua Tree (CA). Mike has guided rock climbing, skiing, and mountaineering internationally in Mexico, France, Ecuador, Chile, and in Argentina including 4 summits of Aconcagua (22,837'). Mike worked for Outward Bound for 14 years and private schools in California that incorporated outdoor education in their curriculum. Mike was certified an IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide in 2017 after 6 years of intensive training and education.



Psychotherapy and Counseling with
Mike Lewis, MA, LPC, LAC