Meet Colter Bloxom of Thrive Therapy in Phoenix/Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Colter Bloxom.

Colter, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a therapist in the heart of the valley here in Phoenix. I provide individual and group counseling to those who want to be the best version of themselves and live the life they always dreamed about.

I have always had a deep fascination with solving problems and interacting with people. There seemed to be no more of a natural blend than helping people solve their problems through psychology. I finished my masters in clinical mental health at Denver Seminary and then worked in Denver for a bit in community mental health before returning back to Phoenix to be closer to family,

I was introduced to Sam Lample, the executive clinical director at Thrive, and we immediately hit it off. Our practice has since exploded as we have really found our part in the mental health world in the valley. At the beginning of my practice, I saw many types of clients but truly found my passions in working with anxiety, OCD, and men with identity and relationship issues. In the beginning, it seems that you have to say yes to a lot of different areas to find what your niche really is. I feel as if I have really found that for myself.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would say that the road actually has been smooth, but it has also been incredibly hard. The most difficult part of the job has been learning how to keep work at work and not carry the things I have heard home with me. I have woken up in the middle of the night ruminating on what I heard earlier in the day, praying and hoping things would be okay for whoever I had seen earlier in the day. While some might consider that sort of sentiment altruistic, it’s not healthy. It’s not my job to feel everything for my clients and if I do, I can’t be the best version of myself when they come in for their session. It has taken me some time but I have learned how to take care of myself and set some of those emotional boundaries.

Please tell us about Thrive Therapy – what should we know?
I am incredibly proud of our organization. While I specialize in anxiety, OCD, and men’s issues, I am passionate about helping people get connected to the right therapist for them.

It is my belief that as a therapist I can only be great at about 4-5 things. I am proficient in many but great only in a few. If you find a therapist that works with everybody, my advice would be to look elsewhere.

In addition to traditional therapy, we offer a general mental health intensive outpatient program (IOP) for people who are dealing with a higher severity in their mental health. IOP is nine hours per week and a combination of group and individual therapy. We see people in this setting who are dealing with OCD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar.

Our staff is amazing and our organization is built on people. Sometimes other therapists or marketers want to come by to “check out the place” and I often feel as if I don’t have much to show them. We don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but our therapists are fantastic. While having sound clinical skill is incredibly important, it is my belief that people heal when they feel safe. The most important part of the therapeutic dynamic is the relationship and research will back this up as well.

We will do what it takes to help people heal. My hope is that after people go through therapy with us they will think “this is not how I expected things to be.” If someone is trying to get over their OCD, we will do what it takes to do exposure therapy the way they need to do it. I tell people I will also do anything I ask them to do. You’d be surprised at some of the things I have touched, eaten, etc to help people beat their OCD.

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
Great question. If I hadn’t met Sam, I have no idea where I would be. When I moved back to Arizona, I had to wait a few months before I was able to start working because of the licensure transferring process. If I had been able to start work right away, I would have ended up somewhere totally different.

I believe we are always being given opportunities in life to respond. I have had difficult situations to respond to and situations that some might feel are easy to respond to. Am I lucky? I don’t know. I don’t believe life owes me anything. My first date with my wife and my interview with Thrive were within a 24 hour period of each other. I have a great family, I love my job, we have great friends, we have our health, we live a life reflective of our values.

Some people get dealt more difficult cards than I was dealt with. I actually have a front row seat into that on a daily basis. I have been incredibly blessed. I’ve been dealt some great cards and have also been dealt with some difficult cards. I am really proud of the hand I have been able to put together.

Contact Info:

• Address: 3420 E Shea Blvd, Suite 188, Phoenix, AZ 85028
• Website: www.colterbloxom.com
• Phone: 602.529.6557
• Email: colter@thrivetherapyphx.com

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