Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hayden Schaff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hayden, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
The journey toward creating my practice, Summit Therapy, really began with my personal experiences as a queer and transgender person navigating the mental health system. I’ve always felt drawn to understanding people and supporting others through their inner worlds—but when I was seeking support myself, finding a therapist who identified as LGBTQ+ or truly understood queer experiences felt almost impossible. That gap in affirming care stuck with me, and it became clear that I wanted to help change that reality—especially here in Denver.
Before starting my own practice, I spent years immersed in community-focused work—facilitating groups, contributing to agency-wide DEI efforts, and working in group practices. Those chapters of my career helped shape how I approach therapy today. I realized I wanted to build something where I could show up with full authenticity and offer care that’s not only clinically grounded but also deeply aligned with my values and lived experience. That clarity led me to open the doors to Summit Therapy in September 2024.
Summit Therapy is rooted in a commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and others navigating the weight of anxiety, self-worth, relationship dynamics, identity questions, or systems that were never designed for them . It’s a space where people can come exactly as they are—and be met with care that’s affirming, informed, and real.
For anyone considering starting their own practice, I’d say this: give yourself permission to just go for it! You don’t have to have everything figured out on day one. Starting a practice can be vulnerable and messy at times—but it can also be one of the most affirming, expansive steps in your career.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a queer and trans mental health therapist. My practice is based in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where I focus on supporting queer and LGBTQ+ clients through a wide range of experiences—whether it’s anxiety, identity exploration, relationship issues, or just trying to make sense of this wild world. My work is grounded in anti-oppressive values, and I approach therapy as a deeply collaborative process. For me, it’s not about being the “expert in the room,” but about showing up as another human who’s here to hold space and walk alongside someone as they explore their own truth. I always tell folks, we are just two people in a room trying to figure it all out! My goal is to create a space where power dynamics are left at the door while we collaborate and co-create together. While I bring tools and training to the table, my clients bring their lived experience—and that’s just as important, if not more so.
In addition to individual therapy, I have several other offerings as alternative ways to support my community. This is primarily through supervision, consultation, and letter writing services. I’m especially passionate about is providing gender-affirming care letters to trans and gender-expansive folks. With so many barriers already in place for accessing gender-affirming care, I see this as one small but meaningful way I can show up for my community. It’s something I’m honored to provide, and I’m committed to making it accessible.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn is that I’m allowed to take up space—especially as a queer and trans provider. When I first started thinking about building my own practice, I struggled with the internalized messages that told me to stay small or defer to the systems already in place. But the more I worked with LGBTQ+ clients, the clearer it became: our communities need spaciousness. We need places to exhale, to exist without explanation, to be held without judgment. Once I recognized that I could be someone who creates that kind of space, everything else—my mission, my values, even the logistical pieces—started to click into place.
The second part of the lesson came from confronting the reality that most of us leave grad school with plenty of clinical training, but very little practical knowledge about how to actually run a business. I had to teach myself how to manage finances, handle marketing, and build a referral network from the ground up. And it was intimidating at first, especially when paired with the unspoken message in our field that you’re only legitimate if you “pay your dues” in agencies that often run on burnout.
The systems we work within don’t make it easy to thrive. There’s a harmful narrative in the mental health world that therapists should sacrifice their well-being for the sake of helping others—and that narrative pushes too many talented providers out of the field altogether. I had to unlearn that idea and remind myself that sustainable, values-aligned work isn’t just possible—it’s essential.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Speaking to people’s pain points! I am a firm believer that nobody wants to talk to a wall. People more than ever are looking for connection – real, genuine, authentic connection. And clients are looking for providers who get them. This often means leaving the grad school jargon at the door – and just being a messy human (and then a therapist). Without a doubt, speaking to people’s experiences, having bold statements so that when client’s read them they resonate – they say “oh hayden gets it!” has been the most effective strategy for growing my clientele. And, in turn, I get to be a confident, competent provider who can provide the best care possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.summittherapycolorado.com/
- Instagram: yourqueertherapist_
