Colin Chisholm Claim

I earned my master’s degree in social work (MSW) at the University of Montana, where I focused on end-of-life care, bereavement, anxiety and depression, geriatrics, and existential and mindfulness-based counseling. Over the years I’ve counseled a diversity of people with a wide array of life challenges, including relationship problems, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, chronic pain, trauma, and life transitions. Prior to my work as a clinical social worker, I earned a master’s degree in creative writing (MFA) and worked as a writer for many years. My book, Through Yup’ik Eyes: An Adopted Son Explores the Landscape of Family, was published in 2000. My love for literature and writing has transferred well to my work as a psychotherapist, and with clients I will often harness the power of prose and poetry to educate, illuminate, and inspire personal growth. I grew up near Lake Tahoe, which instilled in me a lifelong passion for mountains, the natural world, and healthy living. I enjoy backcountry skiing, rock climbing, and cycling, and many of the photographs you see on this website were taken by me, or by friends and family, in wild places nearby and around the world. While my outdoor pursuits have often challenged me physically and mentally, I believe the true adventure in life—the deepest, most courageous living—takes place within our inner landscapes. I envision Mindful Mountain as a place where courageous people come to seek integration of mind, body, and spirit. I hope to be a guide along the way.