Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sophia O’connor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sophia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Becoming a therapist was not just a career choice for me—it was a calling shaped by my life experiences and a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of others. As a rebellious teen, I was sent to a lot of therapy myself and experienced firsthand the power of therapy. I have always had a fascination with understanding human emotions and behaviors, but it truly gained meaning through overcoming my own personal struggles and dark night of the soul chapters of my life. The truth is that going through hardship and being willing to feel your feelings grows you. I noticed that with every conversation I had with a loving friend, family member or therapist, my whole being felt lighter and more robust.
Rewind to after grad school having decided I wanted to become a therapist myself! My purpose became clearer with every client I worked with throughout my training and early practice. Each session reinforced the profound privilege of being entrusted with someone’s vulnerabilities and the impact of creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for healing. Magic truly happens when there is trust & care in that therapy room and someone starts to be vulnerable. Witnessing my clients’ resilience and breakthroughs—no matter how small/large—solidified my belief in the power of therapy. I find so much purpose in guiding others to uncover their strengths, make sense of their experiences, and take steps toward the lives they deeply long for. What drives me is not just the opportunity to help clients heal but the ability to be a catalyst for their growth and realize how resilient & capable they are.
Over time, I’ve also realized that being a therapist isn’t just about supporting others; it’s about continuously growing myself. I’ve learned to embrace vulnerability, practice empathy, and remain curious about my own experience as a human on this planet. My purpose lies in being both a guide and a learner in the shared journey of healing. Ultimately, becoming a therapist has allowed me to align my passion, values, and experiences in a way that feels deeply fulfilling and meaningful.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a full-time sex and couple therapist in the heart of Denver Colorado. I love what I do! Being a sex therapist is profoundly meaningful to me because it allows me to help people navigate one of the most intimate, yet often misunderstood, aspects of their lives. Sexuality is a core part of human identity, and when challenges arise in this area, they can deeply impact self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being. I feel privileged to create a space where clients can explore their desires, fears, and struggles without judgment, breaking through the shame and stigma that often surround conversations about sex. Witnessing the transformative power of open dialogue and education—whether it’s helping a couple rekindle intimacy, guiding someone toward self-acceptance, or empowering individuals to understand and embrace their sexual identity—fills me with a sense of purpose. Each session reminds me how essential it is to honor the complexity of human connection and the vulnerability it takes to seek help. Being part of someone’s journey toward a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with themselves and others is not just meaningful work—it’s deeply inspiring and rewarding.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the best qualities you can cultivate in yourself as a therapist & that clients should be looking for in their therapy experience is.
Truly caring – when a therapist truly cares there is a warmth in their eyes, their body language, and softening in the room where you feel like you can be your true self. I think we all can relate to the fact that we need to feel like someone sees the best in us (our true self) if we are going to trust them with our shadow & vulnerable parts. When I have a new client my first goal is to make sure I don’t feel pushed away by their defense mechanisms but love them beyond any strategies they might have in keeping people at arms length. I need to genuinely care & see the good in anyone I treat before we can do meaningful work. That way I am seeing them through clear eyes, not what they are afraid others see.
Staying curious – I am not in a hurry to jump to conclusions or make my client’s dilemmas black & white. I want to stay open-minded and really examine all the layers of their experience with them without judgment. Curiosity is so important in therapy because it helps people also get curious. I want them to get curious about ‘why they do what they do’ or ‘ feel the way they feel’, this is the key ingredient to seeing a bigger picture and deepening their sense of self. If I end a session with more questions than I had in the previous session we are doing great work because we are going deeper. Curiosity leads the way for deeper self-awareness that is expansive and ongoing versus setting for oversimplified, rigid conclusions about who you are.
Taking courageous action—Many of my clients have lamented over the years that they don’t feel challenged enough in therapy! They will say something like “my past therapist was so compassionate but didn’t push me enough”. The best growth happens when people feel both supported and challenged in equal amounts. I make sure I have a lot of alliance with my clients and take my time to get to know them on a very deep level first, but when the time is right, I give them challenging feedback or push them to make the meaningful changes in their life they have been postponing. For some, that is opening up to a loved one about something they are afraid to talk about; for others, it is following through with living more authentically, even if it ruffles some feathers. Whatever courageous action will make them feel more aligned with their true self or their soul’s calling, I want to make sure my clients feel equally challenged and supported.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client has come to a fork in the road where they are contemplating real change in their lives. Be it a couple or an individual I love working with people who are really hungry of truth and tired of doing thing the way they have been doing them. I love collaborating with clients who are open-minded and can reimagine their lives, relationships, or sense of self. If you can’t even imagine it, you sure as heck are not going to be making it happen. Many people are truly stuck in what I would call a “crisis of imagination”. My ideal clients are not shy to dream big and name what they want to examine within themselves so they can make meaningful change.
Pain heals and helps us become more resilient than we ever though we would be! I really enjoy working with clients who have been unexpectedly hit by external circumstances that have made their internal world so tender they can’t ignore their feelings anymore. There is so much depth and wisdom that people can excavate within themselves when facing trials and tribulations, if they lean in. I can think of no greater honor than to lean in with clients as they engage with their feelings instead of avoiding them and take the risk to live more fully!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sophiaoconnortherapy.com/about
- Instagram: @sophiaoconnortherapy
- Youtube: @sophiaoconnor4068
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sophia-l-o-connor-therapy-denver
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
