Meet our Staff | Marlene Schafer, LPC, LAC, MAC, SAP, NCC, DVFOL

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” - C.S. Lewis.

| A word from Marlene |

Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to get familiar with who we are.

My name is Marlene Schafer. I am the founder and executive director of Arukah Center, and I am so glad you are here.

Arukah Center was established in 2022 with the goal to serve the needs of my community and to provide individuals with the tools to live more purposeful lives. 

You are the reason we exist and we want to provide a safe space for you to explore areas that are obstacles to your success in life.

Building upon your strengths, I will come alongside you in your journey, to help you connect with your passion and core values that will create the changes you desire. I promise to listen, offer support, guidance, and tools, to help you navigate through this season of life.

I hope that your visit inspired you to believe that change and transformation is possible. I look forward to meeting you.

| About Marlene |

I earned my undergraduate degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in Criminology from the University of Southern Colorado and a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from the University of Phoenix.

I am licensed in the State of Colorado as a Professional Counselor and as an Addiction Counselor. I am a Full Operating Domestic Violence Provider. I am also board certified, endorsed by the National Board of Certified Counselors. In addition, I am certified as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) who provides Substance Abuse Evaluations for Department of Transportation employees who are required to have a SAP evaluation.

I am trained in the following treatment models: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Faith and Spiritually based counseling.

I have expertise in group and individual therapy. I specialize in behavioral addiction, substance use disorders, grief and loss, trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, and relationship difficulties.

I am a member of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals and the Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my two dogs. I enjoy fishing, reading, and spending time in the mountains.