About Pass Center for Families

Pass Center was inspired by two special family therapists, Michael and Susan Pass, who believed that healing happens in the context of healthy relationships…couples relationships, family relationships, teaching relationships, therapeutic relationships, and community relationships.

They saw potential for strength and healing in broken places, hope for wounded hearts, and believed that change was possible in situations others had given up on. They gave back to the community, (endlessly!), by taking young therapists under their wings, teaching family therapy, supervising post-graduate students, and doing pro-bono and community service work.

Their authenticity, generosity, wisdom, and creativity were a gift to the field of family therapy and to the Denver community.

About Janelle Althen, LCSW

Janelle earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver and did a post-graduate program in marriage and family therapy at the Family Therapy Training Center, (now known as Denver Family Institute). Janelle has practiced, in both community mental health and private practice settings, for over 14 years. She regularly trains parents and therapists in clinical issues related to international adoption and post-institutionalization. In her private practice, Janelle specializes in the following areas: Couples Counseling, Relationship/Communication Skills, Attachment/Early Trauma, International Adoption Issues, Family Therapy / Parenting. Her style is very collaborative, strength-based, and solution-focused.