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Dr. Lois VanderKooi, PsyD, SEP, BCST
Colorado Licensed Psychologist
710 Burbank Street
Broomfield, CO 80020
drloisvk@gmail.com
303/439-0407
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Healing ~
A mind that relinquishes the unrealistic goal of perfection,
A heart that cradles vulnerability with love,
A body that reclaims its vitality and instinctive wisdom,
A soul that honors its place in the family of life.
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“Reaching into muddy depths, the lotus blooms.
Beauty and light emerge as confusion is transformed .” |
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Philosophy as a Therapist
Everyone's
life has both unique and universal qualities and each person's therapy
process is likewise unique and universal. Biological, psychological,
social, and situational factors interact in complex ways but also tend
to emerge into identifiable patterns. So, therapy in some ways is very
complex and in other ways quite simple. In the therapy process, I bring
a broad range of education and experience to understand these qualities
and to help transform what is disturbing or confining into what is
enriching and fulfilling. I believe that clients have inner wisdom and
desire for growth but sometimes are caught in reactive and unconscious
patterns relating to trauma in their primary relationships. Issues
related to the brain and nervous system may also hinder functioning. In
learning to develop kindness towards themselves and a less reactive
stance, clients tap into their wisdom and strength and courageously
take steps towards healing. Kindness and calmness also deeply
affect the nervous system. A safe therapeutic relationship where the
client can be open and honest is crucial in this healing process.
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Services Offered
Psychotherapy for adults and consultation for parents
Modalities: Individual, Parent Counseling, Family, and Marital therapy
Psychological testing of children, adolescents, and adults
Modality: Data from history and IQ and personality tests are used to
form a comprehensive picture of functioning and to generate treatment recommendations. I do not do neuropsychological,
forensic/child custody, and learning disability evaluations.
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Specialties
Child development and disorders (except for autism and mental retardation)
Mood disorders (Depression and Bipolar)
Anxiety disorders (Posttraumatic Stress, Generalized Anxiety, Phobias)
Long-term work with severely traumatized clients (e.g., childhood abuse and neglect)
Marital therapy
Personal and spiritual growth
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction
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Therapy Process
When you come to me as a client, we initially talk about your current situation, relational issues, and
medical and mental health history, and then I explain therapy
approaches that may help. The approaches offered vary according to what
best suits your needs, but generally involve work with your
thoughts about self and life, expression of emotions and needs, and
physiological reactions to stress. Some basics often emphasized are
non-violent communication skills (see www.cnvc.org and the communication link above), nervous system regulation, and non-judgmental awareness of thoughts, emotions and body sensations. I no longer work directly with children and adolescents, but can help parents as a consultant so that they can better nurture and set limits given their history and the child's temperament and vulnerabilities. Some clients suffer from biologically-based illness and can also benefit from medication. These I refer for a medical evaluation (because psychologists cannot prescribe medications in Colorado).
Overall, I help clients gain
self-understanding and tools to develop happiness and meaning in their
lives. But, of course, therapy is not a “quick fix” that the therapist
applies but rather a collaboration where we bring kind and careful
attention to the particulars of life and the client is empowered to practice new ways
of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
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Fees and Insurance
Some
people decide to pay on a sliding fee basis ($50-$120 depending on
income) because they want more confidentiality and control in their
therapy process. In other words, paying for sessions directly
eliminates the sharing of diagnostic and therapeutic information with
an insurance company and avoids the limits that the company may place
on treatment. Some people decide to use their insurance for financial
reasons. Currently, I am a network provider for most of the major insurance companies. If you want to use insurance, check with your insurance
company to make sure that I am an authorized provider and if I am not authorized, ask if they cover non-network providers.
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Office Location
710
Burbank St., Broomfield, CO 80020
My office is located just north of the interchange of Highway 36 / 120th Ave. and Wadsworth / Highway 287. I am two blocks west of the corner of Highway 287 and 6th Ave (there is a Wendy's at that corner). Take 6th to Burbank and take a right and then your first right into a parking area. There are office condos on your left and I am in Building 710. There is no 7th Avenue!
Broomfield is between Denver and Boulder and approximately 20 minutes
from downtown Denver and downtown Boulder ~ See Map.
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Contact Information
303/439-0407 (Office and Fax)
E-mail address: drloisvk@gmail.com
(Please note that I do not provide online counseling or consultations)
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Credentials and Education
I
was first trained as a lawyer and sociologist and worked as a mediator
and researcher in a pilot program that assessed mediation as an
alternative to court action in child custody disputes. Dealing with the
wounds of custody disputes, I became interested in psychology and in
1982 began pursuing training in Jungian psychology and a Master's
degree in clinical psychology. I went on to obtain a doctorate (Psy.D.)
in clinical psychology at the University of Denver and then did a
two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Menninger in child and adolescent
psychology. During my training, I worked on my own issues through
therapy and was exposed to a wide variety of clinical approaches. I
found my own work and many of the approaches valuable. I continue to
learn and am now integrating cutting edge somatic and neurobiological approaches in my work. In that regard, I have been certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (see www.traumahealing.com) and as a Biodynamic Cranial-Sacral Therapist (see www.energyschool.com). I also take spirituality seriously, have worked with people of
different faiths, and have expertise in working within Christian and
Buddhist frameworks. See resume for further details about my
background.
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Copyright 2005 |
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