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.

“Like a lotus blooming from muddy water,
confusion transforms into
beauty and light.”

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.

Services Offered

Psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults

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

Therapy Process

Initially, I do an assessment of the current situation, relational issues, and medical and mental health history, and then I talk about therapy approaches that may help. The approaches offered vary according to what best suits a client's needs, but generally involve work with a client's 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 non-judgmental awareness of thinking, feeling, and body states. 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.) For children, the focus may be on helping parents to better nurture and set limits given their history and the child's temperament and vulnerabilities. Children naturally express themselves through play, so play and art therapy may also be used. 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 practices 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 with United Behavioral Health (a part of United Healthcare), Humana ChoiceCare,Value Options, Beech Street, Mental Health Network, Magellan, First Health, Mines and Associates, Mountain Medical Affiliates, and some Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield branches. If you want to use insurance, check with your insurance company to make sure that I am an authorized provider.

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Office Location

710 Burbank St., Broomfield, CO 80020 (located near the interchange of Highway 36/Boulder Turnpike/120th Ave. and Wadsworth/Highway 287.) 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)

303/460-7489 (Fax)

E-mail address: loisvk@earthlink.net

(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 most recently have been certified as a Somatic Experiencing practitioner (see www.traumahealing.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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