Elizabeth McKinley

I have been providing therapy/counseling in various settings for almost 30 years, most recently hospital-based psychiatric emergency crisis intervention. My areas of expertise include: crisis intervention; suicide risk assessment, prevention, and safety planning; general substance abuse treatment information in Colorado; parenting (human growth & development, infants to adolescents to adults); supervised and therapeutic visitation for non-custodial parents/guardians; family conflict (not to be confused with couples counseling); couples counseling; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for “big T” and “little t” trauma; CBT for depression & anxiety; milieu treatment of severe mental illness (affect disorders such as depression/bipolar; psychotic disorders/personality disorders; treatment compliance) for adults; solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT); culturally competent behavioral health services; psychopharmacology for therapists; women’s issues (reproductive rights, infertility, sexism, domestic violence/intimate partner violence); end-of-life decisions; grief and bereavement; and non-emergent crisis intervention. My therapeutic approach is simple & straightforward talk therapy, formally referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Something in your life is currently causing you distress and you want help, from a neutral source, finding ways to cope with and work through the issue(s) so it no longer interferes with your ability to live your best life. This type of therapy encompasses exploration of healthy boundaries, self-advocacy, effective communication and coping skills, goal-setting, and reduction of unwanted and unhealthy automatic thoughts (catastrophizing, hindsight bias). The therapeutic relationship that will occur between us consists of identifying the issue(s), mapping past responses & outcomes, separating what you can & can’t control, exploring your strengths, and developing a new plan to manage the problem(s). My job as a therapist is to empower you to develop insight and create your own solutions, not solve the problem for you. Once you’ve created & implemented your plan, I will provide support, encouragement, and reinforcement. In addition to CBT, I provide Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). SFBT concentrates on finding solutions in the present and exploring ways to find a quick and pragmatic resolution of one’s problem(s). This method takes the approach that you know what you need to do to improve your own life and, with the appropriate coaching and questioning, are capable of quickly finding the best solution(s). Another therapeutic modality I incorporate into CBT is motivational interviewing, which encourages clients to talk about their needs and stages of change, and talk about aspects of their personal history previously not considered relevant. I provide couples counseling using CBT and the framework of the Gottman Method. My role as a therapist is to evoke a conversation about change, commitment, and to elicit information from you. I listen and reflect your thoughts and personal history so that you can hear/see your own reasoning, motivation, and experiences expressed from someone other than yourself. Last, I incorporate psychoeducation and mindfulness within the other modalities I practice. Psychoeducation combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and education. The goal is to provide clients with facts about various facets of mental illness/wellness and its treatment, not pop culture distortions. This facilitates working with your therapist for a better overall outcome. I have an extensive library of resources designed to help you process and practice the issues we discuss in therapy in between sessions. Please know that I will correct misperceptions and misunderstandings about psychology, mental health, and human behavior. I don’t do this to belittle my clients. I do this to educate. Pop culture and Dr. Google are anathema to me. The benefits of a trained, experienced therapist are objectivity, neutrality, expertise in models of human behavior, expertise in the neurobiology of trauma and attachment, and expertise in therapeutic modalities. In addition to my Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential, I am a Board Certified Nounselor, aka National Certified Counselor, “NCC”, which means I completed a graduate program with the highest level of accreditation, passed the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) examination (“NCE”), and adhere to the rigorous ethics and principles of the NBCC as well as the American Counseling Association, established specifically for Licensed Professional Counselors across the United States. I completed training November 2022 to provide clinical supervision to new therapists pursuing licensure (LPCs only in Colorado). I completed 10 hours of training in the Neurobiology of Trauma through the National Institute of the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) February 2023. This training will enhance my ability to provide therapy for people who are survivors of past and/or current trauma. I also completed seven hours of training January 2023 to provide culturally competent behavioral health services to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Currently (2024), I’ve enrolled in and completed or am completing several hours of Continuing Education (CE)training: I provide weekly therapy and believe that clients need to continue their treatment in between sessions. With my extensive library of resources that include fact sheets; journals; workbooks; symptom trackers; guided mindful meditations; and worksheets, you can continue to work on therapy in between sessions. If, at any point in therapy, I determine that I lack the expertise to provide sufficient therapeutic assistance to you I will assist you in finding a therapist on Betterhelp who can better meet your needs. It is also not uncommon for clients & therapists to fail to make a therapeutic connection. It’s important for both of us to be forthcoming about this if it occurs. You also have the right to a second opinion and to discontinue services with me at any time. Please remember that therapy isn’t a “get out of jail free” card. It can be hard work and often requires you to tap into emotions, memories, and behaviors that are difficult for you to process. I will be your advocate but will also be direct and forthright, which may include giving you feedback that may be difficult for you to hear and accept. I am an “informal” but direct therapist. Honesty is essential in a psychotherapeutic relationship. If our interactions aren’t sincere and forthcoming you will not experience much benefit from therapy. I will ALWAYS encourage you to ask questions and express disagreement. I actually have a crystal ball, but it doesn’t allow me to sneak a peak into your future or past. I’m also not a mind reader. I don’t analyze my clients, although I often analyze situations–with them (you). Every human being is different. You must be willing to look inward and learn about yourself. Strength comes from within, as do the solutions to your problems. My job is to metaphorically walk by your side as you sort things out. In certain situations I will strongly recommend medication for you in addition to therapy (if you are not already taking medication). Some mental health problems are serious and require medication to reasonably manage the illness. I am a fierce mental health advocate. We all experience times in our lives that test our strength. There’s no weakness in acknowledging this and being proactive about seeking help. It takes a lot of strength to admit you’re struggling. Remember, your mental health is as important as your physical health. It’s important for everyone to know that not all undesirable behavior is due to mental illness; in fact, most of it is not. Not believing, knowing, or understanding this fact perpetuates the stigma of mental illness. This dangerous misunderstanding or ignorance implies that all people who have a mental illness are poorly behaved and therefore inherently flawed, but nothing could be further from the truth. Having said that, mental illness does not excuse harmful behavior but it can explain the reason. I also know that the vast majority of people who have a chronic mental illness can and do have successful, fulfilling lives. As we increase awareness we improve treatment, erase the stigma, and create a world where mental health and wellness are embraced as a healthcare priority. I look forward to working with you. Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long introduction!