My name is Dr Karen Hoving. I am a Colorado Therapist with over 25 years of experience helping with Depression, Anxiety and Trauma (PTSD)
I work with Gen Zers through my fellow Boomers.
My skills and experience allow me to help you get to the root of your emotional pain.
I integrate a variety of techniques with Gestalt Based Talk Therapy with Mindfulness, Hypnosis, Guided Imagery and other more creative ways to get you OUT of your head and into your feelings. Personally, I believe that you can talk ABOUT your feelings during therapy you may be in therapy for the rest of your life!
When you actually FEEL how you feel about a situation ” in the moment” it’s harder to ignore or avoid what’s going on inside.
All of these exercises are done seamlessly online, you don’t need to see me in an office. You just need to be in a room where that is private (some of my patients go in their car when the kids and spouse are “too interested” in their conversation with me!)
Therapy, however, is more than just a series of exercises. It is about the relationship between the patient and the therapist. Key to this relationship is whether the personality of the therapist meshes with your personality. I believe there is a therapist out there for everyone.
I have worked for decades creating and perfecting methods to assist people in crisis. Personality wise I may not be everyone’s “cup of tea.”
If you want a therapist that has a very professional office (and the attire to match), spends lots of time writing down most of what you say but doesn’t make a lot of eye contact you will not be happy with me.
I have a more comfortable and casual approach – which applies to my office, my manor and my attire.
Since 2008 I have worked out of my home. I did this because I believe my patients felt less anxiety coming into my personal space. I was sharing a part of me, which I hope showed them I trusted them with my life, as they trusted me with theirs.
By working at my home I can decrease my rates so that more people who need treatment can get good treatment.
Since COVID arrived in 2020 I decided to work strictly online. If you feel at some point you will want to see a therapist in person, I may not be the best fit for you.
In this time of political divisiveness, full disclosure, I am a liberal. A big one. I don’t judge who you are, how you vote or what you do/or do not believe in.
That being stated…
I believe BLACK LIVES MATTER. I believe Trans Rights are Human rights. I support and work with the LGBTQ+ community. I am unapologetically pro choice, and believe that what women do with their bodies should be between a woman and her physician.If you disagree with any of these statements I am probably not the right therapist for you.
I have a lot of Chronic Health problems (Systemic Lupus, RA, Primary ImmunoDeficiency known as CVID). I only work part time so I can give each of my patient’s the time and care they need. However, there are times when my health issues interrupt things. It is your right to have a therapist that is healthy and available to you 24/7. There are times when I am ill and adjustments need to be made. If this is causing you pause, I’m probably not the right therapist for you.
I support people with disabilities, including invisible diseases. I know that many women have been ignored and at times dismissed by medical professionals. Healing from being told by people in White Coats that you are “crazy” or minimizing your pain, is something I feel very passionate about.
I believe in science. But I know there is a lot that science doesn’t understand yet.
Spiritually, I identify as being Buddhist – specifically Vajrayana Buddhist which is a specific practice within Tibetan Buddhism. Although I have not trained in Buddhist Psychology I do believe in helping you to reduce your suffering and often encourage my patients to meditate as one tool to becoming more self aware.
Most of my patients consider themselves to be Christian. Like all Buddhists, I don’t believe in proselytizing or trying to convince anyone to convert. However, many patients prefer a therapist that can support their spiritual needs from a personal identification with those beliefs. If you are a Christian and desire a Christian Therapist please check out Psychology Today and use the filter tool. There is a section for FAITH. It is vital that you feel comfortable with whomever you decide to work with.
I genuinely care about all of my patients. I am a “shrink” because I remember how terrible a lot of therapists I saw were. I went to school to be a GREAT therapist, like the ones I wished I’d seen.
My rates are probably the lowest in Colorado for someone with over Thirty years of experience and a Ph.D. This is because I believe everyone should have access to GREAT therapy, no matter what their income is.
Unlike other therapists, I do not charge extra for emails, phone calls or texts. Again, I limit my patient load so I can be your therapist not just every other Tuesday at noon, but all the days in between.
I know how stressful it was for you to go to Google or Psychology Today to find a therapist. You looked at a lot of smiling faces, read countless biographies hoping you would read something that would tell you “this is MY therapist.”
Maybe you have checked the internet several times. Getting close to picking up the phone, or writing an email but then thought, “you know, today really wasn’t as bad as last week. I bet I’m turning a corner.”
You desperately want to believe you are getting better because NO one wants to go to therapy. And I get it.
That was me in my 20’s.
Like you, I had some skeletons rattling in my emotional closet. To be honest, I would have been happier to have just bought a pair of ear muffs so I couldn’t hear the noise, than call a therapist.
So I know how you feel right now.
You are nervous, anxious, frightened and probably a bit nauseated.
Most of all, IF you call you will be praying that I don’t answer the phone.
So here is a heads up. I almost always answer my phone. If I don’t it’s because I’m with another client, or I may be resting (it’s hard to work with chronic pain/illneses so I am down when I’m not with you so that I can be 100% when we meet).
So, I’d assume that I will answer the phone. If that makes you nervous, send me an email.
I think we’ve established I probably will answer the phone.
I will try to make this as easy as it can be. I’ll ask questions (so you don’t have to have a prepared text), and then ask if you’d like to have a “meet and greet” to decide it you feel we might work well together.
I offer a free one-hour consultation online . You will have plenty of time to ask all of your questions, and listen to my ideas before you pay for a session. Also, you can experience what it is like to see me online instead of in person.
I know an hour seems like a long time, but I honestly don’t know how you will get to know someone with only a 15 minute consultation. Can you even share the basics of what is going on in your life in 15 min – much less listen to hear what someone’s therapeutic beliefs are?
In the beginning, it’s a two way conversation. The first few session I’m trying to get to know you, who are the important people in your life, what things are making you unhappy.
After you are comfortable with me we’ll go deeper. Lots of talking, but I’ll ask if we can do different emotional exercises. These will help you tell me things from the past ,but deal with them emotively in the present. It sounds a bit like a bad science fiction movie, but I promise, it works.
I will laugh at your jokes.
I’ll make sure that you are supported all the days between our sessions (not just every other Thursday from 3-4).
I will give you permission to say STOP and NO at any time during each session.
You will be treated with the kindness and support you’ve deserved, but perhaps haven’t received in recent times, or for some of you, your entire life.
I often give you homework between your sessions. After your first session I will give you a link to an Hypnotic MP3. Your part of our work is to listen to it before you go to bed. That’s all. Just plug the ear buds in right before you turn the lights off. Sounds easy? Well that is the one thing I ask patients to do and the thing they rarely do. The MP3 helps prepare you for mindfulness or other hypnotic exercises we may do during the sessions. The more you listen to the recording the less stress you will experience in your life.
With me, no matter who you are or how you live your life, you are in a safe place.
If you find any of the things I’ve written here offensive, please know there are many other good therapists at Psychology Today that might be a better choice. I’m not being snarky or magnanimous. What is paramount is you find YOUR THERAPIST.
I am not a silent partner in therapy. I listen actively but give lots of feed back. I use a lot of humor, when appropriate, as well as the occasional movie or book metaphors.
If you feel I am not your therapist know that I truly wish you only the best. You deserve to find someone safe that is competent and will support your entire life. Again, please check Psychology Today for anyone in Colorado that may be a better fit. Please do not settle for someone that can get you in right away. Make sure you are with YOUR therapist.
If you feel that I may be YOUR therapist, please call or text me at 720.878.8891. EMAIL me via the contact form.
The sooner you get in touch with me the sooner we get started helping you feel better about yourself!
