A counseling practice honored to serve the community of Colorado Springs
About Abide
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re taking the time to learn about my practice. My name is Colleen and I counsel adults in how to abide with themselves and others. To abide means “to endure, to withstand without yielding, to wait for, to remain steadfast or faithful to,” and, “to dwell in.” Physician Gabor Maté points out that many people equate healing with eliminating pain while offering the alternative, “healing is actually the capacity to hold pain.”
Abiding with ourselves also transforms our relationships with others. When we feel secure with who we are on the inside, a relational overflow naturally ripples outward to the people around us. My mission is to invite you to cultivate a compassionate presence towards your pain so you may live more wholeheartedly.
In the therapy room, I lead people in tending to any unresolved past wounds while also equipping them to feel secure in facing future challenges. I believe the skills I teach my clients are both life-long and life-altering. My drive as a therapist stems from my own healing work and self-discovery, which is a life-long process. Understanding what it’s like to be on the other side of the chair deepens my appreciation of the work my clients do. I commit to holding any uncertainty or discomfort with grace and empathy.
Qualifications
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Colorado and a board certified art therapist (ATR). I hold a dual Master of Arts degree in art therapy and counseling and a Bachelor of Arts degree in art therapy and psychology with a minor in studio art. I have completed level 1 and 2 trainings in Internal Family Systems therapy through the IFS Institute in 2020 and 2023. My professional experience includes nearly a decade of experience in the field, most of which has been in private practice focusing on individual therapy with adults. I have facilitated art therapy and IFS therapy groups for children, adolescents, and adults in settings including private practice, inpatient and partial hospitalization units at a psychiatric hospital, and an outpatient program through the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center.
Additional accomplishments
Colleen has multiple features in The Colorado Springs Gazette covering both Internal Family Systems Therapy and Art Therapy. Her first illustration project, an IFS inspired children’s book called, “Riley’s Courage,” was released in January 2026. Learn more about her life and practice in these local features: Voyager Denver, Shoutout Colorado, or find her on Psychology Today.
Driving PHILOSOPHIES
•While we can’t change the past, we can change how it impacts us, no matter how long ago something happened.
•Even as imperfect humans, wholeness is our truest identity. Healing is the continual process of returning to living more and more into our wholeness.
•Destructive behaviors are an attempt at creating safety, stability, or soothing. Addressing the pain that drives the behavior is often more effective than focusing solely on the unwanted behavior.
•Shame creates stagnation, while compassion and acceptance are powerful agents of change. Compassion and acceptance are not the same as condoning, permissiveness, or passivity.
Areas of Focus
Depression & Anxiety
Healing & integrating trauma
Boundaries & codependency
Grief & loss
Life transitions
Spirituality concerns
Self-esteem & self-acceptance
Creative blocks & expression
“Healing for healers”
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