Compassionate Counseling
Joshua Tree Counseling
Kristin Mefford, MA, LPCC
Hello and welcome, I’m so glad you’re here! My name is Kristin Mefford and I’m a licensed counselor in Colorado Springs offering counseling for adults, teens, and couples – in person or virtually.
I provide relational, compassionate and nonjudgmental counseling for anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, emotional overwhelm, grief, trauma, spiritual abuse, and marriage or relationships issues. I am an EMDR-trained therapist who incorporates trauma therapy, somatic psychology, and traditional talk therapy to help you achieve your goals and heal emotional wounds.
Starting counseling and finding the right therapist can be overwhelming. If you have some anxiety about this process, it’s totally normal. Hopefully, reading some more about you will put you at ease enough to take the first step.
If you’re ready to begin counseling, the first step is to request an appointment online. You’ll be give access to a personal, secure client portal to management appointments and review and e-sign the initial paperwork before your first appointment with me.
Anxiety & Depression
Do you struggle with anxiety and depression? Whether anxiety or depression is a new experience for you or an old familiar foe, I believe that you can learn to manage your symptoms and resolve underlying root causes. As a master’s level, licensed therapist, I can evaluate, diagnose and treat generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and more.
Trauma Therapy
Do you need trauma therapy? Whether you have suffered a recent traumatic event or you had a traumatic childhood, I am an EMDR therapist in Colorado who specializes in the treatment of trauma. I believe trauma impacts us mind, body, and soul and that the best approach to healing from trauma includes an integrative, holistic, mind-body approach.
Spiritual Abuse
Have you suffered spiritual trauma or abuse? Spiritual abuse comes in many forms and can be tricky to untangle and heal from, but there is hope! I am personally and professionally experienced in this topic and desire to provide you with a truly safe space to explore and heal from spiritual trauma. If faith is the source of your wounding…if you’re angry or questioning God, let’s talk.
Couples Counseling
Is your relationship or marriage in crisis? Are you looking for a relational, trustworthy marriage counselor in Colorado? I provide nonbiased couples counseling aimed at processing relational wounds, giving you you the tools to have better communication, removing any blocks in the way of trust and vulnerability, and moving towards a relationship that meets the other’s needs.
Teen Counseling
Are you looking for teen counseling you can trust? If your teen is being bullied, struggling with body image issues, or experiencing suicidal or self-harming urges, I’d be honored to partner with you as their parents to help them gain confidence, expand their emotional capacity, clarify their values, perspective shift, and learn coping skills. Counseling for teens is such a gift at this age!
Christian Counseling
Searching for a Christian counselor in Colorado? If it’s important to you that your Christian faith be included into your counseling, I am a believer who can comfortably integrate Christian truths into therapy in an ethical, nonjudgmental, and healing way. The intentional integration of faith into counseling is your choice, it will never be imposed on you.
Hi! I'm Kristin.
If you’re searching for someone who can hold the space for you to work through mental health or relationship issues without judgement, we should meet.
I am a licesned mental health therapist in Colorado, and I provide compassionate, relational counseling to clients struggling with a wide range of mental health and relationship issues.
My counseling style is full of authenticity, humor, and deep emotional attunement. With each client, I seek to experience the world through your eyes and join you on your journey of healing. Once I get to know you and hear more about your struggles, we’ll partner together to define the goals of therapy and then meet regularly to move you towards those goals.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to heal. I believe no one should have to carry their pain and suffering alone. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of therapy and that the best approach is an integrate approach that meets your specific needs, personality, and the depth of healing you wish to reach.
Education
MA – Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Liberty University
BS – Bachelor of Science, Public Health, University of Arizona
Training
EMDR
Somatic Experiencing (in process)
On a more personal note...
After dreaming of living in Colorado for many years, I picked up and moved here from my Arizona desert home in 2022. Although I miss my friends and family in Arizona, my soul has come alive in these mountains and trees! My hobbies include dancing, exploring our beautiful state, traveling to new places, relaxing in nearby hot springs, and skiing. Although I studied public health, spanish, and eventually, counseling, I have always been passionate about reading and writing. I am an Enneagram 4w3 and an ENFP.
My perfect day off consists of an iced coffee, time alone to write, and some form of adventure with loved ones. I am fortunate to have friends and family spanning all over the world and I soak up every minute that I get to spend with these humans. I am a people-person through and through and believe wholeheartedly that we were created for connection. I can’t wait to get to know you and hear about what sparks joy for you too.
Services.
Individual Counseling
I offer individual counseling for adults and teens to address a variety of mental health concerns. As a trauma therapist in Colorado, I specialize in helping clients work through anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues.
Couples Counseling
Teen Counseling
I also have a heart for teens who have expressed an interest in working with a counselor.
I work with couples and relationships (committed relationships, marriage, parent and adult child, siblings) to resolve conflict and improve connection and communication.
Treatment Models
- Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
- Family Systems
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Person-Centered
- Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
- Christian Counseling
- Strength-based
- Attachment-based
- Trauma-Informed
Focus Areas
- Anxiety
- Codependency
- Depression
- Grief & Loss
- Life Transitions
- Low Self-Esteem/High Self-Hatred
- PTSD
- Relationship Conflict/Distress
- Self Harm
- Spiritual Abuse
- Suicidal Ideation
- Trauma/PTSD
Schedule & Location
Wednesdays 10am-5pm
Fridays 10am-5pm
Every Other Saturday 10am-5pm
LOCATION
5390 N Academy Blvd Suite 330
Colorado Springs, CO, 80918
(719) 789-0542 call/text
Request an Appointment
Fees
Private Pay Fee: $120/hr
I accept all major credit cards including HSA cards. Insurance is not accepted at Joshua Tree. Superbills are provided which you can submit to your insurance as part of your out-of-network benefits and request reimbursement.
Good Faith Estimate
Under a law that passed in January 2022, called the No Surprises Act, health care providers must provide clients who don’t have insurance or who do not plan on using insurance an estimate of the bill for requested services. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your most recent Good Faith Estimate (GFE), you can dispute the bill. At Joshua Tree Counseling, GFEs are provided to your through the secure client portal. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
Individual Counseling
Remember, therapy is not a maze – it’s a journey of self-discovery with a therapeutic twist.
Individual counseling is a highly personalized therapy experience aimed at helping you navigate your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a totally confidential, safe and validating environment. Individual therapy can help you know yourself better and develop tangible skills to manage daily challenges while improving your mental health and heal from past wounds.
Anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship issues, and stress are just a few of the reasons people seek this type of therapy. No matter what issues or problems you bring with you to counseling you should know that you are not the problem. You’ve likely been coping the best way you know how and may have exhausted all your available coping strategies and internal resources.
I want to help you explore the presentation of your problem, identify your triggers, and locate the roots (usually the things that happened to you earlier in life). Together, it’s possible to move from overwhelm, dysregulation, and negative self-talk. As a trauma therapist in Colorado, I specialize in the treatment of trauma and spiritual abuse.
- Adults
- Couples
- Teens
Couples/Relationship Counseling
What advice did the therapist give to the client with relationship problems? “It takes two to ‘tango,’ but one to start the therapy.”
Couples counseling can help you address and manage issues within your relationship or marriage. It helps identify problematic patterns of behavior, communication problems, and areas of conflict that are causing problems in the relationship.
This type of therapy is effective for couples of all kinds who are struggling with relational issues like a lack of emotional connection; sexual interest mismatch or disconnection; infidelity or trust issues; disagreements about parenting, finances, or in-laws; grief; or adjusting to a major life change like retirement, empty nest, moving to another state, or starting a family.
The goal of couples therapy is to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen the emotional connection and deepen emotional intimacy.
- Engaged Couples
- Committed Couples
- Married Couples
- Parent & Adult Child Conflict & Distress
- Sibling Relationships
Virtual Counseling
What does a therapist say to someone with low self-esteem? “You’re not alone in feeling this way, but you’re definitely ‘worth’ it.”
Virtual counseling is an amazing way to receive psychological counseling services through the internet from the comfort of your own home or office. This method of counseling has become increasingly popular in recent years because of its accessibility and convenience. Sessions are usually conducted through videoconferencing. It’s important to note that while virtual counseling offers many benefits, it may not be suitable for everyone. However, if you’re interested in accessing counseling services in a more flexible and convenient way, virtual counseling might be the right option for you! I can offer virtual counseling to anyone physically located in the state of Colorado. I am a trauma therapist in Colorado who helps clients overcome trauma virtually.
- Anyone physically located in the state of Colorado can recieve telehealth/virtual counseling from me.
FAQs
Whether you’re new to the counseling process or you’ve been through the therapy ringer, I hope to put your mind at ease about a few things before you schedule a first session with me.
The following are answers to some frequently asked questions.
Do you take Insurance?
No, Joshua Tree does not accept insurance. To receive counseling services with me, you are responsible for the full session fee, charged to a credit card maintained in the secure client portal. I am able to provide you with a superbill – which is a statement of services received that includes a diagnostic code which you may submit to your insurance company and request reimbursement as part of your out-of-network benefits.
What are the Benefits of Private Pay?
When you use health insurance benefits to pay for mental health services, your progress notes are typically submitted for review. As the payor, they have some degree of power over your care. They can decide whether or not ongoing services are necessary and can specify the number of sessions that will be covered.
When you private pay for counseling, no one is entitled to your records without your written consent. You can essentially stay annonymous and stay in ful control of your mental health serveices. You and I are the only ones making decisions about the frequency and necessity of services. If you choose to submit a superbill to your insurance, they will receive your primary diagnosis but that’s it. We believe that private pay conseling offers you high quality counseling with the most control of your care as possible.
Do you provide Superbills?
Yes! I am happy to provide a superbill, a statement of services and payment received. It is important to know that insurance will not cover services without a diagnosis code and that by submitted a superbills to your insurance, you are releasing your private information to them.
A superbill is not a guarantee that you will receive reimbursement from your insurance company and Joshua Tree nor I can make and promises or assurances about this. It’s up to you to do the legwork and work this out with your insurance. Many clients are successful, some are not. I encourage you to reach out to your insurance company to ask about submitting a superbills as part of you out-of-network benefits prior to scheduling your first session if this is important to you.
What is the Cancellation Policy?
Joshua Tree has a 24 hour cancellation policy to avoid paying your full session rate as a cancellation fee. You can cancel quite easily – in the portal or by texting me or the practice manager, Kelly. The reason this policy exists is because a time has been set aside specifically for you and late cancellations and no shows mean lost income and lost time that could be offered to other clients. When I have 24 hours notice, I can often fill the spot. This policy is specified in the initial paperwork which you will be asked to sign prior to receiving services.
Do you offer Telehealth Counseling?
I sure do! As long as you are physically located within the state of Colorado, I can be your therapist! To stay in compliance with the law, I may have to have you verify your physical location. The bummer about telehealth is that my license currently limits me to only practice within Colorado which means if you move or travel frequently out of state, we will not be able to meet under those circumstance.
What is Joshua Tree Counseling?
Joshua Tree is a group counseling practice based in Arizona. You can learn more by visiting the Joshua Tree Tucson website.
What are the first steps? How do I get started?
I’m glad you asked! Sounds like you found what you needed to know about me so let’s started together.
1. The first step is to book an initial session. You will be asked for your first and last name, your email, phone number, and to put your credit card in at the time of booking to secure your spot.
2. After your request for an initial appointment is approved by Joshua Tree, you will receive access to a secure client portal (Simple Practice) with the initial paperwork to review and e-sign. Joshua Tree requests that paperwork be read and signed at least 48 hours prior to your first session. If you encounter difficulties with the portal or have questions about the paperwork, you can reach out to our practice manager, Kelly, before signed. Your session may be cancelled if paperwork has not been reviewed or signed and there had been no communication from your regarding your appointment. This is to make sure you are not charged for a no-show session in the event you’ve changed your mind or decided not to pursue counseling with me.
3. Come to your first appointment! At this session, you’ll be able to share about what’s going on with an much depth and detail as your are comfortable, and to tell me about your hopes for counseling. You may have questions about me and my counseling style – I love to help clients understand the process and what to expect along the way. You will be asked to put your credit card in at the time of booking to secure your spot. This session is your opportunity to share in depth about what’s going on, what your hopes are from counseling.
Do You Provide a Diagnosis?
As a licensed therapist, I can diagnose mental health conditions found in the the DSM 5. As part of the initial assessment phase, we will discuss if a diagnosis is important to you and/or whether or not you meet diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis. If you plan to submit a superbill to your insurance company, a diagnosis is necessary for insurance to consider reimbursement. But this doesn’t meet that I diagnose solely for the purpose of you receiving reimbursement; you must still meet diagnostic criteria. As a trauma therapist in Colorado, I see most symptoms through a trauma lens.
I believe that diagnoses are simply labels that describe a collection of symptoms. A diagnosis does not, nor do I believe it should, define you. You are more than your symptoms and more than your diagnosis.
If you come to me with a diagnosis previously given by a psychiatrist, MD, or another therapist, I can request records from that provider to confirm. Without confirmation, you and I will go through a separate assessment phase before I provide you with the same or different diagnosis.
How Long Does Therapy Take?
Super common question. The answer depends though on your goals and on what issues you are hoping to work through in counseling. Unless you have a super simple presenting issue (and let’s be honest, do those even exist?) six to eight session is the minimum needed to not only build rapport, safety and trust, but to work directly on your issues. For many clients, it can take a year of consistency in therapy to really see progress. I want you to know that I honor your time commitment to this process and will join you to progress as quickly or as slowly as you need. I wish I could promise quick results but the truth is that most of the things we struggle with are related to years of messages we received, patterns of thoughts and behaviors, and ignored or minimized emotions. I can’t make promises about how long counseling will take, but I can promise to jointly create a treatment plan that include goals and objectives which we will regularly review to make sure we stay on track and move towards goals that are important to you.
What are the First Few Sessions Like?
If you’ve never been to therapy before and even if you’ve been in therapy your whole life, this is an important question to ask so you feel like you can make an informed decision about the decision to pursue me as your therapist.
The first counseling session is your opportunity to share about your struggles and tell me about why you’re seeking counseling. You can share as much or as little as you’d like. It is also a time when you can get a feel for whether our personalities mesh well and see if you feel connected, heard and seen. I am happy to share about my philosophy about counseling, what models of therapy I use, and answer any other question about the process of therapy.
At the second session, I typically gather more information about you, your history, and your presenting concerns. We talk about the goals of therapy and the ways we’ll work towards those goals. A thorough initial assessment includes some self-reported assessments (to look at anxiety, depression, trauma, dissociation, etc). I may have you complete a brief positive and negative life experience timeline as well. I don’t need to know details about your trauma, if you have trauma, just yet. An important part of counseling is pacing and managing overwhelm.
Sometimes the initial assessment phase is complete in 1-2 session, and sometimes it takes longer depending on the depth and breath of you concerns and life history. As a trauma therapist in Colorado, I am sensitive to the fact that you may not be ready to share everything in the first few sessions, which is completely okay and sometimes better for your treatment overall.
What if I'm not Interested in Christian-Based Counseling?
No worries! While I am upfront about being a Christian and I’m comfortable integrating the Christian faith and Biblical principles’ into counseling – I only provide Christian-based counseling when the client specifically requests this. Faith of any kind can be a strong therapeutic ally and it could be the thing that has wounded you the most. I totally get that. I provide counseling with respect and unconditional positive regard for who you are and honor your faith story and preferences.
I welcome clients of all walks of life and all faith backgrounds and I provide professional counseling without judgement and based on your needs, goals, and spiritual preferences.
If you request the integration of faith into counseling, please know that you’ll never hear me tell you that you’re struggled because you lack faith or that things will change if you just pray more, or other commonly feared messages. Because I specialize in spiritual wounding and abuse, I avoid contributing to your spiritual pain and trauma and I am careful not to make assumptions about your beliefs.
In the first few sessions, we’ll work to clarify if and to what degree faith is an important part of counseling. If not, I respect that.
Contact.
The first step if you’re interested in counseling with me is to find a day and time that works for you for a first session. You can book an appointment using this link.
You can send me an email or use the form below.
(719) 974-4665
