I truly believe I have the best job in the world!

This is a big first step! When we are considering starting therapy we have things in our lives that we are not satisfied with. Do you want changes in your life but feel stuck or don't know where to start? Do you and your significant other seem to argue about the same things repeatedly without finding solutions? Do you go rounds with your adolescent only to find you both feeling frustrated?

My goal is to help you figure out how to make the changes you desire that will lead you to a happier life and healthy relationships that you enjoy. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. By applying many therapy approaches and techniques, we will bring to light long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Kara

How I Support

Your Healing

Understanding

A safe, compassionate space where you can feel heard, understood, and supported without judgment.

Growth

Together we explore patterns, build insight, and develop practical tools for meaningful and lasting change.

Connection

Strengthening relationships with yourself and others through healthier communication, trust, and emotional balance.

A woman wearing glasses and a green coat holds a white paper

Walking Alongside You

in Change and Growth

I am passionate about helping people and feel so fortunate to have the privilege of clients allowing me into intimate parts of their lives.

Therapy can be a vulnerable space, and often, things are shared with me that aren't talked about with anyone else. To have the advantage of seeing people make significant changes and growth that lead to better relationships and happiness in their lives is so exciting and rewarding. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is of utmost importance in the success of therapy. It is very important to me that my clients feel comfortable during sessions and that I earn the trust that is needed for our work together. I also strongly encourage feedback from my clients about the process of therapy. I like to know if their needs are being met, if there are any barriers to our work and if they feel that therapy is taking the direction they want it to go.

My approach in therapy varies depending on each client's needs. I do not believe that therapy is about providing advice or answers. Rather, it is my goal to provide support and assist clients in determining what is best for them and how to achieve the changes in life and relationships that they desire. In couple's sessions I can be very directive in order to intervene and correct the unhealthy communication patterns. Individual sessions can be as introspective and insight oriented as one desires. I also believe strongly that most change happens outside of my office; therefore, I often give homework in the form of worksheets, books to read, specific things to be aware of and logs to keep in between sessions.

My work in session is client-driven; it is up to each client to determine if suggestions or homework is useful for them. If something doesn't work, then together we figure out what else to try. Each person has strengths from which to draw; I assist in helping clients discover these and how to take advantage of them to achieve the successes they want in life. As far as the credentials go, I am a graduate of Pepperdine University and have been in private practice in the North Metro Denver area since 2004. I work with a wide range of ages and individual difficulties in addition to couple's and family struggles. I have over 25 years' experience as a marriage and family therapist. In addition, I have many years of experience working for community-based non-profit mental health centers working with children, families and couples.

-Kara Bates,

MA, LMFT Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
• North Metro Denver • Since 2001

Credentials & Training ⭐

Education

•M.A., Pepperdine University
Clinical Psychology, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, 2000
•B.S., Colorado State University
Psychology, minor in Human Development, 1997