Elizabeth is helping me greatly, thank you so much for your assistance.
Elizabeth McKinley, LPC
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Elizabeth is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Elizabeth. View 38 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Colorado
Recent reviews
As somebody that was completely nervous about talking to somebody from the second I met Elizabeth I knew I had someone in my corner. I appreciate her more than words could ever explain. Thanks doc…
More about Elizabeth
- 27 years' experience
- Female
- LPC
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!
Specialties
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Coping with life changes
Stress
Anxiety
Relationship issues
Grief
Parenting issues
Self esteem
Compassion fatigue
Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Aging and geriatric issues
Avoidant personality
Blended family issues
Caregiver issues and stress
Codependency
Commitment issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Fatherhood issues
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Impulsivity
Infidelity
Jealousy
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Mood disorders
Narcissism
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Personality disorders
Phobias
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Treatment Approaches
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Licenses
Elizabeth McKinley's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1669124111.
- LPC · Colorado · LPC.0016009 · Expires August 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, sometimes called teletherapy, refers to talk therapy delivered remotely through digital platforms, such as video calls, phone calls, or chat. It can be a great option for people who face barriers to traditional face-to-face therapy, such as those living in remote areas, individuals with mobility issues, or people with busy schedules that make it difficult to attend in-person sessions.
Teletherapy also offers greater convenience and flexibility, allowing clients to access care from the comfort of their homes. Research shows that the treatment outcomes with online counseling are often just as effective as with traditional therapy, providing a viable alternative for individuals seeking mental health support.
Reviews for Elizabeth McKinley
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Elizabeth is helping me greatly, thank you so much for your assistance.
As somebody that was completely nervous about talking to somebody from the second I met Elizabeth I knew I had someone in my corner. I appreciate her more than words could ever explain. Thanks doc…
I enjoy my sessions with Elizabeth and feel they are greatly productive. She does a fantastic job listening and empathizing, and I appreciate her sending me resources and exercises to do outside of our sessions to address my concerns
Elizabeth is friendly, understanding, patient, and provides diverse tools for me to direct my self-growth. She is honest when she needs to be and supportive with my slow but steady progress. I appreciate how she encourages me without any judgment. It's nice to have someone in my corner that has such knowledge, experience, and compassion.
Elizabeth has been a very helpful through a challenging time. She is level headed, her counseling is pragmatic. Highly recommend.
She is excellent
I enjoy my sessions with Elizabeth. I feel heard, understood and respected and receive helpful advice, and resources.
Elizabeth listens to me and gives me room to talk through my problems. She gives me different resources and ways to think through my issues. She's been very helpful in helping me navigate life's problems and, as this is my first attempt at therapy, has made the process a positive and sometimes fun one.
She has been wonderful and helpful
I feel like we connected well, and I will continue to use her for my therapy
Elizabeth is an engaged and knowledgeable therapist. She cares about the outcomes of my therapy and is kind and passionate.
I highly recommend Elizabeth! She has been so helpful for me getting through big family events.
She’s a lovely human being
Elizabeth has been extremely helpful in supporting me while I unpack a lot of "stuff" - Her patience and expertise have been very much appreciated. Very professional and very engaged in my healing, and helping me build a toolbox to handle a variety of things that I've struggled with over the years. Truly grateful BetterHelp has made therapy accessible for those of us who need help - and that's ALL OF US.
Elizabeth was very kind and supportive. She offered tips to help me cope with challenging situations and gave me strength and courage to stay calm during rough times. I highly recommend her for support, guidance and encouragement.
Elizabeth is knowledgeable, a calm and clear communicator, and I feel like she is very present during our sessions. I appreciate her communication style and the way she presents questions, and how she seems to guide our time in a way that both allows me to focus my thoughts but also maximizes how we use the sessions.
An excellent listener and absorber of emotionally complex topics. Her input is well thought out and obviously informed.
She’s great, I’ve only had 3 sessions but she listens when I need it, she gives me great advice and is always positive.
This is my first time trying therapy and Elizabeth has been extremely helpful and wonderful to speak too.
I have been on BetterHelp for a little over a year now and Elizabeth is the reason I keep renewing my membership. Her unwavering support and guidance have become an integral part of my life, and I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like without her by my side.
Elizabeth has a way of asking questions that make you think and gets to the bottom of what it is I am doing or needing to do. She has a no nonsense approach that is exactly what I needed. She has been good at sharing materials/articles that are relevant to me. She is a solid skilled therapist.
Elizabeth is always a joy to talk to. Not only is she very professional and insightful when you present her with your situations and troubles, but she just genuinely seems like a good person who wants to help you. She navigates sessions in such a way that if you have a pressing issue on your mind that you want to discuss she will allow you to release that stress and have a more open discussion type session. At the same time if you don’t have much specifically to talk about that day she will work through her prepared discussion topics which target the overarching issues that have been identified as needing worked on.
I have only had a few sessions with Elizabeth, but could tell almost immediately that she was skilled in her profession. The same day of our initial meeting, she sent me additional reading materials and a workbook that she thought could be useful for me in my situation. She read what I shared prior to our initial meeting so she was already familiar with the help that I was looking for when we first spoke. She asks me specific questions so she can gain a better understanding of my situation and she offers realistic solutions. I feel like she really does listen to and addresses my concerns which I have not felt with all therapists. She's very engaged and makes you feel like you really are being supported. I would highly recommend Elizabeth to anyone seeking therapy. I chose Elizabeth based on her extensive expertise and she demonstrated that to me over our limited, but helpful interactions.
Elizabeth has helped me through tough health issues and anxiety. She is a good listener and she offers helpful strategies to cope with anxiety and stressors in life.
Elizabeth is intelligent and caring. She gives excellent advice and is great at discerning when to give advice and when to simply listen. She is by far one of the best therapists I have ever had and I would definitely reccomend her!
Elizabeth is great- she quickly hones in on the issues at hand and is incredibly empathetic.
Elizabeth is amazing, she’s been so helpful and really attentive to my therapy needs and situation. It’s been a great experience!
My first phone session with Elizabeth went well. She gave me good tools to handle my problem.
I was not doing good. My depression was so bad that I was ideating and even trying suicide. Elizabeth saved my life. She quickly identified the direness of my situation. And she knew exactly how to help me. I recently celebrated my 35th birthday and this is possible because of Elizabeth. Elizabeth has so much valuable experience in the field, she guided me through terrible experiences with psychiatrists and helped me identify what a good psychiatrist looks like. I’ve been told by friends and family to seek professional help all my life. And when I finally did, I discovered the mental health industry is hard to navigate. The experience of going through disappointing experiences with therapists and psychiatrist is a discouraging one. There are times I felt I was doing something wrong and felt unheard. I was desperately trying to call out for help and was being told you’re fine. Elizabeth listened to my distress call. She held tight to me in my darkest days, constantly checking in on me and making sure I was safe. Since finding Elizabeth, I have now been diagnosed by a psychiatrist for Bipolar Disorder. I am now taking lithium for the manic episodes and Effexor for the depression. I am balanced and living my best life now. This is possible because of Elizabeth. I’d like Elizabeth to stay my therapist for the rest of my life. If such a thing was possible. Thank you Elizabeth, you have changed my life for the better, I am so grateful to you.
Elizabeth has been a great woman to speak with. I don't feel judged at all and can tell her everything going on. She really is there to listen to me and help me through my struggles. I'm so excited we matched...I wouldn't wanna talk to anyone else.
Elizabeth has helped me in the two sessions we have met. I think she is knowledgeable and she has given me some great tips and help.
She’s been great!
She is very forthright and knowledgeable. Also makes the effort to make sure I feel comfortable
She’s great. Really listens to me
Really communicative and appreciate her advice
I was feeling hopeless with therapy after my previous experiences. I was feeling like I would never get better. Elizabeth gave me hope and assurance again. She listened to what was going on with me and studied my better help test results. She helped me identify I have bipolar disorder and gave me step by step instructions to find a psychiatrist. Due to my high test results, she informed me that the recommended treatment does involve medication. I am so grateful to have found an experienced expert and I finally feel like I am in good hands. Elizabeth is also a master of communication, she knows how to build a connection, how to be companionate and informative at the same time. I look forward to our sessions every week, and I know, I am heading the right direction to get treatment.
Elizabeth has been great. She has provided necessary information to make me feel safe and supported during our conversations and between messages. She checks in regularly and replies timely. I am excited to continue working with her.
After only a few sessions Elizabeth helped me identify some underlying fears behind my symptoms and gave me lots of helpful methods to work on them. Elizabeth is very attentive, reliable and professional and I strongly recommend working with her!
Frequently asked questions
Does Elizabeth McKinley offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Elizabeth McKinley works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Elizabeth McKinley speak?
Elizabeth McKinley speaks English.
How many years of experience does Elizabeth McKinley have?
Elizabeth McKinley has 27 years of experience.
Where is Elizabeth McKinley licensed to practice?
Elizabeth McKinley is licensed to practice in Colorado.
Does Elizabeth McKinley accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Elizabeth McKinley does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Elizabeth McKinley offer?
Elizabeth McKinley offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.
How can I communicate with Elizabeth McKinley?
Elizabeth McKinley can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Elizabeth McKinley?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.