Meet Katherine O’Sullivan
The Process of Change, Willingness and Authenticity
I believe people aren’t able to change alone; people change in response to influence and their relationships with others. The systems and our environment have a constant impact on us. I will assist in your ability to increase your insight into how you are being influenced, and how you are influencing others. That includes an examination and consideration of your relationships. It’s nearly impossible to live in this world without connection with others. This is often scary for people to navigate because it requires some level of vulnerability. Vulnerability is a significant key to power over yourself, despite it feeling like the biggest risk of all.
Naturally, the first step in willingness to be vulnerable is building trust to get there. This is a pillar of therapy that will be addressed initially and continuously throughout your process. While I welcome diversity in personality types, people who have a simple desire to connect and are active in the process of making change make that process easier. I am committed to building and gaining your trust, with a goal of ultimately supporting you in your journey.
As we continue to build trust and rapport, we advance to my favorite part: exploring your authentic self. I will never claim to be an expert on you or your life. Rather, I can lend support, offer suggestions and insight, reflect ideas and previously established goals, identify strategies, and assist you making the next best decision for your life. That’s how change happens.
Change looks different for each person and isn’t linear. We will work together to identify steps in the direction of what makes a life worth living for you — an individualized blueprint that can be altered as we process and work towards your better tomorrow.
My Background & What You Can Expect From Me
I was brought up in sunny Northern California. When I left the nest for college, I received my bachelors of art degrees from University of California, Santa Barbara in Psychology and Communications. Following completion undergraduate schooling, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I gained hands-on experience working with adolescents with eating disorders and comorbid disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, among with a multitude of other diagnoses.
Next I completed my Masters in Social Work at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. I completed internships focusing on underserved students, where I provided mental health services via individual and group therapy sessions and connected them with resources in the community. I also completed internship work at UCLA providing pre and postpartum therapy to parents, and individual and family therapy to individuals in the comprehensive care center.
Finally, I relocated to Denver about ten years ago to focus on working in acute settings for eating disorders. I have specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) as well as Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).
I am passionate about mental health care and individual wellbeing, and the use of therapy to get there. I use a thoughtful and creative approach; I don’t believe there is a “one-size-fits-all” answer to challenges and individuals, and will work to figure out what suits you best. I work to utilize evidence-based practices to provide the most effective care for each person. You always can count on me to be honest, consistent, and authentic in our time together.
A few personal facts about me: I am a mother, a wife, the middle child of three, a former gymnast (where I saw first hand how body image impacts children), a dog and cat parent, avid board game player, and love cooking.
Contact Me
Your opportunity to ask questions, identify goals, and confirm a rightness of fit for your therapy journey