Kelsie Foster Counseling & Art Therapy
Licensed Professional Counselor + Board Certified Art Therapist
Therapy for teens and young adults in Boulder, Colorado
At Kelsie Foster Counseling & Art Therapy, I believe in the transformative power of creativity to heal and grow. My cozy, art-filled office is a space for preteens, teens, college students, and young adults to navigate life's challenges such as trauma, depression, or anxiety. Through a blend of counseling and art therapy, we'll work together to build confidence, increase your emotional expression, ease symptoms, and transform struggles into strength.
The office is located in South Boulder, Colorado, making it easily accessible from CU Boulder, Gunbarrel, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Golden, and Broomfield.
About
My Background
As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Art Therapist, I bring over a decade of dedicated experience and advanced training in art therapy to my work, specializing with preteens, teens, college students, and young adults.
Although, I am human first and clients describe me as: Grounded, relatable, supportive, humorous, comforting, non-judgmental, and patient.
I center my life and my work around these core values:
These values are the foundation of Kelsie Foster Counseling & Art Therapy. I strongly believe in creating a safe and accepting space where clients can show up as themselves, feel seen, heard, empowered, and understood in order to do the vulnerable work.
Additionally, I consistently devote hours to training and continuing education in topics like teen depression and anxiety, trauma, neurodivergence, identity and self concept, and eco-art therapy, so that I can deepen my knowledge in order to provide the most competent care.
Integrity
Authenticity
Growth
Creativity
Resilence
Fulfilment
Trust
Respect
Why did you become a therapist?
My path to becoming a therapist is rooted in a deep commitment to providing genuine support to those who have gone through dark experiences and are trying to get their life back.
This is because I have my own experiences with complex trauma, having ADHD, feeling like my mind is betraying me, being a former student-athlete, and the crippling feeling of trying to achieve perfectionism. I know what it’s like to struggle through teen years, college, and young adulthood. And I know what it’s like to receive help, work through it, and come out on the other side stronger, resilient, and self assured.
I dedicated my career to being the kind of therapist that I once needed.
Who do you work with?
Preteens
Teens
Young adults
College Students
Adults (up to age 35)
Trauma
Depression
Anxiety
Life transitions
Neurodivergence
Those who feel silenced, stuck, confused, and/or misunderstood
Those ready to explore their patterns and way of functioning
Those ready to gently process their trauma or hardships and learn how to regain control of their life and rebuild a sense of safety
Teens who feel like an outsider and/or are struggling with their peers and friendships
Those feeling trapped by thought spirals or low mood
Those struggling with self esteem hoping to gain confidence and self worth
Those wanting to process their family’s dysfunction and learn how to break free from the negative cycle
Neurodivergent folks wanting to better understand those traits and are seeking help in school or life in relation to this identity
Students with an IEP and/or 504 plan
College students who are feeling unsure how to navigate independence, academic workload, life transition, and post graduation
Those who turn to self harm, perfectionism, or risky behaviors in order to cope, but are wanting to learn healthier and more sustainable tools
Former clients of residential treatment, therapeutic boarding school, wilderness programs, or other higher levels of care (IOP, PHP)
Parents who are open to joining session to hear their child share their experiences and needs
Parents who are hopeful for coaching, skill building, and moving towards their own change
How do you approach therapy?
My style is relational, collaborative, and mindful. What does that even mean?
Relational: I put in effort to get to know you > Your background, how you process things, your communication style, who is part of your world, what you’re passionate about, your belief system. And I’ll show up as myself so that it can feel like you’re in the room with another person, not a sterile version. Having a strong therapeutic relationship leads to better outcomes in therapy.
Collaborative: I check in about the pace of therapy, hopes for session, offer choice in creative activities, individualize your care based on interests, and encourage feedback.
Mindful: I track what’s happening in the present moment whether it’s within the art, body language, facial expression, tone, mood shift, or even what I sense in my own body. Based on this, it informs what may be needed next.
Together, we'll use the power of creativity to process emotions, gain insight, work through challenges, and overcome adversity through transformative art. We'll use art materials like paint, clay, and pastel to explore your emotions, build self esteem, gain coping skills, take healthy risks, problem solve, and can’t forget about some good ol’ play!
While my work is grounded in art therapy, I also weave in other techniques to give you a well-rounded toolkit such as, practicing coping skills, mindfulness, gaining body awareness, and exploring how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. This integrative approach helps you build self understanding and teaches you new ways to respond.
My personal mission in this work is to show up for myself so that I can be effective in showing up for others. I take maintaining work-life balance seriously and aim to live an enriched life. This way, I can model self care, be reliable, and provide the most nurturing client care.
Outside of my practice, my life is a blend of adventure and quiet moments. I love to spend time in nature, whether it's trail running, exploring National Forests with my dog, or hitting the river for some rafting. I also enjoy the slower pace of life, like finding unique items at a thrift store, volunteering with horses, or channeling my cat’s energy by simply relaxing and observing life around me.
My Life Mission
Art Therapy
Facilitated by a trained and certified art therapist, art therapy is a creative process that uses art making as a pathway to healing, growth, and self discovery. The focus is on expression, so you don’t need to consider yourself an artist or make “good” art to benefit. In fact, sometimes the difficult topics are meant to be “messy” art.
Goes beyond words – Gives shape to feelings and experiences that can’t always be spoken or articulated
Supports unmet needs – Art becomes a way to give yourself what was missing, giving you a corrective experience
Expands emotional language – Making art helps identify and name complex feelings, providing a visual aid to better understand what’s happening inside
Engages the whole brain – Blends logic, decision making, and problem solving with emotion, intuition, and creativity
Tactile and embodied – Involves your body and a sensory experience, helping you connect with yourself
Symbolic and metaphorical – Through the choice of art materials, imagery, and metaphor, it increases personal meaning making
A safe place for practice – Allows you to embody a feeling through art that may feel too overwhelming to try outside of the office, leaving an imprint that rewires the brain Example: Making messy, uncontrolled art can be a safe way to work with perfectionism
Empowering – Builds self esteem through exploration, play, healthy risk taking, and having choice in each step
Integrative – Helps you process and regulate with more depth and connect body, mind, and emotions
Art Therapy examples:
All artwork displayed is my own
A safe place drawing. The tree with a hand made, wooden swing was first visualized to provide a sense of safety and calm. It was then drawn to further its impact, especially during a time of need and activation.
Processing over analysis, lost sense of self, sadness, detachment, worry, longing, protection, heartbreak, and impacts of relational struggles. Art can hold our emotions during difficult times.
To cope or as a defense, sometimes we wear a "mask". How do you present on the outside versus what emotional experiences are really going on inside?
Natural and found objects can evoke themes of resilience, sustainability, simple beauty, reciprocity, creativity, strength, honor. Media: Coffee, dirt, wood ash, twigs, paper scraps.
The materials we choose and and how we work with them can help convey our experiences through metaphors: Tattered, exposed, raw, burnt, trapped, restrained, blank, broken, holding it together.
Art can be collaborative as a way to connect and witness each other. This was created by a group of friends. How you show up in art can often give insight into how you show up in life.
The feeling of grief when we lose something can be devastating. To mitigate, it can be healing to create what we lost in art form as a way to feel its presence and honor it.
Individual Therapy Session (50-60 minutes): $160 per session
Other services are billable by service or time such as, parent phone calls, professional consulting, letter writing, etc.
Out-of-Network Services: I am an out-of-network provider. This means that I do not directly bill your insurance company. However, if your plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible for partial or full reimbursement for the cost of your sessions.
How to Get Reimbursed
Superbills: I will provide you with a "superbill" (an itemized receipt for services) which contains all the necessary information for you to submit to your insurance company.
Reimbursify: To make the reimbursement process as simple as possible, I recommend using Reimbursify. This service submits claims on your behalf. It is a quick and efficient way to handle the paperwork, track the claims status, and get your reimbursement.
Cancellation Policy
24-Hour Cancellation Policy: Your appointment time is reserved specifically for you. A full session fee will be charged for any no-shows or cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance. This fee cannot be reimbursed by insurance.
Sliding Scale Opportunities
I believe that everyone should have access to quality mental healthcare. I reserve a limited number of spots in my practice for clients who are in need of a reduced fee. These sliding scale opportunities are based on financial need and availability. If you are interested in a reduced rate, please let me know during our initial consultation. Or if you face a financial change during our work together, please discuss options with me.
Services & Fees
Testimonials
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“Kelsie has seen me through my darkest times and never gave up on me or let me give up on myself. She makes therapy feel easy. We talk, laugh, and I learn more about myself through artwork. She gives me coping skills and gently pushes me to be a better version of myself. Having Kelsie as a therapist means you will always have someone in your corner. She walks with you through the valleys and cheers for you as you climb the mountains.”
Client, MP, Age 22
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![Pieces of torn paper with handwritten text scattered on dry ground with white powder and debris. The paper has messages such as "people" and "people need to leave me alone."]()
"The therapeutic work Kelsie and I do together has helped me find art and patience. It has taught me ways to communicate more when I didn’t think I could. Being a teen, with the support Kelsie and art give me, it will help me throughout my life. She is very patient, understanding, and lets me just be myself with no pressure. She is the most fun therapist I could ever ask for and I feel supported and heard more than I ever have. At first I was nervous about therapy, but when I went into her office, it made me completely change my mind. I couldn’t ask for anyone else."
Client, CZ, Age 13
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"Depsite the circumstances, my work with Foster was one of the best times in my life. I was in an inpatient treatment program and as my therapist, she was my rock for the next 8 months. I truly felt listened to and heard by her. Foster taught me healthy and creative ways to help cope with what I was going through. Foster continued to be my therapist for 3 months after I graduated from the treatment program. She never gave up on me and helped me grow into the person I am. I love using oil and chalk pastels to this day and I kept all of the artwork I did with her. She is amazing <3"
Client, LW, Age 15 during treatment
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Kelsie and I went to school together at Naropa University, and she has been a steady light in my life since we were 1st year grad students almost 10 years ago. Kelsie brings a sense of ease, play, and curiosity to all facets of her work and life. She embodies many of the qualities I would encourage in my students today as an academic advisor; she is tenacious, intelligent, hilarious, and cares deeply for her clients and the field and practice of art therapy. Kelsie is a practicing artist and wood-worker, and engages in art as both spiritual and therapeutic practice. She brings a grounded and rooted presence to her work, and a thoughtful ruggedness. I am proud to call her a colleague and dear friend.
Christine Ratcliffe, LPC, ATR, Art Therapy Colleague
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"Working with Kelsie was an important part of my healing journey. I worked through my feelings with different forms of art while she listened and helped me understand and process my emotions, offering insightful and meaningful advice, helping me to come to important conclusions and decisions."
Client, MD, Age 16
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“I've had the pleasure of working alongside Kelsie Foster for several years, and I can confidently say she is an outstanding adolescent therapist. I wholeheartedly recommend her to teens and families that are ready for a change!“
Shelby Robbins, CEO of Antelope Recovery program for teens, Colleague
Let’s Connect
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly. Looking forward to supporting you!