My Approach
Hello! Welcome to Kelly Hilst Counseling, where I offer personalized, neurodiversity-affirming therapy for children, teens, parents, and caregivers.
During the time we spend together, you will feel heard, supported, and encouraged to explore both your strengths and challenges.
I use an engaging approach tailored to suit each developmental stage. Using a blend of play therapy techniques, mindfulness, sand tray, movement activities, and sensory integration, I support young people in navigating their emotions, building resilience, and developing the crucial coping skills that allow their best self to shine!
As a Licensed School Counselor (PreK-12), I’ve spent many years in the school environment and I’m familiar with the supports and accommodations that can help children thrive. Once we uncover your child’s strengths and the strategies that work, I can help you work collaboratively with teachers and schools to put these tools in place.
My work is informed by relational neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and attachment research, and I have received advanced training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Executive Functioning Support.
I create a safe and accepting space where I value and respect people of all backgrounds and identities. With a touch of humor and creativity, I aim to make the therapeutic journey engaging and meaningful.
I support people of all ages with…
✦ ADHD
✦ Anxiety
✦ Sensory sensitivities
✦ Executive functioning
✦ Gifted & Twice-exceptional
✦ Behavior challenges
✦ Self-esteem
✦ Depression
✦ Life transitions
✦ Impact of adoption
✦ Trauma recovery
✦ Family changes
✦ Identity exploration
✦ LGBTQAI+ affirmation
✦ Grief and loss
About me
As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, I’m a neurodivergent provider who advocates for a world where neurodiversity is celebrated and supported rather than pathologized. In my free time, I love visiting museums with my family, discovering new coffee shops, swimming, and making seasonal Spotify playlists. I’m a constant reader who carries dog-eared books everywhere, and I often discover poignant messages in children’s books that I delight in sharing with clients of all ages.
I spend a lot of time with kids, and they ask the BEST questions. A few recent ones: “What is your favorite color?” (Aqua); “What is your favorite emotion?” (Delight); “What’s your dog’s name?” (Wall-E); “Do you make mistakes?” (Yes); “Do you like worms?” (Sure?); “What’s your favorite thing?” (Hot Springs); “Do you have kids?” (Two).
I believe in the power of healing through creative expression, and my passion for art, music, and literature is infused into my therapy practice.
Credentials
Kelly Hilst, MA, LPC
✦ Master’s in Counseling (MA), University of Colorado Denver
✦ Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), DORA
✦ National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board for Certified Counselors
✦ Licensed PreK-12 School Counselor, Colorado Department of Education
Advanced Training:
✦ Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), DBT in Schools
✦ Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), Mindsight Institute with Dr. Dan Siegel
✦ Mindfulness Training for Clinicians, National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine