Community Highlights: Meet Kasandra Barr of Growth and Resolve Counseling PLLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasandra Barr.

Hi Kasandra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My interest in mental health started back in high school—with what might be considered an unusual fascination: serial killers. Don’t judge me! I was captivated by the psychology behind their actions, particularly after watching interviews with people like Charles Manson. These videos sparked a deep curiosity in human behavior that eventually led me down the path of studying psychology in college, followed by earning a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling.

While I initially imagined working with forensic populations, I had a change of heart during grad school. Instead, I found myself more drawn to helping people understand their own mental health, behaviors, and challenges in everyday life.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide range of populations and settings. I began with children and adolescents involved in the Juvenile Justice System, as well as families navigating Child Welfare Services. I also gained experience in a locked psychiatric unit, working with individuals living with severe mental illness—which quickly taught me that wasn’t the right environment for me long-term.

From there, I spent time in community mental health and nonprofit organizations. These roles are incredibly important and impactful, but they can also be exhausting for new therapists. Like many, I eventually felt the effects of burnout, and I knew I needed to make a change.

That’s when I transitioned into private practice. I started out in a group practice, gaining valuable experience before deciding it was time to branch out on my own. In 2021, I launched my solo private practice, and a year later, I took the leap into opening my own group practice—which is where I am today.

Running a group practice has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I absolutely love creating a space where therapists feel supported, valued, and free to focus on what they do best: helping clients. My goal is to handle the behind-the-scenes work so they can thrive in their clinical roles without the added stress of running a business.

It’s been a winding path, but every step has led me to where I’m meant to be—and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is any journey in life ever truly a smooth one? Stepping out of the comfort of a group practice to start my own business was exciting, but also incredibly intimidating. I had no idea what I was doing. I was full of self-doubt, overwhelmed with questions, and didn’t have one clear person to turn to for answers.

So, I did what many of us do…I Googled. A lot. I researched everything I could about launching a group practice, trying to figure it out step by step. Would I be able to hire even one person? Was I really cut out to be a business owner? I wasn’t sure!

But one thing I was sure of? I wanted to do this the right way. I was determined to build something meaningful, to be the kind of boss and leader I would want to work for; supportive, approachable, invested and present. So I poured my time, energy, and heart into getting everything up and running.

I did all of this while raising two young kids who also needed my time and energy! There were plenty of late nights, moments of exhaustion, and times I questioned whether I could manage it all. But every sleepless night and tough decision has been worth it, because now, I’ve built something I’m proud of.

Today, not only do I have a thriving group practice, but I also have something even more valuable: time. Time to be with my kids, to show up for my family in a way that used to feel impossible. This journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding.

As you know, we’re big fans of Growth and Resolve Counseling PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Growth and Resolve Counseling is a woman-owned and operated mental health group practice dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality therapy services. We offer virtual therapy to individuals across the state of Colorado and provide in-person sessions at our Fort Collins office!

Our team treats a wide range of mental health concerns, including—but not limited to: mood disorders, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, relationship challenges, LGBTQ+ issues, life transitions, and children’s behavioral or emotional concerns.

What truly sets us apart is our deep investment in client care. Every member of our team is passionate about creating a positive, supportive experience from the very first point of contact. Whether it’s speaking with our admin team or attending sessions with one of our therapists, our goal is to make every interaction seamless, welcoming, and client-centered.

We pride ourselves on being down-to-earth, approachable, and deeply committed to helping our community. We currently have an all-female team of skilled therapists who not only care deeply about their clients but also support one another as colleagues. This creates a collaborative and uplifting environment that extends to everyone we serve.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our decision to accept insurance, including Medicaid. It was incredibly important to me to build a practice that could serve individuals and families who are already paying for their insurance and deserve to be able to use it for mental health care. We believe therapy should be accessible, not a luxury.

I’m equally proud of our incredible team of therapists. They show up every day with empathy, dedication, and a genuine desire to support both their clients and each other. That kind of mutual care and professional integrity is what makes Growth and Resolve so special.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I make my own luck 🙂 Through hard work, drive, dedication, passion and perseverance!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.growthandresolvecounseling.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567276378216

Image Credits
BeYoutiful Portraits