Meet Judy Innes and Kristy Howlett of Colorado Healing Collective, PLLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Innes and Kristy Howlett.

Hi Judy and Kristy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Kristy Howlett, and I (Judy Innes) each spent over 20 years running thriving private practices in Longmont, CO. Over time we both developed a strong interest in training new therapists and providing them with meaningful support. During and after the pandemic, we also noticed a significant shortage of clinicians who accepted insurance, saw clients in person, and worked with children.

Combining our passion for training emerging therapists with our commitment to increasing access to care, we created Colorado Healing Collective, PLLC. As a psychotherapy and training center, Colorado Healing Collective (CHC) offers a wide range of counseling services provided by Master’s-level interns—students who hold undergraduate degrees and are completing graduate programs in counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, or social work.

Once interns complete their 11–12 month internship with us, they are offered a paid position within our organization. We currently have CHC therapists in Boulder, Longmont, Gunbarrel, Denver, and Portland. Our goal is to provide services accessible for in-person sessions throughout the Front Range, and we also offer telehealth to support clients across Colorado.

We accept most commercial insurance plans, including Cigna, United, Aetna, and Anthem BCBS, as well as all Medicaid plans in Colorado.

For clients paying out of pocket, we offer an affordable rate of $75 per individual, family, or couples session. We also provide several group therapy options, including ongoing DBT groups for adults and teens, social skills and emotional regulation groups for middle school–aged youth, and LGBTQIA+ groups for high school students. Group sessions are offered at a rate of $40 per session.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of our ongoing challenges has been finding a healthy balance in our roles as working mothers while also maintaining our thriving individual practices and co-running CHC. Juggling these responsibilities requires constant flexibility, communication, and intentional time management. We are committed to modeling this balance not only for our families, but also for the interns and clinicians we supervise, emphasizing that sustainable work in the mental health field is both possible and essential.

We have also encountered obstacles within the insurance landscape. Navigating the complexities of insurance billing, staying current with ever-evolving Medicaid requirements, and adapting to frequent changes and cutbacks has been demanding. These challenges require continual learning and administrative support, but they also reinforce our dedication to making therapy accessible to all individuals—especially those who rely on public insurance for their mental health care.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Colorado Healing Collective, we believe individual healing creates healthier families, communities, and ultimately a healthier world. Every person—regardless of past experiences or current challenges—has the capacity to heal, grow, and contribute meaningfully to our interconnected communities. Through psychotherapy, education, and awareness-building, we strive to support both personal and collective transformation.

As a psychotherapy and training center, CHC offers counseling services provided by Master’s-level interns who are completing graduate programs in counseling psychology or social work. These pre-licensed therapists are in the final stage of training before becoming licensed clinicians and come from programs such as Naropa University, Regis University, Colorado State University, and the University of Colorado.

All interns receive extensive supervision, including weekly clinical supervision with experienced licensed supervisors, case consultation groups, and monthly trainings grounded in evidence-based therapeutic approaches. This oversight ensures that while clients work one-on-one with their therapist, they are supported by a full team of seasoned clinicians—all adhering to strict confidentiality standards. Interns work with CHC for 11 months, allowing clients to build a strong therapeutic relationship and meet meaningful treatment goals. Interns also lead therapy groups during their training, expanding their skills and enriching the client experience. Graduate internship is a unique period when therapists receive the most intensive support and guidance of their careers, benefiting both the intern and the client.

CHC has an extensive play therapy program, featuring well-equipped play therapy offices for children and families. We also offer rooms designed for expressive arts and other non-traditional modalities, providing options for people of all ages who respond best to creative and experiential approaches.

CHC is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for clients of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. We honor the diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community and approach every client with empathy, respect, and acceptance. Our goal is to ensure that all individuals feel supported as they explore their identities, experiences, and paths toward healing.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
We excel at teamwork and have strong skills in collaborating effectively with client, interns, and other clinicians. Our extensive experience as clinicians, combined with our organization and drive, has been a major factor in the success of our program. Kristy and Judy complement each other like yin and yang, creating a balanced and dynamic leadership team that guides CHC with vision, dedication, and cohesion.

Pricing:

• Accept almost all commercial insurance.
• Accept all Colorado Mediciad.
• self pay is $75 per individual, couples, or family session
• groups can be covered by insurance or $40 per group for self pay

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coloradohealingcollective.com/
• Instagram: @coloradohealingcollective
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1V8paELPWQ/
• Other: https://nextdoor.com/pages/colorado-healing-collective-longmont-co/

Image Credits
Jason Innes Photography by permission