Kristy Hayes
I’m Kristy, a Licensed Professional Counselor, from Louisiana but lived most of my life in Houston and now excited to call Denver my new hometown. I love the arts, exploring, skiing, kayaking and just being outside. I adore my fur babies, my family, friends and LGBTQ+ community. I am someone who believes therapy should feel like a place where you can finally be honest—with yourself and with someone else—without having to filter, perform, or explain who you are. My work is rooted in helping people understand themselves more deeply, especially when something in their life no longer feels like it fits. I’m naturally curious about patterns—how your past experiences, relationships, and beliefs have shaped the way you move through the world—and I care about helping you figure out what’s still serving you and what isn’t. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I’m both warm and direct. I’ll sit with you in the hard moments, but I’ll also help you connect the dots and gently challenge you when you’re stuck in patterns that aren’t working anymore. I don’t believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all therapy. I believe in thoughtful, meaningful work that leads to real change. A big part of my practice is centered around identity, belonging, and relationships. I work closely with LGBTQ+ clients and am deeply committed to creating a space that feels affirming, inclusive, and grounded in respect. You don’t have to educate me or justify your experience—you get to show up as you are. At the end of the day, I see therapy as a process of coming back to yourself—understanding who you are, what you want, and how to build a life that actually reflects that. I’m here to walk alongside you in that process, offering insight, support, and honesty along the way.
First session
Your first session is a chance for us to get a feel for each other and see if this feels like a good fit. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in—what’s been feeling off, stuck, or not quite right—and what you’re hoping might be different. You don’t need to have it all figured out or know exactly what to say. Most people don’t. We’ll start wherever you are. My style is warm, grounded, and direct. I’ll listen, but I’ll also ask thoughtful questions to help us start connecting the dots early on. I’m naturally curious about patterns—how your experiences, relationships, and beliefs have shaped where you are now—and we may begin to gently explore some of that together. At the same time, this first session isn’t about diving into everything all at once. It’s about creating a space where you can start to feel comfortable being honest and where we can begin to understand what you need from this process. You’ll also get a sense of how I work. I tend to be collaborative and engaged—I’m not just sitting back quietly the whole time. I’ll offer reflections, insights, and sometimes gentle challenges, even early on, if it feels helpful. If you’re someone who has done some self-reflection already but still feels stuck, we’ll start to look at why—and what might need to shift moving forward. By the end of the session, we’ll have a clearer picture of what’s going on, what you’re looking for, and whether working together feels like the right next step. There’s no pressure to commit. Just a conversation to see if this space feels like one where you can begin to be more fully yourself.
Strengths
My greatest strengths as a clinician come from how I naturally blend depth, insight, and real-life change—without becoming rigid, overly clinical, or surface-level. One of the things I do best is connecting the dots. I listen for patterns—how your past experiences, relationships, and beliefs link together—and reflect that back in a way that helps things finally make sense. Many clients come in feeling confused or stuck, and one of the first shifts they experience is clarity: “Oh… that’s why this keeps happening.” That understanding becomes the foundation for real change. At the same time, I don’t let therapy stay in the “just talking about it” space. I’m always thinking about how insight translates into action. Together, we look at what needs to shift—not just internally, but in how you show up in your life, your relationships, your boundaries, and your decisions. I want therapy to feel meaningful and useful, not just reflective. Another core strength is the space I create. My style is warm, grounded, and direct. Clients often tell me they feel like they can be fully themselves—without needing to filter, explain, or perform. That sense of safety matters, because it’s what allows people to open up honestly and do deeper work. At the same time, I’m not passive. I stay engaged, ask thoughtful questions, and offer insights that help move things forward. I also do a lot of work around identity and belonging. Many of my clients are navigating transitions—outgrowing roles, relationships, or expectations, or trying to figure out who they are now. I work closely with LGBTQ+ clients and provide an affirming space where identity is respected and understood, not questioned or minimized. More broadly, I help people explore the difference between who they’ve been expected to be and who they actually are. A big part of my approach is being able to challenge without disconnecting. I will gently point out patterns, avoidance, or inconsistencies when I see them, but always in a way that feels supportive rather than critical. Clients don’t feel judged—they feel understood and encouraged to grow. That balance is important, because real change requires both safety and honesty. Through a combination of approaches like ACT, Adlerian, and Narrative work, I help clients understand their story and choose what comes next. We look at where patterns and beliefs came from, how they’ve served you, and where they may no longer fit. From there, we focus on building a life that feels more
Ideal clients
Your ideal clients are thoughtful, self-aware individuals who have done some inner work but still feel stuck, disconnected, or like something in their life no longer fits. On the surface, they may be functioning well—working, maintaining relationships, and meeting expectations—but internally they’re questioning who they are, what they want, and whether the life they’ve built truly aligns with them. Many are navigating identity, belonging, or transition—this might include LGBTQ+ identity exploration, shifts in relationships, career changes, grief, or redefining themselves after outgrowing old roles, beliefs, or environments. They are often insightful and capable but struggle with patterns in relationships, self-doubt, or feeling misunderstood or out of place. They’re not necessarily looking for quick fixes or surface-level coping skills. Instead, they want depth. They want to understand where their patterns come from, how their past has shaped them, and how to move forward in a way that feels intentional and authentic. They’re open to reflection, willing to be challenged, and ready to take meaningful steps toward change—even if it feels uncomfortable. These clients value a space where they can be fully themselves—without needing to edit, explain, or justify who they are. They’re looking for a therapist who not only listens, but helps them connect the dots, see themselves more clearly, and build a life and relationships that feel aligned, fulfilling, and real. At their core, they are seeking not just symptom relief—but clarity, connection, and a deeper sense of belonging in their own lives.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I help clients stop wrestling with their thoughts and start building a life that genuinely fits who they are.
Adlerian
You explore how early experiences and beliefs shape current patterns, helping clients reorient toward connection, purpose, and belonging.
Narrative
I help clients step out of limiting stories about themselves and rewrite their identity in a way that feels more accurate, empowering, and aligned.
Attachment-based
I explore how early relationship experiences shape current dynamics and help clients move toward more secure, fulfilling connections.
Integrative
You tailor the work to each person, blending approaches in a way that feels thoughtful and cohesive rather than rigid. I help clients understand how they show up in relationships and actively shift patterns around communication, boundaries, and connection in a lot of kinds of ways- multiple approaches mixed together that fit you best.
Location
Virtual sessions