Works with individuals who find themselves people-pleasing, experiencing anxiety, depression, complex trauma, and relational issues. I’m passionate about building a safe and welcoming space and creating a plan together that works for you.
Our Broomfield, Online Team
Kiersten Eaker, LPCC
About Kiersten
Do you set high expectations for yourself that leave you anxious and burned out? I help those who find themselves people pleasing or burnt out by creating a comfortable and safe space where you can openly and without judgment explore your thoughts and emotions. You can come to therapy with specific goals, or if this is your first time, and you are unsure where to start. You are the expert of your own life, and I hope to work collaboratively with you to help facilitate empowerment within your life.
I work with late teens and adults who find themselves bound by saying “yes”, chronic perfectionism, and those exploring what they want their ideal life to be. I work in a Person-Centered approach and will incorporate flavors of Mindfulness-Based therapy, Strengths-Based therapy, Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Somatic Therapy.
Whatever your reasons for coming to therapy, I would be honored to work with you on your healing journey. Together, I hope to create a space that makes you feel empowered, safe, and accepted to come as you are. I look forward to meeting you and supporting you on this journey!
Fun Facts about Kiersten
- I currently have two cats Maggie and Frodo.
- Reading and finishing puzzles are how I like to relax.
- Hiking and kayaking are where I can be found on a beautiful day.
Life comes with many changes. I always invite myself to slow down in the moment, if I am able to remember, and if it allows. If not, I try to invite myself to be reflective and remain curious about the experiences I recently had. Maybe finding a penny heads up brought me joy because it was connected to my inner child, and that I may have good luck. Watching the Chicago Bears win brings me excitement and grief; it allows me to feel connected with my grandparents who have passed. Since I allowed myself to be curious with my experience, I was able to connect to different parts of myself.
I would say to just check-in with yourself. If you enjoy living a fast paced life and are connected with your values, then by all means keep doing it! If you check-in and find maybe it was once enjoyable but maybe isn’t now, how can we be curious and allow for flexibility where it is needed.
Kiersten’s Areas
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Complex trauma
- Relational issues
- Sex therapy
You can expect to work together in a collaborative way to create a safe, supportive, and empowering space—one where your needs are addressed and all areas of your life can be explored.
I draw from a mix of different modalities depending on each person’s unique needs. Scheduling a consultation can help us get a clearer sense of which approaches might be the best fit for you.
Some of the methods I commonly incorporate include:
-Mindfulness
-Internal Family Systems (IFS)
–Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
-Somatic Therapy
-Strengths-Based Therapy
Kiersten Eaker, LPCC Intro Video
Kiersten’s Blog Posts
Frequently Asked Questions In Therapy
Folks can feel guilty for saying no for lots of reasons. Some include, they feel like they may be letting others down, fear it may impact the relationship, they have learned saying no is ‘wrong’, maybe they are not living in alignment with their values, and potentially many other reasons.
Sometimes it may lead to the person forgetting their own needs and losing connection with themselves and what their bodies/needs are trying to tell them. There is a balance that we try to strike when it comes to focusing on our own needs while also focusing on others. That is a part of relationships! It is okay if you have been focusing on a friend’s needs because maybe they are really need support and we can focus on our needs in little ways.
Perfectionism can become a part that is trying to protect us from what is listed above. Just because someone may be experiencing perfectionism, doesn’t make it inherently ‘wrong’. You get to decide for yourself how it is affecting you and your life.
Perfectionism may show up as standards are expectations that you ‘must meet’ in order to be ‘good enough’, ‘not a failure’, ‘successful’, etc. A start in recognizing if perfectionism is affecting your life in a way you don’t love, is being curious with it. How is it showing up in your day to day, is it affecting relationships, self-esteem, etc.
This can depend on the person. Maybe they are feeling unfulfilled, unsure of what connects them back to themselves, what really brings them meaning. This can sometimes cause anxiety, confusion, low motivation, etc.
Maybe give something a try that doesn’t involve other people at first- or if it does maybe someone who you are not as connected with. Ex: going to a book club at a local library. Connecting with your values and going from there. For example, if someone values adventure, how can they bring adventure into their lives? Maybe it is taking a new walking path, driving a different way to work, or trying a new coffee flavor!
Sometimes burnout can happen because we are neglecting a need(s). Just because we love something doesn’t mean it can’t be exhausting, overwhelming, stressful, etc. Two or more emotions can exist at the same time!
It is hard to recognize the burnout cycle, especially in a society that puts emphasis on productivity and individualism. The signs of burnout depend on the person, they could include but are not limited to feeling of dread, hopelessness, irritability, tiredness that doesn’t seem to go away, disconnected from others and oneself, and more.
How can we make a change if we don’t even know it’s happening? I encourage folks to start by doing daily check-ins with yourself. They can be small, brief, and on your own. Here is an example: everytime I have a meal I will check in with myself. How am I feeling emotionally? When was the last time I had water, connection, engaged in something that made me happy?
Sex is sometimes viewed as taboo, it is only to be discussed behind closed doors. Sometimes, sex is deeply involved in someone’s culture and religion and is not a topic that people want to discuss. Maybe it hasn’t always been ‘safe’ to talk about sex. Sometimes people haven’t learned how to talk about sex, and sometimes people just don’t want to (any reason is valid!)
Sex therapy depends on the person and what they are wanting. It can be helpful in exposure when discussing sex for the first time, it can help provide verbiage or psychoeducation to those who may need it, and it can be deeply exploratory and insightful.
Yes! It is typical for people to have different needs. Communication is helpful when it comes to making these differences known. Try approaching it as you two against the problem. More than likely, both parties want the same result: feeling connected, loved, heard, etc.
Tips: Try using “I statements” when discussing your own experience and feelings. Focus in the present and don’t bring up every issue at once. Approach with curiosity rather than assumption, and ask questions when you don’t understand. It is okay to seek therapy for help with these issues!
Uncertainty, anxiety, and difficulty feeling fulfilled may be signs. Attachment shapes how we feel safe in relationships. It shapes how we can view ourselves, and how we can cope with conflict. Attachment styles usually develop in childhood, however, any relationship can impact our view on safety and how we interact with others.
If we experience attachment trauma(s) in relationships it can impact how we view ourselves through our self-esteem, self-worth, and nervous system. Expectations and how you were praised growing up could influence how you derive your own self-worth and/or self esteem. When you notice a critical thought, stop and ponder about “where did I learn this from?”
First, I would say “stop ‘shoulding’ yourself.” Second I would offer a space of compassion and curiosity: What areas feel unfulfilled? Are there people, places, shows, hobbies, food, etc that make you excited? How do we know what feels fulfilling to us?
Therapy offers a space where you can be authentic. I try to bring a warm, compassionate, and curious approach with folks I work with. Trying to explore beliefs, emotions, parts of ourselves, and patterns. The first step in figuring out what you want, is being curious with yourself from a non-judgmental standpoint.
Two parts can be present at the same time. It is similar to having two emotions at the same time. For example: I am nervous going on roller coasters, and I find them fun and enjoyable!
It makes sense why one part of me feels nervous; we are going 60mph and upside down; from an evolutionary perspective, that wouldn’t always be “safe”. I also have an adventurous side, so it also makes sense why I find the same roller coaster fun and enjoyable- because when else do I get to go 60mph and upside down?
I like to use this example because the nervousness is trying to protect me, or warn me to proceed with caution (thank you), and the adventurous part of me wants me to laugh and have a little bit of an adrenaline rush. Using these two parts together, I may come to the conclusion that the roller coaster lets me get my need for adventure met, while also being safe about it. They both are welcomed here and they both serve a purpose.
Now, how can we apply the same curiosity and space for the other parts of us?