Meet Us

The Louisville Family Center was founded in March of 2017 with the intention of creating a space for families and individuals to connect more deeply with themselves and each other.  We enjoy being a part of downtown Louisville, as it allows us to connect with the community in various ways.

Christy Lochary and Michele Beach are the founders of the Louisville Family Center.  We began working together in 2008 as teachers, which was the start of a collaboration and friendship that has supported us through many important stages in our lives.  See below for more information about each therapist.

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CHRISTY LOCHARY
Child and Parent Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

I have been working with families and children since 2008.  I began my career as a teacher at The Patchwork school, in Louisville Colorado.  During this time, I found that I had a passion for connecting with families and sharing the joys and challenges they faced.  I also began to understand that play can be a powerful expression of a child’s inner experience.  My time as a teacher motivated me to complete a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Regis University in 2015.

I am now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, Level 1 Trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and one of the Clinical Supervisors for the staff at the Louisville Family Center. Additionally, I am a Certified Social Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) Facilitator.

I love working with children with a variety of backgrounds including giftedness, ADHD, transition sensitivities, tantrums and anxiety. I hold a strong value in continuing my education, particularly concerning issues that affect children and their families. I employ research-based, relationship-centered play therapy modalities, and I consider myself a neurodiversity affirming therapist.

I believe therapy is most impactful when children feel free to be themselves and show up exactly as they are. When children feel safe they are able to connect with the challenges they face and explore new ways of being. In this process, I work with families to find ways that work best for them to connect with their children and the challenges at hand.

In addition to being a therapist I am also a wife and mother.  I enjoy spending time with my little family and understand first hand the joys and struggles families encounter in life.  Becoming a parent has stretched me in ways no amount of training or education could prepare me for.  I found that while I had a lot of first hand experience being with children, I did not have first hand experience actually being a mother!  It is a role I had to grow into, and will continue to evolve for the rest of my life.  As I take this journey into parenthood I find myself getting more and more curious about what is coming up for me in relationship to my child and my husband.  And that curiosity often takes me in directions I was not planning on going.  I am so grateful for them in my life!

CLIENT LOVE

attention • connection • love
MICHELE BEACH
Families, Couples, Adults and Parent Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

When I became a mother, many years ago, I had no idea I was beginning a  journey to the center of myself.  I had always excelled in school, graduating in 2000 from Stanford University with a Bachelors in Computer Science.  I had no doubt I could study all of the books, remember some tips from my babysitting days and ace parenting with flying colors.  And yet I found myself at times sitting there on the floor crying right alongside my two-year-old, not able to understand what I was doing “wrong.”  I found myself blaming him and shaming myself.

Shortly thereafter I went back to school, because I wanted to learn more about children and emotions.  I got my Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from CU Denver in 2007.  The following August, I co-founded The Patchwork School, which began as a small preschool in my basement with just ten children.  We moved the school to Louisville where we quickly found we had many parents seeking something similar for their young children and themselves, a learning environment that nurtures the whole child.  Supporting parents, staff and students these past fourteen years, I have been fortunate to work with hundreds of families here in Louisville.  I have also researched Social Emotional Learning on my own and through workshops and conferences in New York, Portland, Finland, Puerto Rico, Vancouver, and here in Colorado.

At the Louisville Family Center, I have been practicing since 2017, and am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), with a Master’s Degree in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling from Naropa University.  I am also a Clinical Supervisor for Candidate Therapists here at LFC.  My approach to therapy includes conflict transformation through Non-Violent Communication, mindfulness and present-focused techniques, motivational interviewing to promote solutions, body awareness, inner parts work, family systems dynamics, and most of all is client-centered. My intention is to meet you exactly where you are at in each and every session.

My areas of interest and experience lie particularly with counseling adults, couples and families.  I  have worked with anxiety, depression, overwhelm, trauma, addictions, career shifts and other transitions, as well as grief.  I also have experience supporting families with neurodivergence and adoption, as well as doing co-parent counseling, working through conflicts and supporting through divorce.

As for myself, my oldest son is now nineteen years old, I have two additional children (one adopted) and another two step-children, and I no longer believe there is a “right” way to parent.  However I do know that with support it is possible to reconnect to the joy of parenting and the precious experience of being a family.  When not in the office, I particularly enjoy gardening, travelling, cooking, reading and hanging out with our little black cat.

CLIENT LOVE

• heart centered therapy for people of all ages •
JULIA MESSING
Adult and Couples Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

What makes us the unique individuals we are? What does it mean to be alive? As a kid, I often found myself wrapped up in this kind of wondering. I spent many quiet hours contemplating meaning and nourishing my curiosity about people & the natural world.

After completing my Bachelor’s in Psychology, I began working in the finance sector in Boston. After some time, I found a desire to experience a more fulfilling life, so I journeyed abroad to gain culturally diverse experience and connect with students as a teacher. These years introduced me to experiential teachings in mindfulness and body awareness, which allowed me to slow down enough to listen to myself, an ability I hadn’t tapped into since I was young.

Coming back to the US, I found the lovely Patchwork School and then attended Naropa University, where I completed my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in Mindfulness-based and Transpersonal Psychotherapy. While health looks different for each person, I believe having a caring and supportive therapist to assist is often a key ingredient. In my practice I bring non-judgement, compassion and humor to every session. As a Licensed Professional Counselor at the Louisville Family Center, I support individuals and couples looking to understand themselves more deeply and live with vibrancy. I specifically enjoy helping people work through addictions, transitions, anxiety, and depression. Outside of therapy, my time is spent creating art, cooking lovely meals with friends, and spending time with my partner and cats.

CLIENT LOVE

• heart centered therapy for people of all ages •
SARAH HRAHA
Child and Parent Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

As a counselor and mom, what I know is that at our core, we all yearn to be known, to be seen, and to be understood. Having the freedom and space to authentically be ourselves, with our flaws is important for kids so that as they mature into the world, they are able to leave the nest with less fear and struggle. Parents who create safe, nurturing homes for their kids raise kids with the resilience to overcome life’s challenges. Is it easy? Not
always, but it does begin at home and with you.

When I work with families (sometimes just the kids, sometimes as a family. sometimes just the parents) I model in session a safe, warm, nurturing, and fun space for children to be themselves. From that place, they can safely discover who they are. I love helping kids learn about their feelings, their thoughts, and moods, to develop empathy and conflict resolution skills, which leads to a greater understanding of themselves and others.

In my sessions I use what’s called an “eclectic approach”, meaning I take the best of what works from different philosophies and put them together to meet the specific needs of the child/family. Often, this includes play therapy, family systems, strengths-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness.

I received my Master’s and Doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the Adler
University in Chicago with a focus on child, adolescent, and family therapy.
Personally, I understand the ups and downs of parenthood having raised 3 children with
my husband. With 4 grandkids as well, parenting has been a part of my life for more than
40 years.

attention • connection • love
JUDITH MANDEL
Adult, Teen and Couples Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

Hi there! I am Judith (she/her). As a systemically trained therapist, I work with adolescents, individuals, couples, and families. I believe in the power of relationship, both in connection and in healing, and am dedicated to supporting relationships of all kinds — romantic, familial, and friendships — in deepening and healing side by side. I have a specific interest in supporting individuals and couples in navigating their journeys related to fertility and perinatal mental health, as well.  As a mother, this season of life is of particular closeness and it is a privilege to offer support during this pivotal time.

I am keen to learn about your experience, informed by your personal and sociocultural context, to move toward your desired place of growth and new insight. As we explore your story together, I will bring compassion, curiosity, and respect, and encourage a laugh or two along the way.

I am a product of therapy. A client since the age of seven, the therapeutic connection is a relationship I treasure. As a child, I remember feeling uniquely noticed and heard in this space. I quickly realized how fortunate I was to have access to therapy and how meaningful it would be to provide the same security and support I was given.

I hold a Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Antioch University New England with a certificate in trauma-based care. I am trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and incorporate an attachment-based perspective in my work. I am most at peace in the kitchen and love the balance of art and science that cooking and baking provides. In my spare time, you can find me traveling, exploring alongside my sweet little family, and trying my aspirational hand at gardening.

• heart centered therapy for people of all ages •
KIM ADAM
Teen and Young Adult Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

Hello.  I am Kim (she/her). I am passionate about creativity, play, and imagination, and how, through the expressive arts, they inform identity and promote healing in a non-defensive manner for all ages and stages of development.  The expressive arts have helped me process my own challenges and I am excited to share how this modality can help others.

As the mother of two neuro-divergent children, whom are now young adults, and one that has battled chronic illness, I have witnessed and appreciate the gifts and challenges that being neuro-divergent can produce. I have celebrated the victories and lost sleep over the challenges. 

My parental journey introduced me to arts education, leading me to work with children and adolescents since 2009 in association with a public charter school located in southern CA.  I developed my arts education program around the principles of art therapy, helping learners, including neuro-divergent learners, develop social and emotional skills and understanding, with an emphasis on identity development.  My passion for working with teens struggling to understand their own identity and their place in their communities as they transition into early adulthood led me to pursue a Master of Arts Degree in clinical mental health counseling with a concentration in transpersonal counseling psychology and art therapy from Naropa University.  During the last 18-months of my education at Naropa, I worked with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages working through transitional issues related to grief and loss, chronic illness, and trauma.  I am currently working toward my full licensure as an LPCC and ATR-P.

My therapeutic approach is eclectic, depending on each individual’s needs, and I always lead with a person-centered and heart-centered approach.  I believe each of us, given the proper conditions including a safe environment, unconditional positive regard, and empathy, possess innate growth tendencies.  Understanding who we are and what feeds our soul promotes healing and well-being.

Beyond my work at Louisville Family Center, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.  I feed my soul by traveling with my husband and experiencing the world beyond our bubble, taking in other cultures and ways of being.  I also spend as much time on the water as I can racing my sailboat across the country, a sport and passion my father introduced me to as a young child off the east coast of New England.

• heart centered therapy for people of all ages •
KATIE GENETTI
Child and Adult Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

I spent 2015-2023 studying transpersonal art therapy at Naropa University, completing both my bachelor’s and master’s there. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), utilizing the theoretical modalities of Art Therapy and Synergetic Play Therapy in my work.

Growing up I was always identified as an artist and caregiver, so when I became aware of art therapy as a career I felt inspired by and aligned with it. The transpersonal aspect of my education at Naropa is mainly what drew me to it because I hold the belief that all life is interconnected, therefore clinicians benefit from witnessing clients’ wisdom emerge just as much as clients benefit from witnessing themselves.

Art is an immensely powerful way for people to witness their own brilliance, even and especially for people who do not think they are “good” at art. Facilitating art processes for clients and myself is something I hold carefully as a privilege.

During my internship for school I got to practice combining a synergetic play therapy approach with art therapy while working with children and was amazed at what I saw each week. Through art and play, preconscious wisdom speaks volumes in symbols and metaphors, transforming reality to feel more resonant and manageable. It is an honor to watch children grapple with major traumas in the safety of a playroom, making meaning of their experiences and connecting with themselves in ways often beyond words.

Outside of work I enjoy learning about Traditional Chinese Medicine, creating personal art, bird watching, hiking, watching movies, and eating good food with loved ones.

attention • connection • love
ALEX ZOBEL
Children, Teens and Adult Counseling (online only)
Accepts: Private Pay

I am grateful to be a part of the Louisville Family Center team. I bring enthusiasm and care to my work as a therapist. I have an eclectic approach in my therapy practice incorporating Gestalt therapy, EMDR, Synergetic Play Therapy, art, somatic practices, neuroscience and a Jungian lens among other modalities that I am learning and exploring. I specialize in working with anxiety, depression and challenging life transitions. I am currently offering online therapy to adults, adolescents and children.

I greatly value creating a space where clients can be their authentic selves and to support them as they grow and integrate. My focus in therapy is based on how effectively I can attune to the client and support their process and of regulation and development

I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I have had the joy of living in many different parts of the country. After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at Texas Christian University, I explored writing and studied music for many years. My academic pursuits led me to the University of the Cumberlands, where I completed my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have a background in music composition, journalism, creative arts, psychology and psychotherapy. I enjoy traveling, writing songs, cooking, reading, time in nature and spending time with my family.

attention • connection • love
SAM TAYLOR
Child Counseling
Accepts: Private Pay

Hi I’m Sam (she/her).  My path to becoming a therapist has been a bit of an adventure. I started with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and then I packed my bags and headed abroad for a few years, diving into the world of yoga and meditation. It was during those travels that I really started to see the beautiful dance between mind, body, and spirit. When I returned, I knew I wanted to dive deeper, so I ended up with a degree from Naropa University in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling.

I found my way to the Louisville Family Center, where I completed both my practicum and internship and am working as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC). It was here that I found my passion, taking a child-centered approach that honors each individual’s unique journey. Informed by the principles of Synergetic Play Therapy and Internal Family Systems.

When it comes to therapy, I’m all about blending different approaches to create a space that feels just right for healing and growth. I work to support both children and caregivers on navigating the complexities of childhood. My mission is to make sure every child feels heard, understood, and supported on their journey through life, especially those who dance to the beat of their own drum.

When I’m not in the counseling room, you’ll often find me out in nature—trail running, on my skis, practicing yoga, making sourdough, or adventuring with my pup Sunny!

• heart centered therapy for people of all ages •
KELLY BISHOP
Child, Adult and Couples Counseling
Accepts: Medicaid, Anthem, Private Pay

Hello! My name is Kelly (she/her). I am passionate about experiences of connection—connection with ourselves, with others, with our communities, with the natural world, and with the nature that we each hold within. Growing up in Western Illinois, being outside provided a formative avenue of connection in my early life. I loved exploring nearby ravines with neighborhood kids; playing kick-the-can, capture-the-flag, and games of our own creation with friends; backyard gardening with my family; and swimming, tubing, and stargazing at a nearby lake.

In 2018, I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience and Behavior at the
University of Notre Dame. After moving to Boulder, and with the support of a life-changing therapist, I started implementing a bottom-up, or experience-guided, approach to discerning my career path. I realized that providing an accepting and compassionate presence, supporting others through their struggles and in their goals, and fostering connection are among my greatest gifts. Thus, I discovered my calling toward the field of counseling.

I am currently in my final year of study at Naropa University where I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a concentration in Transpersonal  Wilderness Therapy. In my free time, I enjoy getting outside (through hiking, running, mindful walks, skiing, mountain adventures, and sometimes just being); spending time with friends and family; creative outlets such as cooking, writing, and art/crafts; and building new skills at a climbing gym.

I work with children, teens, and adults facing challenges such as life transitions, overwhelm, anxiety, depression, loss and complicated grief, relationship difficulties, and the impacts of trauma. I implement a client-centered, relational approach and a multicultural orientation. I draw upon interpersonal neurobiology, mindfulness and somatic awareness, other evidence-based modalities, Gestalt theory, and nature-based techniques. As play is a vital mode of communication for children, my approach with children is play therapy orientated, drawing upon Synergetic Play Therapy. Sessions with teens and adults are more talk-oriented but include experiential components. I believe that, at our core, we are beings of connection and that we each possess a natural inclination to grow, develop, and heal. I am here to support your journey toward greater self-understanding, self-
compassion, and connection.