About Kate French
A little history
I’m a 4th generation Coloradoan, born in Leadville, CO, into a family of healers. My great-grandmother was a nurse in Lake City, CO, my grandfather was a longtime Leadville doctor, and my grandmother and mother both had careers in nursing, too. When I was 9, my family moved away from Leadville, down the Arkansas River to the tiny town of Howard, CO and I lived there until I went away to college. Growing up with so many of my family members dedicated to caring for others inspired my own career path.
My path to becoming a therapist
I entered college planning to become a nurse, then switched to pre-med (Biology), then decided I would enjoy helping people become healthier by focusing on how they nourished themselves. That decision led me to CSU in Fort Collins to pursue a master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.
Life got really busy then, and before I knew it, 18 years had passed during which time I owned a business (not nutrition-related) and became a mother to three incredible daughters (I have one in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school). Throughout those years, I also had a variety of experiences that felt too difficult and overwhelming to manage by myself, so I found therapists who provided support and opened my eyes to the world of healing of body/mind/spirit/relationship and personal growth.
I knew, then, that I had found my calling; the way that I could use my unique skills and talents to bring healing to others. I went back to CSU for a second master’s degree, this time in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. The benefit of the long and winding road to finding my dream career is that I have a breadth of knowledge and experience to bring into my work with clients.
Ongoing training and experience
One of my favorite things in life is to be a student! During and after graduate school, I took advanced trainings in The Gottman Couples Method, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT), and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. I am certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy which is a somatic approach to healing that incorporates the wisdom of the body. This holistic approach incorporates everything you expect in traditional talk therapy (emotions, thoughts, and behaviors) along with the nervous system, movement, and posture to provide deep, meaningful healing. Additionally, I worked at the Child Trauma and Resilience Assessment Center at Colorado State University for 4 years where I assessed the impact of childhood trauma on children and adults, created resilience based treatment plans, and taught community providers about trauma-informed care.
Outside the office
As you might guess, having grown up in the mountains and small towns of CO, I love to spend time outside. I enjoy hiking, downhill skiing, backpacking, running, and paddle boarding. I also enjoy reading and time with friends (and combining those things into book club is amazing!). Whenever I get the chance, I explore with my daughters – both here in CO and anywhere else we can. When we can combine visits to a new city, a national park or two, and water of some sort (ocean, hot springs, lake, etc.), then we have planned a successful trip!