Elena Woughter

Meet Elena

Therapist (LPCC)

Elena is thrilled to be part of the team at Kairos! A recent graduate of Naropa's Nature-Based Therapy program, she is passionate about all things mental health, nature, and community building.

Elena is deeply passionate about her work. Her therapeutic approach is one led by compassion, deep listening, and a belief in the inherent goodness of people. Elena does not believe in a "one size fits all" approach to mental wellness. She is passionate about taking the time to discover what will work best for each individual and co-creating the therapeutic process. Each person is the expert of their own life and Elena is eager to be a part of their journey to greater wellness. She also loves to laugh with her clients and celebrate their victories.

Elena has worked with adolescents in varying capacities for the past 14 years. She has a background as a mental health counselor in a preschool, middle school, and high school. Elena feels particularly passionate about working with LGBTQ+ adolescents and considers herself to be a safe, supportive presence for those questioning, experimenting, or celebrating their identity.

As a Nature-Based Therapist, Elena loves to do “walk and talk” therapy sessions, bring nature into the therapy session, and find examples of resiliency, change, and transformation in the outdoors. She also utilizes rock climbing as a therapeutic intervention. Elena specializes in helping people rebuild a connection to nature after trauma and working with survivors of the troubled teen industry. Elena wholeheartedly believes that incorporating nature into one’s wellness journey can be grounding and transformative.

When not at Kairos, Elena can be found out on the trails, voraciously reading, rock climbing, lounging in a coffee shop, or watching the occasional reality TV show. Elena lives in Denver with her wonderful partner and their three fur babies: two cats, Rhea and Pancake, and future therapy dog, Blue Spruce.

Elena Woughter is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC.0020524) in the State of Colorado.

Education:

Master's Degree in Mental Health Clinical Counseling, Nature-Based Therapy - Naropa University
Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Performance - Fordham University

Training:

Treatment Strategies for Perfectionism and OCD - NOCD (October 2023)
Hoarding: Cognitive Behavioral Treatment - NOCD (September 2023)
CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) Suicide Prevention Training & Risk Assessment Foundations Course and Role-Playing Course (June 2023)
Hoarding: Symptoms and Assessment - NOCD (June 2023)
Childhood OCD: Symptoms and Assessment - NOCD
When OCD Latches onto Food - NOCD
OCD in Adults: Symptoms, Assessments, & An Introduction to First Line Treatments - NOCD
Wilderness First Responder
Somatic Therapy
Integrating CBT and Exposure & Response Prevention for Treatment of GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD, Social Anxiety, & Phobias - PESI
The Do’s and Don’ts of Therapy with Neurodivergent Clients with Nyck Walsh, LPC
Religious Trauma and Cult Recovery - Year of Non-Magical Thinking for Therapists with Dr. Quincee Gideon, PsyD
Working with LGBTQ+ Youth and their Families - AFFIRM