IFSTherapists

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LPC

Christine Heikkenen-Black, LPC

  • Experience9 years
  • LocationColorado
  • Focus areasRelationship, Family, and Career
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Christine

Christine Heikkenen-Black is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Colorado who brings nine years of clinical experience to her practice.

Background and approach

She centers her work on Internal Family Systems (IFS) alongside evidence-based modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based approaches, integrating practical tools from cognitive behavioral methods to address emotional patterns and relationship dynamics. Her practice focuses on relationship and family concerns, career transitions, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, addictions, and trauma and abuse.

Christine also addresses related issues such as attachment difficulties, communication problems, control struggles, grief around separation, chronic pain or illness, and challenges with life purpose or midlife transitions. She aims to create individualized treatment plans that reflect each person’s priorities and circumstances.

Christine adopts a respectful, patient, and collaborative stance, tailoring sessions to fit a client’s needs and preferences. She emphasizes listening closely and meeting people where they are, helping them take the often-challenging first steps toward change and growth.

Her approach blends relational insight with practical strategies to support clearer communication, emotional regulation, and renewed direction.

Integrating relational approaches with online therapy

Internal Family Systems (IFS) views emotional responses as parts of the self that can be listened to and guided toward harmony; this method helps people notice internal conflicts and build self-led compassion for healing. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while taking committed action, which is useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns of relating and emotional bonds, helping clients reshape how they connect with others and repair communication and intimacy struggles.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works with clients to identify which methods align best with their goals, preferences, and the issues at hand, adjusting techniques over time to fit progress and changing needs.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to enhance accessibility and flexibility. These options allow clients to engage in therapy from different settings and schedules, making it easier to maintain continuity of care while applying therapeutic tools to daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Christine commonly address?
She works with relationship and family problems, career concerns, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, addictions, and trauma and abuse, along with related issues such as attachment difficulties, chronic pain and illness, and communication problems.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and client-centered, blending Internal Family Systems with ACT and cognitive behavioral techniques to combine relational understanding and practical skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has nine years of professional counseling experience working across a range of relational, trauma, and behavioral concerns.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Colorado with license number CO LPC LPC.0018611.
Does she offer services in languages other than English?
Sessions are conducted in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
In which formats are sessions available?
Christine provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseCoaching

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

9+ years

Licensed

Colorado

Languages

English