IFSTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LCSW

Karla Garcia-Velez, LCSW

  • Experience7 years
  • LocationColorado
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Self esteem, and Career
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
Continue with Karla

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

About Karla

Karla Garcia-Velez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who brings seven years of professional therapeutic experience to her practice in Colorado. She centers her work on Internal Family Systems alongside other evidence-informed methods, tailoring interventions to each person’s needs and life circumstances.

Background and approach

Her approach combines practical skills with compassionate listening to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, addiction, grief, relationship and family issues, and challenges related to caregiving and chronic illness.

Comfortable working in both English and Spanish, Karla adapts therapeutic tools from cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment, dialectical behavior, and client-centered therapies to help clients build coping strategies and clarify meaningful goals. She also supports people facing career transitions, sleeping difficulties, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and end-of-life or hospice related concerns.

Karla emphasizes collaboration and helps clients identify priorities while offering concrete techniques to manage symptoms and improve daily functioning. Clients can expect an individualized plan rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol, with attention to strengths, family of origin dynamics, and practical problem solving.

Karla aims to create a respectful, goal-focused relationship that empowers people to navigate change and pursue healthier patterns over time.

Integrating evidence-based approaches with online access



Internal Family Systems (IFS) supports people in exploring internal parts and their roles, helping to reduce internal conflict and foster self-led clarity; it can be useful for addressing trauma reactions, shame, and complex emotional patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes values-driven action and learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings, which often helps with anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building an empathic, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship that empowers clients to find their own solutions and strengthen self-trust.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and the therapist collaborates with each client to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. This means adapting techniques over time and combining modalities when helpful to support progress in a way that feels right for the individual.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, continue work during life transitions, and maintain continuity of care for those who prefer remote options, while still allowing licensed professionals to provide structured, goal-oriented support.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Karla commonly address in therapy?
She works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, addiction, grief, relationship and family problems, caregiver stress, and issues related to chronic illness and end-of-life care.
What therapeutic approaches are used during sessions?
The practice draws from Internal Family Systems, acceptance and commitment therapy, client-centered approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to offer both insight-oriented and skills-based work.
How long has she been practicing?
Karla has seven years of clinical experience working with people across a range of mental health and life challenges.
Where is the therapist licensed and what are the credentials?
She holds the credential LCSW and is licensed in Colorado under CO LCSW 09925572.
Can I work with her in languages other than English?
Sessions are available in both English and Spanish, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are offered for online work?
Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefSleeping disordersDepressionCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMulticultural concernsPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)HypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

Colorado

Languages

English, Spanish