About Becky Howie, MA, LPC

An HSP & ADHD Therapist in Boulder Who Gets It

Becky Howie, LPC - HSP & ADHD Therapist in Boulder

If you’ve been walking through life wondering why it seems so much harder for you than other people around you – I get it. As an HSP and ADHDer who didn’t know I was either of those things until much later in life, I know all about the shame and frustration that can build up from living in a world that wasn’t designed for you. As a neurodivergent therapist myself, I have walked the walk and have taken my own medicine, so to speak. I’m not just going to tell you to try a bunch of stuff because the research says it’s supposed to work for you. I’m going to tell you about what I’ve tried and tested, with the empathy of a person who knows how hard it is to follow that advice. And the encouragement of someone who has been there herself, and made it to the other side.

Maybe you used perfectionism and overachieving as a way to cover up your struggles? I get it. I’ve tried that too. (spoiler alert, it only works to a point)
Or you spent years feeling like you were broken because everyone else seemed to sail through life while you were busting your ass just to keep up? Yup, I know how that feels.
Perhaps you fell prey to an inner critic that could rival Hitler in order to motivate yourself to do the everyday stuff your brain just didn’t want to do? I’ve felt the sting of that whip too.
Or you were so stressed and overwhelmed that you ended up in some kind of chronic pain that you couldn’t seem to shake no matter how many doctors you consulted? I’ve been there (and found a way out!)

I know what it’s like to feel out of place and not know why, just because your brain operates a little differently than the majority of folks. I know how a lot of the coping mechanisms to cover up that difference feel, and the secondary tolls they take. I know the bone deep exhaustion of masking every day in a world that doesn’t seem to get you.

But I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to feel like that. There is another way. What if you could leave the chaos and overwhelm behind and start finding more peace and ease in your life? Would it be worth it? If you’re curious, then let’s set up a free consult call so you can find out.

Corporate Roots to becoming a Therapist

It might be hard to believe now, but I used to basically live inside a Dilbert cartoon. I spent the first decade of my professional life running the rat race and feeling like Peter Gibbons in the movie Office Space, because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do. That was the mold I thought I was supposed to fit into.

But somewhere along the way, I realized that I didn’t in fact fit that mold. And what’s more, I didn’t want to keep trying to shoehorn myself into a mold that wasn’t made for me.

The Healing Power of Nature & Mindfulness

Along the way, I discovered that time in nature helped ease the pain I felt at being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. I would find a green spot on the map, pack up my hiking gear and my dogs, and go explore it, walking until the noise in my head quieted down a bit. I also discovered the enormous benefit of meditation for the sensitive brain.

As I started to pay attention, I realized that all my favorite things had to do with nature and helping other people. I had always enjoyed being a volunteer camp counselor for an annual teen Hiking Camp in the mountains more than any other part of my year.

So, after working a variety of corporate and tech jobs for over a decade and understanding all-too-well the stresses our modern lives entail, I decided to change gears and get a Masters in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University. It brought together two of the most powerful healing influences: nature and mindfulness.

Paving the Way for Others

I am now a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Colorado and a coach for clients around the globe. I have been working in the mental health field for over a decade, and have gathered a lot of learning along the way. My goal is to share that learning with others who might be out there feeling frustrated, lost, or alone.

Maybe you’re only looking to make a small change. That’s okay! Not everyone needs to wholesale reinvent their lives like I did. But whatever level of change you’re looking for…I can help you get there.

My Approach

The way I work with people is collaborative. Meaning, I’ll follow your cues about where you are and what you’re needing right now, and we’ll make a plan together to get you there. I have special training or experience with the following modalities, but you as the client always get to choose how you’d like to engage in treatment. I will never force you into some formulaic treatment approach that doesn’t feel like a good fit for you.

Wilderness / Nature-based Therapy
Mindfulness (many different types, not just sitting cross-legged like a monk)
Attachment Theory
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) / Parts work
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Working with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) and ADHDers

Outside of Work

Every year that I live here I think I can’t possibly embody the Boulder, Colorado stereotype any more… and then I pick up another outdoor hobby/sport. (I did mention I have ADHD, right?) Well, over a decade of new adventures later, and I can still just barely fit my car in the garage.

So, when I’m not busy being a therapist, you’ll usually find me out on a trail or in the woods somewhere: hiking, climbing, cycling, skiing, paddleboarding, backpacking, etc. I have fully leaned into the magic of the mountains, and spend as much time there as I can rejuvenating myself so I can come back and help others find the same joy and peace I have.

Becky & her dog Zoey at the Maroon Bells

Becky backcountry skiing at Uncle Bud's Hut near Leadville

Ready for a Change?

If you’re ready to make a change, however big or small that will move you closer to a life that feels better suited for you – then give me a call. I’d love to help you get there.

Schedule a free consult call