Meg McKelvie, PhD
As a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in Boulder, Colorado, I am committed to providing compassionate, research-backed solutions for reducing suffering, increasing connection and creating a full meaningful life. I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder where I studied Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and couples therapy and research. Prior to my work in private practice, I was a psychologist in the Family Program at the Rocky Mountain VA Healthcare System where I specialized in developing, delivering and evaluating compassionate, research-based treatments for distressed couples and couples where one partner is struggling with trauma. In addition, I served as a nationally recognized consultant and trainer in Cognitive Processing Therapy (a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for trauma) for the Veteran's Affairs Health Care System and local supervisor for doctoral level trainees.
I enjoy staying current in best practices in psychology and regularly attend and present workshops at national and local conferences. I also value the knowledge that I have gained from my own study of meditation and wisdom traditions that help us reconnect with the wisdom of our bodies. I have specialized in CBT, ACT, couples therapy and research for over twenty years. I have expertise in Perinatal Mental Health, as well as working with individuals and couples coping with Infertility. As a psychologist, I am particularly interested in our innate yearning to belong and how to increase folks’ sense of belonging and interconnection, especially for people that have been made to feel “other.” I have served as a consultant and trainer for MEND, a collaboration of trauma experts dedicated to healing communities of color. When I’m not in the office, I enjoy hiking, yoga, skiing, reading, spending time with my family, and teaching adaptive skiing to children and adults with disabilities.
HOW I WORK:
I build authentic relationships with my clients and have a warm, open and practical approach to therapy. I strive to help people discover new, more effective ways of being that reduce suffering and help them create vibrant, aware and connected lives that are in line with their values. I value both the science of psychology and the power of our own internal guiding wisdom. My hope is for my clients to feel both thoroughly challenged and deeply accepted in our work together.
EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS I USE:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Functional Analytic Therapy (FAP)
Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBSR/MBCT)
Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)
Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION:
Coping With the Ups and Downs of Life More Effectively
Increasing Effectiveness and Connection in Relationships
Overcoming Isolation and Learning to Build Lasting Relationships
Effectively Navigating Difficult Relationships with Challenging People (e.g. Narcissism, Emotionally Immature Adults)
Coping with Relationship Concerns, Divorce
Navigating Parenting Challenges
Effectively Advocating for Children Who Face Challenges in a Traditional School Setting (e.g. 2E, Gifted)
Increasing Self-Compassion and Connection with the Wisdom of the Body
Coping with Anxiety, Depression, Panic, Self-Criticism, Shame, Obsessive Thinking
Moving through Grief and Loss
Managing Chronic Illness/Autoimmune Problems/Yet to be Diagnosed Medical Problems
Cancer Recovery
Overcoming Medical Trauma & Perinatal Trauma
Coping with Fertility Challenges, Perinatal/Postpartum Mental Health Concerns
Managing Work Stress, Dissatisfaction, or Burnout
Health Behavior Change (e.g., Addiction, Smoking Cessation)
Navigating Midlife and other Challenging Life Transitions
Managing Attentional Challenges
Overcoming Procrastination
Coping with High Stress, Burnout or Trauma on the Job as a Physician or Healthcare Provider.
I'm pleased to announce that I recently co-founded a psychotherapy collective that serves Boulder/Denver called ImpACT Psychology Colorado. Our mission is to provide high quality, whole hearted psychotherapy and training in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and other evidence-based psychotherapies.
In January of 2020 I co-hosted a Live Q&A with Dr. Steven Hayes, the Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy about his groundbreaking book A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters. Check out the recording of the interview below!
Listen to Steve Hayes open up and inspire us ...
Education
Colby College
B.A. American Studies
University of Colorado at Boulder
M.A. Clinical Psychology
Ph.D Clinical Psychology
Activities & Professional Affiliations
Co-Founder ImpACT Psychology Colorado
Healthcare Wellbeing Collective, a group of expert mental health providers in Colorado who specialize in working with Physicians and other healthcare providers.
Rocky Mountain Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
Licensure
Clinical Experience
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice, Boulder, CO
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Family Program, Denver Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
Project Manager, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the prevention of perinatal depression (an NIMH funded study), University of Colorado at Boulder
Doctoral Intern, Southern Arizona Veteran's Affairs Health Care System
Therapist, The Raimy Psychology Clinic, University of Colorado at Boulder
Assessment and Group Therapist, Wardenburg Health Center, University of Colorado at Boulder
Assessment Therapist, Attention, Behavior and Learning Clinic, University of Colorado at Boulder
Research Therapist, Craighead Laboratory for Eating and Weight Concerns, University of Colorado at Boulder
Family Therapist, Community Infant Program, Boulder County Mental Health Center
Crisis Evaluator, Emergency Psychiatric Services, Boulder County Mental Health Center
Selected Publications, Presentation and Invited Workshops
Dausch, B. M., McKelvie, M. L., Shore, J. H., Miklowitz, D. J., Nagamoto, N, T., (2010). Family-Focused Treatment for PTSD for Rural Veterans Returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF): Therapist's Manual.
Katter, K., Healy, E., Williams, L., Lester, K., McKelvie, M. (2011). Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Three-day refresher workshop for psychotherapists presented as part of the VA national roll-out, Phoenix, AZ.
McKelvie, M., Sorensen, D. (2021, June) Belonging as Our Birthright: Cultivating Belonging from the Inside Out. Workshop at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conference, Online.
McKelvie, M. (2020) Free(dom) Writing: An Open, Aware and Engaged Writing Practice in Community. Boulder, Colorado.
McKelvie, M. (2020) Introduction to ACT. University of Colorado at Boulder Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Graduate Program.
McKelvie, M., Sorensen, D. (2020, July 14-19) Belonging as Our Birthright: Cultivating Belonging from the Inside Out. Accepted Workshop at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
McKelvie, M., Lusk, J. (2014). Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) Enhanced Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT). Symposium presented at ACBS World Conference 12. Minneapolis, MN.
McKelvie, M., Lusk, J. (2014). Supercharging Contextual Behavioral Couple Therapy. 1.5 hour workshop for psychotherapist presented at ACBS World Conference 12. Minneapolis, MN.
McKelvie, M., Williams, L. (2011). Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Three-day workshop for psychotherapist presented as part of the VA regional roll-out, Denver, CO.
McKelvie, M. L. & Whisman, M.A., (2004). Conflictual interactions of couples with and without a depressed partner: Incorporating a real-time self-reported measure of mood. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, New Orleans, LA.
Sorensen, D, McKelvie, M., Borges, L., Morris, M., Olson-Madden, J. (2020, July 14-19). Burnout in Women: A Contextual Behavioral Approach. Accepted Workshop at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sorensen, D, McKelvie, M., (2022). Transcending Self (-as-Content): True Belonging from the Inside Out. Workshop at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Steinwachs, J., McKelvie, M. (2014). Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP): Creating a Powerful Context for Change with Your Clients. Two-Day Workshop, Denver, CO.
Walser, R.D., Sorensen, D., Payne, J., McKelvie, M., Morris, M. (2020). Treating Trauma with ACT: An Introductory Training for MEND. Praxis Continuing Education Training.
Whisman, M. A., McKelvie, M. L., & Chatav, Y. (2005). Couple distress. In M. M. Anthony, D. R. Ledley, & R. G. Heimberg (Eds.), Improving outcomes and preventing relapse in cognitive-behavioral therapy, (pp. 380-408). New York: Guilford.
Whisman, M. A., Uebelacker, L. A., Tolejko, N., Chatav, Y., & McKelvie, M.L. (2006). Marital dissatisfaction in older adults: Is the association confounded by personality? Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Advancement of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Chicago, IL.
Advanced Clinical Training
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Founders' Boot Camp, 4-day workshop (35 hours). Presented by Drs. Steven Hayes, Kelly Wilson, and Kirk Strosahl, Winter 2014.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Military Veterans, 3-day workshop (24 hours). Presented by Robyn Walser, Ph.D., Fall 2013.
Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT), VA National Trainers Training. Five-day Training to become a Regional Trainer for the Veteram's Affairs Health Care System. Presented by Patricia Resick, Ph.D., Summer 2010.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), 8-week training (12 hours). Presented by Russell Kolts, PhD., Fall 2013.
Behavioral Tech’s 10-day Intensive Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Northampton, MA (80 hours). Presented by Charles Swenson, M.D., Clive Robbins, Ph.D., and Brad Beach, B.A., Winter and Summer 2006
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy, Level III, 2-day workshop (16 hours). Presented by Mavis Tsai. Ph.D. and Robert Kohlenberg, Ph.D., Summer 2012.
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy, Level I, 2-day workshop. Denver, CO (16 hours). Presented by Mavis Tsai. Ph.D. and Robert Kohlenberg, Ph.D., Fall 2009.
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy, Level I, 2 day workshop. Denver, CO (16 hours). Presented by Mavis Tsai. Ph.D. and Joanne Steinwachs, LCSW, Fall 2012.
Hold Me Tight, Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) two-day workshop for therapists (16 hours). Present by Rebecca Jorgensen, Ph.D. San Francisco, CA. Spring 2015.
The Mind/Body Program for Infertility, 3-day training for Psychotherapists (18 hours). Presented by Alice Domar, Ph.D., Fall 2017.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Relapse Prevention in Depression, 5-day Intensive workshop (40 hours). Presented by Zindel Segal, Ph.D. and Sona Dimidjian, Ph.D., Spring 2008.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Mind-Body Medicine, 7-day workshop (40 hours). Presented by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. and Saki Santorelli, Ph.D., Spring 2009.
Practicum in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), 14-day workshop at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Center for Mindfulness (100 hours). Presented by Melissa Blacker, M.A. and Florence Meleo-Meyer, M.A., Spring 2009.
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) Level I, 9-day intensive workshop presented in 3 modules. Presented by Jeff Pincus, LCSW and Rachel Cahn MA., Winter, Spring and Summer 2016.
Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), 4-day workshop. (27 hours). Presented by Andrew Christensen, Ph.D., Summer 2010.
Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), 6 months of weekly expert consultation for adherance and competence. Achieved IBCT provider status in the VA, 2011. Consultants: Jill Compton, Ph.D. and Kelly Koerner, Ph.D.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”