About
Carolyn Spurway
MA, LPC, LMHC
Welcome! I'm Carolyn, and like many "wounded healers", my early life was marked by some difficult patterns. To my great surprise, this was the perfect catalyst for my growth and evolution, and the foundation of my desire to become a therapist. I know what it's like to try for real connection (with self and others), but to be blocked by painful experiences and old patterns. I also know what it's like to work through these wounds and come out on the other side - attuned and ready to experience more confidence, energy, clarity, connection, assertiveness, and self-awareness.
I relish the feeling of being in integrity with Self and others, and my goal is to get you there too.
I love helping high-achieving adult individuals break free from chronic over-functioning, people-pleasing, and burnout. My style is warm, collaborative, and intuitive. In session, I comfortably pull from a variety of evidence-based treatments including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing, evidence-based coaching psychology, EFT Tapping, somatic or body-based exercises, and mindfulness. I sometimes bring Complementary and Alternative Interventions (CAI) such as intuitively guided visualizations and shamanic principles into my sessions, as requested, supporting you in accessing your inner wisdom and guidance.
When my clients feel empowered, self-led, self-compassionate, and confident, I know that our work together has been a success.
My Approach
My collaborative approach to therapy or coaching allows clients to feel comfortable and understood. I use the therapeutic or coaching container to look at how patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating no longer serve you, and support you in shifting into new levels of awareness and ways of being emotionally, physically, and soulfully.
In session, I focus on understanding exactly where you are coming from, meeting you where you are, and lighting up insights and actions that are aligned with your hopes and growth opportunities, always holding the knowledge that you are a whole, worthy, and sovereign being.
In my therapeutic work, I often integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS), Polyvagal Theory (includig the Safe and Sound Protocol), attachment theory, EFT tapping, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), somatic interventions, and mindfulness with mind-body-spirit healing modalities to support full-system transformation.
In my coaching work, I often pull from Motivational Interviewing, principles of CBT (cognitive Behavioral Therapy), communication and relationship skills, healthy boundaries, and may also discuss holistic lifestyle strategies to help you reach your future-focused goals.
I hold multiple licenses to practice counseling and psychotherapy in several states (CO, MI, MA, and TX, as well as many others). I offer therapy to clients in the states in which I am licensed, and life coaching or health coaching to interested clients located elsewhere who are not looking for, nor in need of, mental health therapy.
Experience
2012-2015: Masters degree in Counseling from the University of Colorado Denver, emphasis on Couples & Family Counseling
2014: Internship at an intensive outpatient family therapy practice, focusing on healing attachment wounds and improving family relationships.
2015-2017: joined an inpatient and residential eating disorder hospital, working with individuals suffering from eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
2017-2018: Family Therapist at an inpatient adolescent behavioral health hospital doing crisis stabilization and family therapy.
2018-2023: health and wellness coach and educator for successful health-tech startup, virta health: supporting clients in making and sustaining profound lifestyle changes to enhance metabolic health.
2023-2025: Joined Firefly Health as a behavioral health specialist, a virtual primary care startup, providing effective solution-focused brief psychotherapy.
2022-Present: Owner of Inside Job Holistic Wellness, my private therapy and coaching practice.
Post-Graduate Trainings Completed:
I have a strong interest in the psychospiritual side of healing and seek ways to unite body, mind and spirit in my work. In addition to my formal education and experience in counseling and coaching, I have completed continuing education courses and trainings in:
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Polyvagal Theory
The Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) by Dr. Stephen Porges
trauma-informed care
cultural sensitivity
Assessment & diagnosis
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping)
shamanic journeying
reading the Akashic Records.
Courses Currently in progress (2025):
Transformative Coach Training Certification taught by Dr. Deeanna Merz Nagel, PhD, to earn my Board Certified Coach Training & Certification (BCC). This course has been approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE).
"Becoming A Spiritual Healing Practitioner" Training & Certification - Level 1, taught by Julie Kramer & The Ennobling of The Heart. This is a year-long shamanic practitioner training beginning Fall 2025 and ending Fall 2026.
Personal
I've lived in Colorado for most of my life - aside from a four-year stint on the East Coast for undergrad - after which I promptly returned to my beloved mountainous state. When I'm not seeing clients, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, skiing, cooking (and rarely following recipes), laughing at my two very spirited young children's antics, soaking up information about the latest and greatest ways to optimize mental health and wellbeing, getting lost in a good book, and browsing the internet for adoptable puppies.
