Dr. Bernadine Knittel , LPC

Dr. Bernadine Knittel is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and experienced school counselor who brings 27 years of practice to work with adolescents, young adults, and their families. A Colorado native, she earned a Master?s degree in School Counseling and a PhD in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University, grounding her clinical work in both hands-on school practice and advanced study in education. Her career has focused primarily in secondary school settings, where she supported high school and middle school students with academic planning, social and emotional development, and post-secondary transitions.

As a retired educator who continues to serve as a part-time adjunct professor at the University of Northern Colorado, she teaches courses and supervises trainees in school and clinical placements. That combination of classroom instruction, supervision, and direct counseling work informs an approach that balances practical strategies with developmental awareness. She describes the counseling relationship as a partnership - listening to each person?s story, helping set meaningful and achievable goals, and offering steady support while clients work through what is impeding their progress.

Her clinical practice draws on a range of methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing. She brings compassion, empathy, and sensitivity to concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and family challenges, grief, career and life transitions, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and aging-related concerns. Dr. Knittel aims to help clients build practical coping skills, clarify values and goals, and move toward a more purposeful, productive life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Knittel uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify their values and learn to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while taking committed action toward meaningful goals. ACT can be useful for stress, anxiety, and challenges that involve motivation or life direction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another core approach she uses, focusing on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and developing concrete coping skills. CBT is often applied to anxiety, depression, and problem-solving in everyday life.

She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes empathy, active listening, and a collaborative relationship so clients can explore their concerns at their own pace. This approach supports personal insight, self-esteem, and relational issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Dr. Knittel works collaboratively with clients to tailor methods to individual needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to schedule sessions around school, work, and family obligations. These remote formats expand access to licensed professionals and allow clients to continue consistent care from locations that work best for them.