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Carrie Haynes M.Ed, LPC

My professional journey has been shaped by my personal experiences, growing up in a close-knit family in a small town. When life took a turn and we moved across the country, it was the strength of our bond that provided the support and grounding I needed. This foundation of connection and belonging is what led me to pursue a career in counseling.

During graduate school, a group therapy class inspired me to explore the transformative power of process-oriented psychotherapy groups. Authenticity and genuine connections became the cornerstones of my approach, as I witnessed the profound healing and intimacy that these groups fostered. Through advanced training and mentorship, I honed my skills in facilitating these deeply transformative group experiences.

Recognizing the scarcity of comprehensive group therapy training, I became determined to bridge the gap and empower other therapists to create impactful group experiences. With passion and dedication, I facilitated numerous groups and trained therapists at a counseling center for a decade. My belief in the power of group work only grew stronger with each session, as I witnessed its transformative potential firsthand.

 

However, upon transitioning to private practice, I encountered a stark contrast between the thriving group culture I had known and the challenges faced by therapists in the community. Many struggled to fill their groups and lacked confidence in their facilitation skills. 

It became clear that there was a pressing need to provide accessible and comprehensive group training opportunities.

Driven by my mission to foster deep connections and healing through group work, I founded the Art of Groups.

Today, my focus centers on assisting practitioners and guides in fostering and leading impactful groups, while also providing training and guidance to fellow therapists aiming to successfully integrate group work into their practices.

In an effort to continue to build my knowledge base and offerings, I’ve actively pursued a more holistic approach within my field – one that embraces the dimensions of body, spirit, and nature, all while staying true to my feminist principles. Along this path, I encountered Circlework under the mentorship of Jalaja Bonheim, an experience that profoundly transformed my approach to facilitating groups.

Recognizing the synergy between the emerging realm of psychedelic medicine and the foundational principles of Circlework, I subsequently pursued training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. This led me to host Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy circles, effectively merging these two approaches into a cohesive whole.

I am enthusiastic about the prospects that lie ahead for The Art of Groups and am committed to creating opportunities for transformation and healing in community. 

 
Work With Me

By healing collectively, we experience the incredible journey of being truly seen, known, and loved.

Together, we can create a kinder and more connected world.

Credentials & Group Experience

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been practicing for nearly 15 years.  I have extensive experience with individuals struggling with relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and life transitions. I have also worked with a number of individuals who are seeking more meaning, fulfillment, and purpose in their lives. I have supervised and trained nearly 200 therapists-in-training at all different levels of their professional development, in both group and individual therapy. I am also an adjunct faculty member at Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado, where I teach courses in Group Therapy and facilitate experiential groups for therapists in training.

A few of the groups that I have facilitated include:

  • Interpersonal Process
  • Mindful Self Acceptance and Compassion
  • Art Therapy for Trauma
  • Taming the Anxious Mind
  • The Daring Way
  • Cultivating Courage
  • Mindful Yoga
  • Women’s Circles
  • Healing through Music
  • Man to Man (men’s process group)
  • Grief Group
  • Body Positive
  • Understanding Self and Others (Interpersonal Process)
  • Expressive Arts for Healing Trauma
  • Experiential Weekend Intensive for Psychotherapists
  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Circle
Advanced Training
  • 2014 – Cross-Cultural Facilitation Skills by Lee Mun Wah: a five-day intensive training for therapists and diversity educators utilizing mindfulness and other techniques to develop a deeper and more authentic sense of community and openness with diverse groups.
  • 2017 – EMDR Level 1 & 2 by The Maiberger Institute: A 50 hour comprehensive program to train clinicians on an integrative therapy that helps people heal from traumatic events as well as life disturbing memories.
  • 2018-2019 – Women’s Circlework Leadership Training by Jalaja Bonheim: a six day training designed to teach the facilitation of circle gatherings to awaken diverse groups of people to their unity and interconnectedness. 
  • 2021-Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Training:  Incorporates practical skills, clinical research, and supported ketamine experiences.
  • 2023 – Certificate in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies with Linda Thai.  This certification focuses on how the cascade of activation and immobilization, which is designed to help us survive overwhelming experiences, can be addressed to facilitate enhanced quality of life.
Credentials
  • Licensure: Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado
  • Education: Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Colorado State University; Master’s in Counseling & Career Development (MEd) – Colorado State University
  • Former Director of Group Services – CSU Counseling Services
  • Adjunct professor – University of Northern Colorado
  • Adjunct professor – Colorado State University