Expertise in helping teens & young adults with anxiety
Extensive experience working with students from CU Boulder and Boulder Valley School District schools
Both virtual & in-person availability to support your unique therapy journey
Over a decade of experience providing therapeutic support
Offering specialized executive function support in addition to anxiety therapy
Currently undergoing EMDR training to support deeper anxiety healing
Top-Rated Anxiety Therapy | Boulder
“Tim is absolutely amazing. One of the best therapists I’ve seen, truly.”
“Tim is an excellent therapist! If you are seeking therapeutic support, I highly recommend his care!”
“Outstanding clinician: caring, competent, qualified. You’re in good hands with Tim.”
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Meet your Boulder anxiety therapist
Tim Kleinknecht, LCSW
If you're feeling overwhelmed with schoolwork, nervous about making new friends in college, or stressed about moving away from home for the first time, you're not alone. Many teens and young adults have these experiences, and you don't have to navigate this by yourself.
As a therapist, I do more than just treat anxiety symptoms. I use a mix of evidence-based methods to both address the root causes of anxiety and help you find real, lasting relief. We'll explore coping skills that you can incorporate into your daily life and keep using for years to come.
While I take our work together seriously, I'm also a firm believer that therapy can be enjoyable. I'm here to be your teammate in this process, and together, we can find moments of lightness (maybe even some laughter) as you make progress toward your goals.
My approach to anxiety therapy for teens, college students, & young adults
I believe that effective therapy is tailored to each person. Here are some of the methods that I may blend in our work together.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you see how your thoughts affect your feelings and actions. We'll identify thinking patterns that might be holding you back and develop practical ways to challenge unhelpful thoughts, leading to real improvements in how you feel.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
DBT gives you concrete skills to handle overwhelming emotions, stay present instead of worrying about the past or future, and improve your relationships with others. These are practical tools you can use in everyday situations.
Motivational interviewing (MI)
A judgment-free approach that helps you explore what matters to you, build your confidence, and take steps toward change at your own pace. It's normal to have mixed feelings about making change, and this method can help you better understand yours.
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
Instead of dwelling on problems, we'll focus on what's already working in your life. This approach helps you use your existing strengths to find tangible solutions and build hope for your future.
Contact me today to learn more about how these methods can help you heal from stress, worry, and anxiety.
How to start anxiety therapy in Boulder
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Step 1: Book a consultation
This free, no-pressure call gives us the chance to get to know each other better and decide if we're the right match.
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Step 2: Fill out some forms
If you want to move forward, I'll send over some paperwork that will give you important information about the process and help us get started.
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Step 3: Attend your first appointment
Next, we'll set up your intake session. During this appointment, I'll ask you some more questions about what brings you into therapy and we'll start making a plan to help you reach your goals.
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Step 4: Start healing
Through our work together, you'll learn more about yourself and your anxiety, including possible causes and triggers. Plus, you'll learn tools to help you navigate anxiety in your everyday life.
Common reasons why people start anxiety counseling
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You might find yourself constantly thinking about what could go wrong, making it hard to focus on anything else. These worries can feel impossible to control and might pop up even when things are going well.
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Ever experienced unexplained headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, or racing heart that doctors can't find a physical cause for? These sensations are real and may be your nervous system letting you know that something deeper is going on.
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If you feel nervous in social settings, avoid gatherings, spend hours overthinking what you said after hanging out with others, fear judgment, or hate being the center of attention, you're not alone. These can all be signs of social anxiety, which can improve with therapy.
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Students and young professionals often feel paralyzed when facing tests, presentations, or important deadlines. You might even procrastinate due to fear of failure or set impossibly high standards for yourself that lead to burnout.
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Some people experience sudden, intense waves of fear that can include physical symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or feeling disconnected from reality. These episodes can be scary and sometimes happen without an obvious trigger.
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Stress and anxiety often lead to lying awake at night with racing thoughts, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up frequently with worry. Plus, sleep problems can make anxiety worse during the day, creating a frustrating cycle.
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If you find yourself pondering deep questions about the meaning of life, your purpose, or your mortality, you’re not alone–and it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong with you. Contemplating these topics is part of life, especially as you’re developing your identity and stepping into adulthood. Therapy can help you explore these questions in a supported way so you don’t get too overwhelmed.
Is my practice right for you?
I'm happy to help as many people as I can, but there might be some situations where a different provider could be a better fit. Here are some examples.
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If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, I recommend getting immediate support by contacting the 988 Lifeline or visiting your local crisis center or emergency room.
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I provide treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and other anxiety disorders. But if you're looking for specialized care for related issues that I don't treat, like eating disorders, I recommend working with another therapist.
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I'm trained in several evidence-based techniques to help people cope with stress and anxiety. However, if you're looking for a specific method like Art Therapy or Animal-Assisted Therapy, I may not be the right fit.
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I offer in-person sessions in Boulder as well as virtual sessions for people throughout Colorado. Due to licensing restrictions, I'm unable to help if you live out of state.
Still not sure if I'm the right fit? Contact me today for a free consultation.
FAQs about anxiety treatment
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There are tons of evidence-based methods for treating anxiety. I use a blend of different techniques in my practice, including CBT, DBT, and more. We'll work together to find the right mix based on your specific situation and goals.
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Licensed clinical social workers (like myself), psychologists, clinical mental health counselors, and other therapists are all qualified to treat anxiety. While it's important to understand your therapist's credentials, their specific license type is only one piece of the puzzle. Finding someone you connect with on a person level is a key part of effective therapy.
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Searching online (like you're doing now) is a great place to start. Therapist directories allow you to search for local therapists and filter them by gender, specialty, and more. While you don't need a referral to start therapy, you can also ask your primary care provider or campus health center for suggestions.
If you're not sure whether I'm the right anxiety therapist for you, I encourage you to reach out.
Start anxiety counseling in Boulder, CO today
Ready to confront your anxiety and start feeling more grounded in your day-to-day life? I'm here to help. I'm passionate about helping teens, college students, and young adults get to the root of their anxiety, learn coping skills that actually work, and build their self-confidence. Connect with me today to take the first step.