Kathleen I. Diaz
Licensed Professional Counselor
Psychological Candidate
- Accepting New Clients
- English, Spanish
*Free Consultations Available
- Virtual
- In-person (Denver)
- Tweens (8-12)
- Adolescents (13-17)
- Young Adults (18-25)
- Families
- Anxiety, OCD, and Depression
- Trauma/Stress
- Exposure therapy for Phobias, Separation Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Generalized Anxiety
- Cross-cultural contexts and special considerations
- LGBTQIA+
- Relational conflicts
- Transition to adulthood
- Transition to college
Is your child or teen struggling? Feeling overwhelmed, lost, or just not like themselves? You’re not alone. I’m here to help children and young adults navigate the ups and downs of growing up, and empower them to build a life they love.
As a therapist, I am committed to being transparent and goal-focused throughout our journey together. I’m here to support you and your child in making life more manageable and enhancing your overall functionality.
I view therapy as a collaborative process grounded in evidence-based methods, particularly behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), systemic therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). As a Latina woman, I understand the importance of multiculturalism and how diverse identities can impact the therapeutic experience. Together, we’ll explore how your behaviors have been shaped by various influences, including biological factors, social environments, health, culture, identity, and values. By working closely with you, your family, and other healthcare providers, we can identify clear treatment goals and apply effective strategies to help you create the life you envision.
My experience spans various settings, including hospitals, emergency departments, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, community mental health centers, private practices, clinical research clinics, and schools. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish. I specialize in helping children and young adults with:
- Anxiety, OCD, and stress
- Depression, self-esteem, and identity development
- Friendships, dating, and relationship challenges
- Trauma, grief, and difficult life transitions
With warmth, understanding, and a bit of humor, I’ll connect with your child and help them find their voice and their strength. Ready to take the first step? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today, and let’s discuss how I can help your family thrive.
Modalities
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Dialectically Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/A)
- Systemic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT)
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A)
Education & Trainings
- PhD (APA Accredited) in Clinical Child Psychology – University of Kansas Clinical Child Psychology Program
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Child Health Service (Member of APPIC), Child and Adolescent Specialty Track with Mood and Gender Diversity Specialization – Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Predoctoral Clinical Internship in Child Health Service (APA Accredited), Child and Adolescent Clinical Specialist – Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/UP-A)
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Web Certification
- Childhood Traumatic Grief Web Certification
- AFFIRM Caregiver
- Telehealth Best Practices
Publications & Book Chapters
- Casline, E., Henry, L., Reynolds, K., DĂaz, K. I., Hawks, J., Anthony, L., & Kennedy, S. (in press). Using provider perception of the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of a transdiagnostic intervention in a youth partial hospitalization setting to guide implementation and adaptation: A mixed methods evaluation. Behavioral Therapy.
- Kennedy, S. M., Henderson-Davis, V., Henry, L. S., Hawks, J. L., DĂaz, K. I., Crabbs, T., Khindria, N., Moe-Hartman, J., Nook, L., President, K., Stovall, S., & Anthony, L. G. (2024). Pilot effectiveness and acceptability of partial hospitalization treatment incorporating transdisgnostic, cognitive-behavioral intervention. Behavioral Therapy. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2023.11.002
- DĂaz, K. I. & Fite, P. J. (2023). Examining the stability of the forms of peer victimization and their association to the functions of aggression among preschoolers. School Mental Health. doi: 10.1007/s12310-023-09602-0
- Fite, P. J., DĂaz, K. I., Baca, S. (2023). Peer victimization and risk for specific charges among detained youth. Child and Youth Care Forum. doi: 10.1007/s10566-022-09727-4
- Fite, P. J., Tampke, E., DĂaz, K. I., Zax, A., & Baca, S. (2022). Bidirectional relationship between sibling aggression and victimization. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2022.2082904
- O’Dell, C. C., Fite, P. J., & DĂaz, K. I. (2022). Relations between reactive and proactive aggression and internalizing symptoms among detained youth. Child and Youth Care Forum. doi: 10.1007/s10566-022-09684-y
- DĂaz, K. I., Fite, P. J., Abel, M. R., & Doyle, R. L. (2021). Varying experiences of cyber victimization among middle and high school students. Child and Youth Care Forum. doi: 10.1007/s10566-021-09614-4
- Fite, P. J., Cooley, J. L., DĂaz, K. I., Singh, M. N. & Zax, A. (2021). Impact of sibling victimization on child internalizing symptoms. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. 10.1007/s10578-021-01287-3
- Fite, P. J., DĂaz, K. I., & Abel, M. R. (2021). Examining associations between psychological control contributes to both proactive and reactive aggression among middle school age youth. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development. doi: 10.1080/26904586.2021.2006108
- Evans, S. C., DĂaz, K. I., Callahan, K. P., Wolock, E., & Fite, P. J. (2020). Parallel trajectories of proactive and reactive aggression in middle childhood and their outcomes in early adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 49, 211-226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00709-5
- Williford, A., Fite, P., DĂaz, K., & Singh, M. (2020). Associations between different forms of peer victimization and school absences: The moderating role of teacher attachment and perceived school safety. Psychology in the Schools, 58(1), 185-202. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22438
- Fite, P. J., DĂaz, K. I., & Doyle, R. L. (2021). Does behavioral dysregulation moderate the link between contextual factors and substance use among detained youth? Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 29(2), 143-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/1067828X.2021.1907265
- Fite, P. J., Poquiz, J. L., DĂaz, K. I., Williford, A. P., & Tampke, E. (2019). Links between peer victimization, perceived school safety, and internalizing symptoms in middle childhood. School Psychology Review, 48(4), 308-319. doi: https://doi.org/10.17105/spr-2018-0092.v48-4
- DĂaz, K. I., & Fite, P. J. (2019). Cyber victimization and its association with substance use, and depression and anxiety symptoms among middle school youth. Child and Youth Care Forum, 48(4), 529-544. doi: 10.1007/s10566-019-09493-w
- Fite, P. J., Pederson, C. A., Tampke, E., DĂaz, K. I., & DiPierro, M. (2019). Links between perceived containment and reactive and proactive functions of aggression among detained youth: Does behavioral inhibition and/or activation matter? Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 41(2), 317-328. doi: 10.1007/s10862-018-09715-w
- Gudiño, O. G., Stiles, A. A., & DĂaz, K. I. (2017). Violence exposure and mental health in Latino youth: The moderating role of active and avoidant coping. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 49(3), 468-479. doi: 10.1007/s10578-017-0767-3
- Becker-Haimes EM, Diaz KI, Haimes BA, Ehrenreich-May J. Anxiety and Atopic Disease: Comorbidity in a Youth Mental Health Setting. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2017 Aug;48(4):528-536. doi: 10.1007/s10578-016-0678-8. PMID: 27566718.
- DĂaz, K. I., Nunes-Moreno, M. A., Kennedy, S. M., & Hawks, J. L. (2024). Children’s Hospital Colorado Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents Group Therapy: Based on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents. Unpublished Manual.
- Sisniegas, M. A., Meintzer, M. K., Taylor, M., DĂaz, K. I., Safer-Lichtenstein, J., & Holzman, J. B. W. (2023). Breve Grupo Parental para Comportamiento: Manual para el Personal ClĂnico, EdiciĂłn Numero 1. Unpublished Manual.
- Sisniegas, M. A., Meintzer, M. K., Taylor, M., DĂaz, K. I., Safer-Lichtenstein, J., & Holzman, J. B. W. (2023). Breve Grupo Parental para Comportamiento: Cuaderno de Trabajo para los Padres, EdiciĂłn Numero 1. Unpublished Manual.
- Kennedy, S. M., DĂaz, K. I., Wojcieszak, Z., Codd, E., & Hawks, J. L. (2023). Children’s Hospital Colorado inpatient psychiatric unit (IPU) tween/teen treatment manual: Based on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents. Unpublished Manual.
- Kennedy, S. M., DĂaz, K. I., Wojcieszak, Z., Codd, E., & Hawks, J. L. (2023). Children’s Hospital Colorado inpatient psychiatric unit (IPU) tween/teen treatment workbook: Based on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents. Unpublished Manual.
- Kennedy, S. M., DĂaz, K. I., Wojcieszak, Z., Codd, E., & Hawks, J. L. (2023). Children’s Hospital Colorado inpatient psychiatric unit (IPU) child treatment manual: Based on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children. Unpublished Manual.
- Kennedy, S. M., DĂaz, K. I., Wojcieszak, Z., Codd, E., & Hawks, J. L. (2023). Children’s Hospital Colorado inpatient psychiatric unit (IPU) child workbook Emotion Detective Program: Based on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children. Unpublished Manual.