Meet Dr. Carolyn Black | Licensed Psychologist, Interweave Psychology

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Carolyn Black and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Carolyn, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
For context, I am a doctoral level licensed clinical psychologist who has been living in the Denver metro area since 2016. I provide in-person and Telehealth individual psychotherapy, relationship counseling, psychological evaluation (including diagnostic assessment), and professional consultation. My background includes a Masters in Forensic Psychology, and undergraduate degrees in Criminology and Psychology (with a minor in Computer Science).

Something I have learned through my time in the mental health field is that many people struggle to even seek out mental health support, as mental health is still stigmatized in various communities and cultures. Due to systemic oppression, many people face innumerable barriers in attempting to access quality therapy and/or evaluations. By the same token, many providers struggle with being able to facilitate quality therapy as they, too, are affected by systemic oppression.

I previously worked in school-based clinics, group practices, and community mental health agencies where I saw dedicated and truly talented clinicians have to fight every day to provide solid, effective, and ethical services amidst systemic oppression. Within those organizations, therapy and evaluation participants were inconsistently viewed as whole persons and instead were dehumanizingly referred to as just “patients,” “clients,” or even “consumers” as a very direct result of classism, racism, gender discrimination, ageism, capitalism, etc. It also became very obvious to me that many of those in positions of power often forget what it means to be on the ground, connecting and working with people seeking out support.

My goal in starting my own private practice focused on neurodivergence, queerness, and trauma is to directly address, challenge, and counter the oppressive paradigms many people have been forced to interact with per the current medical system in the US. I strive to offer a corrective experience that actually honors intersectional identities, readily applies up-to-date scientific research, and embodies my belief that therapy is about building a healing relationship and establishing tangible forward momentum. If that means helping one person at a time (and making room for the butterfly effect!), I am grateful to be able to do so.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It took me SO long to decide what to name my private practice and after all that time, I went with the first idea that came to mind: Interweave Psychology. In my academic program, I specifically sought out training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. One of the tools used within EMDR is the “interweave” which is briefly defined as questions or statements that help activate a brain that feels stuck. In other words, the goal is to find what needs to be said in order to help a person effectively process dysregulation and/or discomfort. What I love about this tool is that it is equal parts science and art. There really is an intentional methodology behind what to say, how to say it, and when – but there is also a significant amount of creativity needed to synthesize everything I know about a person in responding to their needs in a challenging moment.

All of this is exactly how I do my work. In both therapy and evaluations, it is very much my job to not only gather as much information as I can about a person and their contexts, but also to identify themes, patterns, and connections. It is also my job to make sure I say what needs to be said when it needs to be said, in a way that the other person can hear it, understand it, and be able to act on it. I am constantly thinking about intersectionality and how a person’s lived experiences, identities, and roles are always impacting all of the above – and how my own experiences, identities, and roles are having an impact, too.

There’s a really lovely image that floats around online depicting two people sitting across from each other. One person is visibly distressed, and a speech bubble above them holds a tangled mess of lines. The person across from them is holding space, and their speech bubble is taking the other person’s tangled lines and turning them into manageable balls of yarn. That sums it all up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It definitely depends on the time of year! Since it’s currently winter, I would do my best to convince them to try out a snow sport. I have a soft spot for Loveland Ski Area as it’s where these Florida-grown bones learned to snowboard. In other seasons, I’d pitch a hike or two and we would likely find ourselves around Golden for that, though the various networks of trails all across the city are actually awesome (as my perfect dog, Raiden, can attest to). I love that there is often a farmers’ market and/or art market to check out, and if not, the thrifting scene is also pretty impressive. Food-wise, there are a lot of surprisingly great spots for sushi, ramen, and pizza all around town (and to be honest, timing the traffic would be a deciding factor for which ones to try and when!). The local brewery scene has had its ups and downs, but Bierstadt Lagerhaus is always a staple. For non-alcoholic options, I’d be excited to have them join my endless pursuit of trying a dirty chai at every local coffee shop in the area. For more activities, the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge are always worth a visit…and if they were up for it, I’ve been lucky to work with some incredible local tattoo artists that I would recommend in a heartbeat.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I very much want to shout out all of the people I have worked with in therapeutic spaces, some of which I have been meeting with for many years. I am forever grateful to be able to walk beside those who are brave enough to seek out support as they navigate ups, downs, twists, and turns. I have learned something from every single person I have come into contact with as a therapist and/or evaluator, and everything I learn continues to influence my work and strengthen the interventions I use. My therapy and evaluation participants have made me laugh and cry, think deeply and creatively, and have helped me to love more, too.

Website: https://www.interweavepsychology.com

Other: https://www.diapason.us/psychological-assessment

Image Credits
Headshot by Noelle Williams Photography