Stuck in Your Own Head? Let's Fix That.
Evolve Counseling Services provides practical, evidence-based therapy in Fort Collins for adults and teens/adolescents (16+) dealing with anxiety, depression, and the stress of navigating a complex life. We’re not a big clinic with a rotating door of providers — we’re two experienced clinicians and licensed therapists who use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to give you real tools that actually work — so you can stop surviving and start feeling like yourself again.
Not sure if therapy services are right for you? Take our quiz to find out. It takes 2 minutes!
Stuck in Your Own Head? Let's Fix That.
Evolve Counseling Services provides practical, evidence-based therapy in Fort Collins for adults and teens/adolescents (16+) dealing with anxiety, depression, and the stress of navigating a complex life. We’re not a big clinic with a rotating door of providers — we’re two experienced clinicians and licensed therapists who use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to give you real tools that actually work — so you can stop surviving and start feeling like yourself again.
Not sure if therapy services are right for you? Take our quiz to find out. It takes 2 minutes!
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
If you’re reading this and thinking “that’s me,” you’re not broken — and you’re not alone. These are the exact things our therapy clients say when they first reach out. The good news? Every one of them gained insights and skills to change their path toward wellness.
You’ve Tried to Handle This on Your Own
Maybe you’ve avoided the thing that stresses you out — only to notice the anxiety getting worse, not better. Maybe you’ve scrolled through mental health TikToks at 2 a.m. looking for answers. Or talked to a friend who meant well but told you to “just relax” (super helpful, right?).
You might have even tried psychotherapy before and left feeling like your therapist just nodded and listened but never actually helped you do anything about it. Or maybe you went to your doctor first, got a prescription, and hoped that would be enough. Medication can help — but it’s often not the whole answer.
None of that makes you a failure. It means you haven’t found the right approach yet. And for a lot of people in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, that right approach turns out to be working with a therapist who uses structured, evidence-based methods rather than open-ended talk therapy.
How Evolve Is Different
We get back to you. Quickly!
No weeks-long waitlists. No unreturned calls or emails. No automated system routing you to whoever happens to be available. When something feels urgent, we treat it that way. Most new clients in Fort Collins hear from Ben or Lindsey personally within one business day.
We remember your story.
At a larger practice, you might see a therapist who’s juggling so many clients they can’t keep your story straight. That’s not how we work. We keep our caseloads intentionally small so we can pay attention. You won’t have to re-explain your situation every session. We remember, and it shows.
We teach you skills you can use on your own.
Our goal isn’t to keep you in therapy forever. It’s to help you become your own therapist — someone who can handle hard days with confidence. That’s what makes CBT different from traditional talk therapy: every session gives you something practical to take home.
We make hard conversations easy.
Nothing is too big, too controversial, or too uncomfortable to bring up. This is the safe space where it’s totally acceptable for it to be all about you.
Not sure yet? Take our quick quiz!
Who We Work With
We work with adults and teens (16+) in Fort Collins and across Northern Colorado — both in-person at our office and online through teletherapy statewide. Here’s what we specialize in:
Anxiety Therapy
Racing thoughts, constant worry, panic, decision paralysis, the feeling that something terrible is about to happen. If your brain feels like it’s stuck in overdrive, anxiety therapy can help you slow it down and take back control. We use CBT techniques specifically designed for anxiety — including exposure-based strategies and cognitive restructuring — to help you respond to stress differently.
Depression Therapy
Feeling unmotivated, numb, sad, or stuck. Avoiding things you know you need to do. Losing interest in stuff that used to matter. Depression therapy helps you understand what’s pulling you down and gives you a clear, step-by-step plan to climb back out — including behavioral activation strategies that rebuild momentum even when motivation is low.
Life Transitions & Stress
A breakup, a new job, college, a move, a loss — sometimes it’s not one terrible thing, life just slowly got harder. We help you sort through the mental clutter and figure out what’s next so you can move forward with clarity instead of dread.
CSU Student Therapy
Academic pressure, social anxiety, homesickness, and the stress of figuring out who you are — all while trying to keep your grades up. We’re located minutes from CSU and specialize in helping students manage it all.
Meet your therapist
Lindsey Phillips
Lindsey works with adults and teens (16+) who are dealing with depression and anxiety—feeling down, unmotivated, overwhelmed, stuck in their thoughts, or constantly on edge. Sometimes those feelings are tied to big life changes like starting college, a move, relationship stress, or loss. Other times, you just know something feels off.
She’s been in mental health services since 2005 and a practicing therapist since 2009, with experience in residential treatment, community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, and private practice.
Lindsey believes therapy doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time. There’s room for honesty, growth, and even a little laughter along the way. Her goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can be yourself and feel comfortable showing up each week.
20+ years experience
CBT specialist
In-person & teletherapy available
Meet your therapist
Ben Smith
Ben keeps therapy casual and real. Sessions feel more like thoughtful, useful conversations—with some humor mixed in—without the vague questions or clinical jargon people sometimes expect from therapy.
He believes therapy shouldn’t feel drawn out or overly heavy. Ben uses practical, research-backed approaches that are known to work, because he values your time and wants you to see meaningful progress.
He works with adults and teens who are dealing with stress, anxiety, sadness, breakups, loss, or just feeling overwhelmed by life. Ben has been in mental health services since 2006 and a practicing therapist since 2010, with experience in treatment centers, community mental health, leadership roles, and private practice. He holds a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and continues to stay current to best serve his clients.
20+ years experience
CBT specialist
In-person & teletherapy available
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Gain Practical Tools for Real Life
Our Approach
Therapy at Evolve Counseling Services is built around one idea: every session should give you something useful. We’re not interested in endless talk without direction. We’re interested in helping you understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what you can do about it — starting now.
We provide individual therapy — adults and teens/adolescents (16+) — for anxiety, depression, stress management, and life transitions. Our therapeutic approach is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which means we focus on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. When you understand that connection, you gain the ability to change it. At times, we will also use mindfulness to compliment CBT.
What a Therapy Session Actually Looks Like
Your first session is a get-to-know-you conversation. We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy, what your day-to-day life looks like, and what you’re hoping to change. It’s low-pressure — think of it as a conversation, not an interrogation.
From there, ongoing sessions are collaborative. We’ll set goals together, work through specific challenges, and build skills you can use between sessions. You won’t leave wondering what the point was. You’ll leave with something concrete.
Telehealth Across Colorado
Can’t make it to our Fort Collins office? No problem. We offer teletherapy to anyone in Colorado, so you can get the same quality therapy from wherever you’re comfortable — your couch, your car between meetings, wherever works.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
No surprises. No hidden fees. We don’t accept insurance — and that’s a deliberate choice that benefits you. When a practice bills insurance, the insurance company gets a say in your treatment: how many sessions you’re approved for, what diagnosis goes on your permanent record, and what kind of therapy they’ll cover. We’d rather those decisions stay between you and your therapist.
Staying independent also means we’re not spending half our week fighting with billing departments. That time goes to you instead — preparing for your sessions, staying focused on your progress, and being available when you need us.
Here's How It Works
First Session
$195
Ongoing Individual Therapy
$160 per session
We accept cash, checks, HSA cards, debit, and all major credit cards. If your insurance includes out-of-network benefits, we can provide a receipt you can submit for reimbursement. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about this process.
Questions You Might Be Thinking
I tried therapy before and it didn’t work.
We hear this a lot. Many of our clients came to us after seeing therapists who mostly just listened but never got to the “now what?” part. We’re different. Every session gives you something concrete to take home and use. We teach you CBT skills — the same approach backed by decades of research — so you’re not just talking about problems, you’re solving them.
I don’t want to burden people with my problems.
That’s exactly what we’re here for. Therapy is the one safe space where the conversation is 100% about you — and nobody’s going to change the subject to talk about themselves. Your therapist is solely focused on you and genuinely invested in your progress.
Will I be on a waitlist for weeks?
We know that when you’re ready for help, you need it now — not in six weeks. We keep our caseloads manageable so we can get you in quickly and give each client the attention they deserve. Most new Fort Collins therapy clients hear back from us within one business day.
Is therapy going to be awkward and uncomfortable?
Our sessions feel more like a real conversation than a clinical appointment. We’re casual, direct, and (when the moment calls for it) we’ll laugh together. Therapy doesn’t have to be heavy and somber all the time. We make it something you can actually look forward to.
You don’t take insurance?
We don’t. At insurance-driven practices, your treatment plan often has to fit what the insurance company will approve — not what you actually need. Session limits, mandatory diagnoses on your record, and coverage decisions made by someone who’s never met you. We chose a different model so that your therapy stays between you and your therapist, with no outside interference. We accept HSA cards, major credit cards, cash, checks, and debit.
Is therapy confidential?
Absolutely. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our practice. What you share with us stays with us, with very limited exceptions (like imminent danger to yourself or others), which we’ll explain fully in your first session. Your privacy is something we take seriously — it’s one of the reasons we don’t bill insurance.
How long does therapy usually last?
It varies. Some people feel significantly better in a few months, while others prefer ongoing support for longer. We’ll regularly check in on your progress and adjust our plan together. It’s your journey, at your pace.
I’ve never done this before and I’m not sure where to start.
That’s exactly why we built our quick assessment. Take the quiz and find out it therapy is a good fit for you. It only takes 2 minutes! You don’t have to know what to say or have your story figured out. Just answer a few simple questions about what you’re going through, and one of our therapists will personally reach out to you. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation.