We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amber Kosloske. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amber below.

Amber, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I started my private-practice, Convenient Colorado Counseling, in 2020 with the dream to provide counseling services to people in a way that was new, innovative, and convenient. Initially, I had a business partner and we were focused on general counseling for all Colorado Residents offering in-person and online appointments during non-traditional evening hours. Access to counseling no matter where someone was at in life was the mission and that continues to be true, with a bit of a shift.

A defining moment in the direction of my private practice and life was shortly after my business partner left the business to pursue other endeavors in 2021. While I was contemplating what I wanted to do with this now newly all mine business I received a call from a potential client. She was distraught and told me that she had been calling counselors all week and was rejected by 10 counselors. She shared with me that she was having suicidal thoughts and every time she told a counselor this they informed her they could not work with her. When I offered an appointment she was stunned.

This phone call made my heart hurt for not only this potential client but all the others that were facing the same feelings of rejection. That is the moment I decided that I was going to invite people in with open arms who are struggling with suicidal ideations. That decision quickly morphed into not only providing counseling for those struggling with suicide but also providing advocacy, resources, and trainings to the community.

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Amber and I am a suicide survivor, wife, daughter, dog mom, business owner, and counselor. When people ask me how I got started being a suicide and self-harm prevention counselor I struggle to know where to start, because I feel like I was always meant to be a helper. The first time I remember really putting my mind to helping people was when I was 9 years old.

I have an uncle and cousin who are individuals with disabilities and wheelchair users. When I was 9 years-old we were at a zoo and I was riding on the back of my uncles chair and started to notice the stares we were getting. I then noticed the way people would talk differently to my uncle and cousin. I remember my 9 year old self deciding I was going to change this somehow.

My first “real” job at the age of 16 years old I worked at a group home for people with intellectual and development disabilities and I continued to see how society treated people with disabilities as “less than”. I observed that even medical professionals treated them differently and I decided that was how I was going to help make the world better for people with disabilities. I was going to be a doctor.

I graduated from high school as a junior and enrolled in a pre-med program to do just that. After a semester in pre-med I was feeling lost and decided to join the military. I completed my training to be a medic and returned home to complete my pre-med program, but it still did not feel quite right. So, I found myself switching my major to psychology and finally found where I felt like I had found my tribe.

I completed my BS in Psychology and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling and moved to Colorado to complete my internship. I worked for the State of Colorado as a Rehabilitation Counselor supporting people with disabilities find purpose, passion, and recovery by working in the community. I really enjoyed this work but it felt like there was something missing and I wanted to work with people on a deeper level. So, in 2020 I started Convenient Colorado Counseling.

Convenient Colorado Counseling is an online group counseling practice that provides services to all Coloradoans. We specialize in working with individuals 10 years old and older who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and self harming behaviors. We offer sessions during non-traditional counseling hours of 12-8pm Monday-Friday to assist individuals in accessing care when it is most convenient for them. We accept most major insurances including Medicaid, Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, Tricare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. We will soon be able to also accept Kaiser insurance.

In addition to counseling we also offer community and professional trainings on suicide and self-harm, resources, and advocacy. We have the first and only Colorado suicide resource directory. Coloradoans are able to choose their county on our directory and find their local crisis resources, inpatient centers, suicide resources, and general mental health resources. We also offer self-soothe kits that were created as a convenient way for people to always have the tools they need to ground themselves from anxiety, panic attacks, etc.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective way that I have been able to build my clientele is by creating relationships and building trust in the communities that I serve. One thing that I really love and appreciate about Colorado is it is a relational state. I am so fortunate to have been able to meet and get to know so many amazing people in our state because of my business. Every time I meet someone new I want to know about their story, why they do what they do, and how I can support them in their journey (whatever that journey may be). In return I have the opportunity to sometimes support their clients, family, friends, etc.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I unintentionally started Convenient Colorado Counseling during the beginning of COVID and that created some challenges and opportunities to learn. The practice started off offering hybrid services (both in person and online options). Through the journey of COVID I found that most people wanted to meet in the comfort of their own homes using telehealth, so in response Convenient Colorado Counseling is now 100% online. I am so glad for that lesson, as we are now able to serve more people in the most rural areas of Colorado and increase access to care.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://convenientcoloradocounseling.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/convenientcoloradocounseling
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-kosloske/

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