About Kay Kimball

Prior to starting Bridging Recovery, Kay was a Primary Counselor and Coach for 10 years at InnerBalance Health Center, a holistic treatment center in Loveland, Colorado. At InnerBalance she worked with clients and their families to create successful short-term and long-term recovery plans and then followed clients for 12 to 18 months after their initial treatment resulting in her becoming a transitions expert.

For many of us, the symptoms that drive our addiction begin long before we pick up the first drink or drug – feeling like we don’t quite fit in or belong, judging and comparing ourselves to others, poor sleep patterns, anxiety, low energy, sugar cravings, inability to focus or concentrate and low mood to name a few. This is why in his book “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts,” Gabor Mate, M.D. refers to addiction as an adaptation to momentarily feel calmer, more excited, or less dissatisfied with life. “The aching emptiness is perpetual because the substances, objects or pursuits we hope will soothe it are not what we really need.”

As we go deeper into our addiction, our world gets smaller and smaller until almost the only thing that brings us pleasure is our chemicals. When we recover, all aspects of our world change so the healing practices we use focus on all aspects of our self with clear-seeing kindness – body, emotion, mind, spirit, environment, relationships and work. To be able to successfully heal from addiction, it is crucial that healthy balance be restored on all levels (See Healing and Balance Matrix).

Early recovery is a vulnerable time as one by one the doors we have shut begin to open while at the same time our body and mind are trying to re-balance and function without chemicals. My sessions provide a safe, compassionate container to learn and practice the necessary skills and behaviors to return health and well-being and enjoy Complete Recovery.

Credentials

• Master of Health Care Systems: University of Denver
• Director and designer of Recovery Coaching Program at InnerBalance Health Center – 2005 to 2014
• Certified Addictions Counselor III
• Structured Family Recovery Counselor Certification
• Brainspotting Phase I and II (a mindfulness-based, brain/body focused treatment)
• Graduate of Naropa University’s Advanced Life Coach program
• Certified Recovery Coach with Recovery Coaches International
• Associate Certified Life Coach with The International Coach Federation
• Certified by Martha Beck’s North Star Life Coaching Program
• Certified Yoga Teacher – Viniyoga Therapeutic Yoga

Experience & Creations

• Assistant Facilitator of InnerBalance Health Center’s Family Program
• Created Success Blueprint and Coaching Workbook for recovery clients
• Facilitator of Boulder County Women’s AA Spiritual Retreat – Fall 2010
• Creator and facilitator of 21 week Lotus Transitions Program for women new to recovery
• Held 3 day coaching retreats – Re-creating Your Life, The Queens Way, Radical Success
• Taught 12 week course for the City of Fort Collins on creating Daily Abundance
• Created and facilitated 12 month Women’s Success Circle
• Created several self-actualizing journals to use with clients
• Created and facilitated Polaris Life Design (contained both individual and group sessions)
• Created audio CD’s and published monthly e-zine
• Teaches weekly yoga classes

** Has logged over 10,000 direct client hours