Soul Essence Psychotherapy Boulder CO | Holistic Therapy & Spiritual Coaching for Empaths

Finding the right therapist is one of the most personal decisions you will ever make. For empaths, highly sensitive people, and anyone searching for a healing approach that honours the connection between mind, body, and soul, Soul Essence Psychotherapy in Boulder, Colorado offers something genuinely different. Founded by licensed professional counselor Xandra Hawes, this practice blends Buddhist psychology with somatic energy practices to create a therapeutic experience that goes far beyond conventional talk therapy. Whether you are navigating anxiety, depression, spiritual disconnection, or simply feel called to explore deeper parts of yourself, Soul Essence Psychotherapy provides a safe, affirming space to begin that journey.

Who Is Xandra Hawes?

Xandra Hawes is the founder and sole practitioner behind Soul Essence Psychotherapy. She is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado and an alumna of Naropa University, one of the few accredited universities in the United States that integrates contemplative education with Western academic rigour. Naropa's psychology programme is rooted in contemplative psychotherapy, which means Xandra's foundational training bridges Eastern wisdom traditions and evidence-based Western therapeutic modalities in a way that most traditional programmes do not offer.

Beyond her academic credentials, Xandra holds specialised training in clairvoyance, trance-mediumship, and energy healing. She is also an Ordained Minister. This unique combination of clinical licensure and spiritual training allows her to work with clients on levels that conventional therapists cannot access. She has conducted hundreds of professional readings and coaching sessions with clients around the world, giving her a breadth of experience that extends well beyond her Boulder office.

What Makes Soul Essence Psychotherapy Different

The mental health landscape is vast, and Boulder alone has hundreds of therapists. What sets Soul Essence Psychotherapy apart is the intentional integration of Buddhist psychology with somatic and energetic healing practices. This is not a practice that simply adds meditation to a CBT protocol and calls it holistic. Xandra's approach treats the mind, body, and soul as fundamentally interconnected, and every session reflects that philosophy.

Buddhist Psychology as a Foundation

Buddhist psychology is not about religious conversion. It is a 2,500-year-old framework for understanding the human mind, suffering, and the path toward genuine wellbeing. In therapeutic practice, it offers tools for present-moment awareness, compassion toward oneself and others, and a deep understanding of how attachment and aversion create emotional pain. Xandra weaves these principles into every session, creating a therapeutic environment that feels qualitatively different from conventional clinical settings.

Somatic Energy Practices

The body holds what the mind cannot always articulate. Somatic energy practices recognise that trauma, anxiety, and emotional pain are stored not just in our thoughts but in our physical bodies. Through techniques that combine body awareness, breathwork, and energetic processing, Xandra helps clients access and release patterns that talk therapy alone may never reach. For empaths and highly sensitive people who often absorb the emotions and energy of those around them, this somatic approach is particularly powerful.

Whole-Person Healing

Soul Essence Psychotherapy does not treat symptoms in isolation. Anxiety is not just a set of cognitive distortions to be restructured. Depression is not merely a chemical imbalance to be managed. These experiences are understood within the full context of a person's life, relationships, spiritual needs, and physical embodiment. This whole-person approach means treatment plans are deeply personalised and address root causes rather than surface-level symptom management.

Services Offered at Soul Essence Psychotherapy

The practice offers a range of services designed to meet clients at different points in their healing journey. Each service draws on Xandra's integrated training in clinical psychology and spiritual practice.

Holistic Psychotherapy

The core offering at Soul Essence Psychotherapy is holistic psychotherapy. This is licensed clinical therapy that addresses mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relational difficulties. What distinguishes it from traditional psychotherapy is the integration of Eastern and Western modalities. Sessions may include cognitive processing, somatic awareness, mindfulness instruction, meditation, emotional regulation techniques, and energetic work, all within a 55-minute session. This service is available to clients within Colorado where Xandra holds her professional licence.

Spiritual Life Coaching

For clients who are high-functioning but feel spiritually disconnected or are seeking deeper meaning, purpose, and intuitive development, Xandra offers spiritual life coaching. Unlike therapy, coaching is future-oriented and focused on goal setting, spiritual growth, and empowerment. Xandra teaches a wide variety of spiritual tools and energy-healing strategies, helping clients develop the unique language of their own intuition. Because coaching is not bound by state licensure requirements, this service is available to clients across state lines and internationally.

Anxiety and Depression Treatment

Anxiety and depression are among the most common reasons clients seek out Soul Essence Psychotherapy. Xandra's approach to these conditions goes beyond standard protocols. Mindfulness-based exposure therapy, meditation techniques, somatic processing, and Buddhist psychological frameworks are combined to help clients not only manage symptoms but understand the deeper patterns driving their distress. The goal is not just coping but genuine transformation of the relationship a person has with their own mind and body.

Therapy for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

Empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs) experience the world with heightened emotional and sensory awareness. While this sensitivity can be a profound gift, it can also lead to overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, boundary difficulties, and a sense of being fundamentally different from others. Xandra herself identifies with this community and has built her entire practice around understanding and supporting sensitive individuals. Sessions address energy management, boundary setting, self-compassion, and learning to honour sensitivity as a strength rather than a liability.

LGBTQIA-Affirming Therapy

Soul Essence Psychotherapy is explicitly LGBTQIA-affirming. This means the practice does not simply tolerate diverse gender identities and sexual orientations but actively honours and supports them. For LGBTQIA individuals seeking therapy, finding a practitioner who genuinely understands the unique challenges of navigating identity, discrimination, family dynamics, and self-acceptance in a heteronormative world is essential. Xandra provides that affirming space.

Men's and Women's Issues

The practice also addresses gender-specific challenges. For women, this may include navigating societal expectations, reproductive mental health, relationship dynamics, and reclaiming personal power. For men, sessions may explore emotional expression, vulnerability, societal pressure around masculinity, and developing deeper self-awareness. Regardless of gender, the holistic framework ensures that every aspect of the individual is considered.

The Naropa University Difference

Xandra's training at Naropa University is worth understanding because it directly shapes the therapeutic experience at Soul Essence Psychotherapy. Founded in 1974 by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Naropa is a fully accredited university in Boulder that offers graduate programmes in contemplative psychotherapy and Buddhist studies alongside conventional academic disciplines.

Naropa's contemplative psychotherapy programme trains clinicians to integrate mindfulness and awareness practices into their therapeutic work from day one. Graduates learn to use their own contemplative practice as a clinical tool, developing a quality of presence and attunement that goes beyond technique. This means Xandra does not simply apply mindfulness as an add-on intervention. It is woven into how she listens, how she holds space, and how she understands the therapeutic relationship itself.

Who Should Consider Soul Essence Psychotherapy

Soul Essence Psychotherapy is not for everyone, and that is by design. The practice is specifically built for people who resonate with a holistic, spiritually-integrated approach to mental health. Here are some indicators that this practice may be the right fit for you.

• You identify as an empath or highly sensitive person and want a therapist who genuinely understands what that means
• You have tried conventional therapy and found it helpful but incomplete, as though something important was missing from the process
• You are drawn to mindfulness, meditation, or Buddhist philosophy and want these integrated into your therapeutic work rather than treated as separate practices
• You are experiencing anxiety or depression and want treatment that addresses root causes rather than just symptoms
• You are spiritually curious or active and want a therapist who can engage with that dimension of your life without dismissing or pathologising it
• You are a member of the LGBTQIA community seeking a genuinely affirming therapeutic environment
• You are high-functioning but feel disconnected from your purpose, intuition, or spiritual life and want coaching to reignite that connection
• You value a therapeutic approach that honours the body as much as the mind

In-Person Sessions in Boulder, Colorado

Soul Essence Psychotherapy is located at 825 S Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305. Boulder is widely recognised as one of the most wellness-oriented cities in the United States, with a deep community commitment to holistic health, outdoor living, and contemplative practice. The practice sits within this broader culture, offering clients a physical space that reflects the calm, grounded approach of the work itself.

In-person sessions allow for a depth of somatic and energetic work that can be more challenging to access through a screen. For clients who live in Boulder, the Denver metro area, or anywhere in the Front Range corridor, in-person sessions are available Monday through Friday between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM.

Online Therapy and Coaching Sessions

For clients who cannot attend in person, Soul Essence Psychotherapy offers online sessions. Holistic psychotherapy sessions are available to anyone residing in Colorado, where Xandra is licensed to practice. Spiritual life coaching sessions, which operate outside the state licensure framework, are available to clients anywhere in the United States and internationally. This makes Xandra's unique combination of Buddhist psychology, somatic practices, and spiritual coaching accessible to people who may not have anything comparable available locally.

What to Expect in Your First Session

Beginning therapy or coaching can feel vulnerable, especially if you have had experiences with practitioners who did not fully understand your needs. At Soul Essence Psychotherapy, the first session is designed to create safety and establish a foundation for the work ahead.

1. 1An initial conversation about what brings you to therapy or coaching and what you hope to gain from the process
2. 2An exploration of your history, including relevant life experiences, mental health background, and spiritual practices or beliefs
3. 3An introduction to Xandra's integrated approach so you understand how Buddhist psychology and somatic practices will be woven into your sessions
4. 4Collaborative goal setting that honours both your immediate needs and longer-term aspirations
5. 5Space for questions about the therapeutic process, session structure, and what to expect going forward

Soul Essence Psychotherapy also offers a free 30-minute consultation call for anyone who wants to discuss their situation before committing to a full session. This is an opportunity to ask questions, share your concerns, and determine whether the practice feels like the right fit.

The Growing Importance of Holistic Mental Health Care

The mental health field is undergoing a significant shift. More people are seeking therapeutic approaches that address not just cognitive patterns but the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of their experience. Research in somatic psychology, mindfulness-based interventions, and contemplative neuroscience continues to validate what practitioners like Xandra have long understood: healing happens most completely when it includes the whole person.

For empaths and highly sensitive people in particular, conventional therapy can sometimes feel insufficient. Standard CBT or talk therapy approaches may help manage symptoms but leave the deeper energetic and spiritual aspects of sensitivity unaddressed. Practices like Soul Essence Psychotherapy fill this gap by offering a therapeutic framework that is clinically grounded but spiritually expansive.

"Holistic therapy addresses mental health by recognising the symbiotic relationship of mind, body, and soul. It uses a blend of Eastern and Western treatment modalities including meditation, mindfulness instruction, and emotional regulation to support whole-body healing."

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How to Book a Session

Booking a session with Soul Essence Psychotherapy is straightforward. You can book directly online through the practice's website. If you prefer to have a conversation first, the free 30-minute consultation call allows you to discuss your needs and ask any questions before committing.

• Visit soulessencepsychotherapy.com to learn more about the practice and services
• Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your unique situation
• Sessions are available Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
• Both in-person (Boulder, CO) and online sessions are available
• Contact the practice at [email protected] for any additional questions