Book an appointment with Tend

My passion for working closely with medical teams has lead me to my work in hospital and outpatient medical settings, including in the field of oncology. In my work I have directly witnessed the struggles of healthcare professionals and have learned how to support these providers through the many challenges they face in their professional and personal lives.

My approach focuses on honoring your knowledge in the hope of creating an empowering environment where you benefit from freedom to discover your strengths, resiliencies, and courage. It is important to me that we consider culture, history, and identity in the context of your struggles. I truly appreciate the beautiful complexity that makes each of us who we are.

I specialize in working with clinicians struggling with burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD/trauma, grief/loss, relationship struggles, existential crisis, transitions, performance challenges, self-worth, and perfectionism. In additional I have experience working with clinicians with serious medical conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injuries.

When not working, I can be found doing many physical activities including circus arts and spending time catching up with friends and family.

I am a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience working in the “trenches” of primary care with medical providers and residents. I’ve heard consistently that practicing medicine can be incredibly rewarding and draining – sometimes on the same day. I wholeheartedly believe that supporting providers through these ups and downs is critical to sustaining our health care system. While that support can take many forms, I have often found myself helping providers manage the consistent tension between their occupational calling, the toll it takes on their personal lives, and the concrete stress of daily clinical practice.
My approach to clinical care is both compassionate and practical. Each provider brings a unique experience and history, and I aim to help individuals function more effectively in their personal and professional lives as soon as possible. My focus is not on psychological labels but instead on helping people cope and get “unstuck” through evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). If you’re interested in learning more, I’m happy to offer an initial 20-minute consultation call so we can determine together the best approach for your situation.
On a personal level, I love taking road trips with my family, coaching my sons’ sports teams, eating tacos, and watching soccer (the “real” football.)

I am a clinical health psychologist with 10+ years experience working in a variety of medical settings, from level 1 trauma center to inpatient rehabilitation hospital to primary care clinic. For the past 5+ years I have been working in family medicine residency education. I am engaged in interdisciplinary work on clinician wellness, justice, equity, and inclusion work, social determinants of health, and medical ethics.

I enjoy helping physicians connect with their values and the meaning within and outside of work to maintain their purpose or “north star” around which we shape our lives. My approach is collaborative, individualized, and holistic incorporating Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Therapy. I work with health professionals on burnout, stress, mood, anxiety, PTSD/trauma, performance challenges, perfectionism, and coping with acute and chronic medical conditions. When not working I enjoy practicing yoga, hiking, paddle boarding, baking, reading, and long walks with my dog.

As a native New Yorker, I like to say that I was born interested in human behavior; that interest eventually led to a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wyoming (Go Pokes!). Since that time, I have worked exclusively in Academic Medical Centers alongside medical colleagues. When working with patients I provide an affirming space to say things perhaps never spoken before. My therapeutic approach is evidence-based, mindful, creative, and when needed, kindly challenging. I value you, what you have to say, and our time together.  In my free time I value time spent in nature, in movement, in artistic creation, and time with my loved ones.

Dr. Katherine Bergs is originally from North Carolina and trained at East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) in both Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Health Psychology. After finishing training in the Family Medicine department at the University of Colorado, she has been in Family Medicine residency education in Fort Worth, Texas for the past 5 years. In that role, she has been involved in training of medical students, residents, and behavioral medicine learners. Additionally, she has a strong interest in physician well-being and impairment concerns. Her clinical interests include couples therapy, sleep, and brief behavioral interventions. In her spare time, she enjoys watching football and any chance to go to the beach.

I have over ten years of experience working in hospitals and primary care settings as both a colleague and therapist to health professionals. One of the most meaningful professional experiences I’ve had was working with medical trainees. I understand the sacrifice and resilience it takes to be a health professional and the challenges of managing personal well-being under the weight of exceptional responsibility and stress. I have an integrative approach to therapy, using experiential, relational, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to help clients develop practical skills that support a greater sense of clarity and confidence and help them reconnect with the meaning in their professional and personal lives. I strive to be transparent, genuine, and warm and hope my clients feel seen and appreciated for their humanness and not a diagnosis.

I have worked alongside health care clinicians my entire career, starting in 2011 rounding in the hospital and working in the ED in South Chicago. From academic medicine to rural primary care, I understand the culture of medicine and struggles and sacrifices you make to do your work. Whether it is a life transition, getting through residency, maintaining a two clinician household, relationship struggles, or recovery from a bad outcome or loss we all need a little support.

I spend my free time exploring the PNW, spoiling my fur babies, being active outside, and cooking.