About Us

Together we heal, together we thrive.

Contemplative Caregiver LLC offers counseling, retreats, workshops, and nature-based programs to support family and professional caregivers. Our mission is to provide spaces of reflection, relief, and renewal for those carrying the emotional weight of care.​

We believe caregivers deserve the same compassion and strength they give to others—and we are here to walk alongside them.​

Contemplative Caregiver was founded by Andrew Koch, MA, LPC. His caregiving journey began in 2010 in Indiana, where he became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and worked in nursing homes. In 2013, he began volunteering with local hospice organizations, participating in the Alive Inside project—helping people connect to music through personalized playlists or live guitar sessions.​

Andrew earned his BA in Psychology from Indiana University Northwest (IUN) in 2014 and soon took on a leadership role at Comfort Keepers in Highland, Indiana, overseeing training for more than 300 caregivers. He developed continuing education programs grounded in hands-on care and emerging research.​

In 2015, after a near-death experience in the water, Andrew became a lifeguard and swim coach. He worked with people of all ages—helping others move through fear, rediscover safety, and find joy in the water.​

In 2016, he began training with Denise Brown and became a Certified Caregiving Consultant (CCC) through Caring Our Way and the CareYears Academy. That fall, he left his role in direct care management and moved to Boulder, Colorado to study mindfulness-based transpersonal counseling at Naropa University.​

He launched Contemplative Caregiver in July 2017 while still in grad school. He expanded his business clinically in 2018 when he became an Unlicensed Psychotherapist in Colorado, and, earned his master’s in 2020. Andrew became a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in 2021, and reached full licensure in January 2025.​

From 2017 to the present, Andrew has presented at dozens of conferences and events, sharing insights on caregiver support, mindfulness, and therapeutic practices.​

Between 2019 and 2021, Andrew volunteered over 1,000 hours in an externship with Elite Cruises and Vacations, working under Kathy Shoaf, RN, who pioneered dementia-friendly retreats. During this time, he developed a passion for traveling with persons with dementia and their family members. A highlight of this period was in 2021 when he led a group excursion of four persons with dementia and their family members on a fishing trip in Ketchikan, Alaska. By the end of the excursion, filled with salmon catches and seals squirreling around in brackish waters, over 100 people were clapping and encouraging the group as they fished. This heartwarming experience sparked community interest in making port excursions more accessible to individuals with dementia and in wheelchairs.​

In 2021, Andrew also partnered with Dr. Itai Ivtzan of the School of Positive Transformation to co-host a 7-day retreat in Kawaa, Hawaii, focusing on positive psychology and rejuvenation.​

In 2024, Andrew launched two new initiatives: Brush With Grief, a program integrating ephemeral art into the grieving process, and the Contemplative Mental Health Leadership Group, aimed at fostering leadership and innovation in mental health practices grounded in mindfulness and compassion.​

As of January 2025, Andrew is a fully licensed Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado. He is currently accepting insurance from: Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Independence Blue Cross, Medicaid, Optum, Quest Behavioral Health and UnitedHealthCare, and is in the process of obtaining full credentialing with major insurance providers across Colorado to expand accessibility to his services.​

Contemplative Caregiver’s 2025 forecast is bright. Andrew pursues supervision training and licensure so that he can empower others with a similar passion for working with family and professional caregivers.

We aim to be the leading mental health provider for caregivers in the Rocky Mountain region. Our long-term vision includes:​

  • Hosting retreats and fishing therapy programs that bring caregivers into healing natural spaces
  • Opening facilities in major cities across the Rockies for on-site therapy, workshops, and resource navigation
  • Expanding into other mountain states and eventually becoming licensed to practice in Canada
  • Welcoming interns and student clinicians into a diverse training environment rooted in direct care experience
  • Offering creative healing programs led by therapists in music, art, mindfulness, and movement
  • Growing with the evolving needs of the caregiver community, adapting our work to serve better each year​

As Contemplative Caregivers and Certified Caregiving Consultants:

  • We meet our clients where they are with an open mind and a curious heart.
  • We offer ideas, suggestions, resources, and possibilities.
  • We let each person take in our support in the way that works best for them.
  • We believe our clients hold their own answers—we simply help guide the process.
  • We accept clients as they are, without judgment of their decisions, experiences, or point of view.
  • We embrace the journey, knowing that each step holds meaning, opportunity, and growth.
  • We learn as we teach, and we grow alongside the people we support.
  • We live in the truth, because truth helps us heal, transform, and become more of who we are.
  • We ask for help when we need it, and we accept support with gratitude.
  • We know the work lasts only as long as it’s needed, and we part with thanks when it’s time.
  • We take care of ourselves because we understand the importance of modeling balance and well-being.​

We are committed to serving with clarity, professionalism, and care. This is our promise to you:​

  • Integrity: We act with honesty, uphold professional codes of ethics, and stay grounded in the trust you place in us.
  • Transparency: We clearly explain who we are, what we offer, and the limits of our role.
  • Confidentiality: We follow strict privacy practices in line with HIPAA and Colorado state law.
  • Clarity of Service: We make sure you understand our services fully, without overpromising.
  • Consent for Testimonials: Your story is yours. We never share it without your permission and we will protect your identity.
  • Referrals: If we’re not the right fit, we’ll help connect you to someone who is.
  • Honor Agreements: We respect the agreements we make and follow through on our commitments.
  • Respect for Others: We honor the work, ideas, and creative property of all people.​

Contemplative Caregiver exists because caregiving is sacred—and often lonely, exhausting, and unacknowledged. We are here to make sure caregivers are no longer invisible. Whether you’re holding grief, navigating burnout, or seeking your own identity again, we are here to help you reconnect—with yourself, with others, and with what matters most.