Therapy for Truama in Denver— helping you heal the Damage of Trauma and PTSD

THE BIG MOMENT TRAUMA

Trauma presents itself in two main ways, with a million different nuances. You might have experienced a significant event such as a sexual assault, a car accident, or a shooting. Perhaps you’re a first responder who cannot shake the memory of the last dispatch. In these moments, it’s clear that what you have experienced has changed you. You may be experiencing flashbacks or nightmares, suffering as you try to avoid places, people, and things that trigger memories of those traumatic moments.

DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA

Alongside these major events, our brains are adept at blocking pain, often leading to repressed memories and emotions from difficult life experiences. When these incidents occur, we may not know how to handle them. This creates a deep emotional imprint that influences our emotions and behaviors, often just outside of our conscious understanding. It affects our relationships and prevents us from giving and receiving the love and belonging we need.

We might ask ourselves questions like, “What am I doing?” or “Where did that come from?” This is sometimes referred to as "small-t trauma," but I prefer to call it developmental trauma.

experiencing Trauma

SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA

The symptoms of both single incident and developmental trauma can look very similar, including:

Relational behaviors

  • Difficulty maintaining close relationships

  • Feelings of detachment from friends and family

  • Emotional numbness or difficulty experiencing positive emotions

Intrusion symptoms

  • Recurrent, unwanted memories of the traumatic event.

  • Flashbacks where you feel or act as if the traumatic event is happening again.

  • Recurring distressing dreams or nightmares related to the trauma.

  • Intense psychological or physical distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event. 

Avoidance symptoms

  • Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or external reminders associated with the trauma. 

Negative alterations in mood and thinking

  • Difficulty remembering aspects of the event.

  • Negative beliefs about oneself or the world.

  • Distorted thoughts about the trauma's cause or outcome.

  • Persistent negative emotions, reduced interest in activities, feeling detached, or inability to feel positive emotions. 

Alterations in arousal and reactivity

  • Irritability, angry outbursts, or reckless behavior.

  • Hypervigilance or an exaggerated startle response.

  • Problems with concentration or sleep. 

Are you always on guard, even in relationships that should feel safe? Do you struggle to remember certain scenes or stages of your life? Perhaps you experience overwhelming shame or guilt, or you’re prone to irritability and aggressive outbursts. These can be signs of either significant or developmental trauma.

what is the reason for Trauma?

Your brain and body work to keep you safe and avoid pain.

Safety

Biologically and neurologically, trauma serves to keep you safe without hesitation. The brain wants to have immediate recall of certain negative experiences when it felt significant danger. However, trauma becomes problematic when this automatic recall is triggered, especially when there is no real threat, or it prevents you from responding to stressful situations in a new way.

Avoidance

To avoid pain, sometimes traumatic memories are stored differently than normal memories. They are dissociated or disconnected from a coherent narrative. Traumatic experiences can be fragmented. What actually took place, what you thought, and what you felt simply cannot be processed in survival mode. This can be true for both big dramatic events as well as small moments that were repeated over and over again while growing up. Much research needs to be done, but we are beginning to understand how the whole body can store these fragmented memories. These fragmented memories aren’t something to be feared or something to go looking for. We simply trust that at the right time, they will come up when they need care and connection.

How therapy helps you transform your worst moment into a source of strength

I want to help you transform your worst moments and your most negatively formed relationships into sources of strength and power.

The process of transformation is hard work and, depending on the extent of the trauma, it requires a significant investment of time. But you have a choice: stay where you are or move forward through the difficulty.

EMDR Therapy Process

Moving forward in processing trauma with EMDR therapy (one of two evidence-based trauma treatments) follows a general sequence:

  1. Strengthening Sense of Self: We start by enhancing your sense of self and increasing your ability to feel safe and regulated in the counseling room and within your body.

  2. Connecting to Traumatic Memories: We then connect to images, emotions, thoughts, and body sensations associated with the traumatic event.

  3. Processing the Memory: We move through the memory in small chunks, allowing the mind and body to re-experience troubling moments while keeping one foot in the safety of the counseling office and another in the past memory. This helps the traumatic memory transition from a part of the brain without a sense of time to the area where long-term memories are stored.

  4. Preparing for Future Events: Finally, we prepare you to encounter future events that may be difficult for you, based on your trauma history, creating a toolbox for you to utilize as you continue on your journey.

Witnessing Transformation

As a trauma therapist, I am honored to witness the hard work clients put in. Observing an individual strengthen their sense of self to withstand and grow from unspeakable experiences is one of the most amazing transformations one can witness.

It is a true honor to walk with clients on the long journey from being a victim of others to becoming a victor in their own story, and from being a wounded person to a healing healer.

Customized Approaches to Trauma Treatment

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for Trauma. However, there are effective methods that, when applied with care and nuance to your life, can strengthen and restore your ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life. I offer the time and attention to apply general wisdom and proven methods of counseling to your specific reality.

Take the First Step

Feel in control again! Schedule a free consultation today.

What to expect from your Consultation & therapy session

  • During the initial meeting, I will conduct a comprehensive assessment to get to know you better. We’ll discuss your current concerns, emotional challenges, and goals for therapy. This session helps me tailor the therapy to your unique postpartum experience.

  • Common approaches I use include:

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—This helps reframe negative thought patterns and build healthier coping mechanisms.

    • Mindfulness practices—These are techniques for staying present and managing stress through meditation or breathing exercises.

    • Trauma-informed therapy (TIT)—For those dealing with birth trauma or intense anxiety, TIT provides a safe space for healing.

    • Integration of coping strategies—We’ll work together to apply practical tools in your daily life, addressing:

    • Anxiety management

  • I will regularly evaluate your progress. Sessions will include reflection on improvements and adjustments to strategies, ensuring you experience measurable growth over time.