Trauma therapy helps when a past experience still affects how you feel, think, or relate to others in the present. My approach moves in phases: first building stability and nervous system regulation, then processing what’s stuck (often with EMDR), then strengthening the life you want going forward. Sessions are in person in Wheat Ridge or online anywhere in Colorado.
What trauma is (and isn’t)
Trauma isn’t defined by the event alone. It’s about what happens when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope, and your mind and body are left holding it. Two people can go through the same thing and be affected very differently. Neither reaction is a sign of weakness.
People come to trauma therapy for many reasons, including:
- Single events: an accident, assault, medical crisis, natural disaster, or sudden loss
- Childhood experiences: growing up with unpredictability, criticism, neglect, addiction, or emotional unavailability in the home
- Relational trauma: betrayal, controlling or abusive relationships, or painful breakups
- Identity-related harm: rejection, bullying, or discrimination, including for being LGBTQ+
- Grief and loss that hasn’t been able to move
- Accumulated stress: no single big event, but years of small ones that added up
Common signs that trauma is still active
- Memories, images, or dreams that intrude when you don’t want them to
- Strong reactions to reminders: a smell, a tone of voice, a time of year
- Feeling on edge, easily startled, or unable to fully relax
- Numbness, disconnection, or feeling like you’re watching your life from a distance
- Avoiding people, places, or topics that bring it up
- Harsh beliefs about yourself: “It was my fault,” “I’m broken,” “I’m not safe”
- Relationship patterns you keep repeating, like pulling away or holding on too tight
- Physical symptoms: tension, sleep problems, stomach issues, exhaustion
These responses aren’t a character flaw. They’re what a nervous system does when it learned the world wasn’t safe, and hasn’t yet gotten the message that it can stand down.
How trauma therapy works with me
1. Safety and stabilization
We start by building trust and practical skills for calming your nervous system when it gets activated. This phase is useful on its own, and we don’t move into harder material until you feel resourced enough.
2. Processing
Using EMDR and other trauma-focused methods, we work with the memories and beliefs that are still charged. The goal isn’t to forget. It’s for those memories to feel like the past instead of the present.
3. Integration
As things settle, we focus on what you want more of: steadier relationships, better sleep, more ease in your body, and a kinder relationship with yourself.
What you can expect from me
I’m calm, direct, and collaborative. You set the pace, and you’re always in control of what you share. I’ll explain what we’re doing and why. Many people are surprised that trauma therapy can include moments of lightness, even laughter. Healing doesn’t have to be grim.
My trauma work is supervised by Dr. Crystal Wildes, a licensed clinical psychologist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer with more than 20 years in trauma recovery. About my supervision.
When a different level of care is needed
Outpatient therapy isn’t the right fit if you’re in immediate danger, currently in an unsafe relationship without a safety plan, or need intensive support. If that’s the case, I’ll help you find the right resources. If you’re in crisis right now, call or text 988 or call 911.
Questions about trauma therapy
How do I know if what I went through counts as trauma?
Trauma is less about how big an event looks from the outside and more about how it affected you. If something overwhelmed your ability to cope and still shows up in your body, mood, sleep, or relationships, it’s worth working on. You don’t need a diagnosis to start.
Do I have to talk about everything that happened?
No. You set the pace and decide what to share. Trauma therapy, and EMDR in particular, doesn’t require you to retell the details of what happened.
Will therapy make me feel worse before I feel better?
Revisiting hard material can stir things up for a while. That’s why we build stabilization skills first, and why every session ends with you settled. If something is too much, we slow down.