TRAUMA THERAPY IN DENVER, CO

If you find yourself grappling with overwhelming memories, heightened alertness, or emotional struggles like anxiety and depression, you’re not alone. Many people experience these challenges, especially after witnessing or enduring traumatic events.

The questions below may help you reflect on how these experiences are affecting you and whether exploring therapy could provide the relief you're seeking.

have you experienced a traumatic event?

  • Do you suffer with disturbing memories that come at unwelcome times?
  • Are you more alert, or experiencing a heightened awareness of things and people around you?
  • Do you suffer from anxiety or depression and find traditional talk therapy hasn’t been as helpful as you’d hoped?
  • Do you experience panic?
  • Have you witnessed violence or pain of others that stays with you?
  • Do you struggle with conflict and reactivity in relationships?

Trauma is not confined to acts of violence; it can take many forms and touch our lives in subtle and profound ways.

Throughout our journey, we encounter trauma in various shapes, such as emotional abuse, neglect, or being burdened with negative beliefs about ourselves that others impose on us.

The pain of loss, feelings of inadequacy from being told we aren’t good enough, or growing up in a chaotic and unstable environment can also leave lasting scars.

Even seeking help, only to have a negative or dismissive experience, can add to our emotional wounds. In addition, trauma can emerge not only from our personal experiences but from witnessing the trauma of others.

The cumulative effect of these experiences can deeply influence how we see ourselves and navigate the world around us.

Since the mind and body are deeply interconnected, the burden of trauma often leaves its mark on both. The body may remain in a heightened state of alert, known as "fight or flight," even long after the traumatic event has passed, adding stress and anxiety.


What is trauma?

For some individuals, this persistent state of tension can lead to symptoms that closely mirror those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may experience flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or vivid memories of the event, often feeling hypervigilant or easily startled.

This constant state of hypervigilance can disrupt sleep, create an inability to concentrate, affect eating routines and appetite as well as overall functioning, making it difficult to feel safe or relaxed. Over time, the symptoms of PTSD can contribute to the development of anxiety, depression, or a sense of disconnection from oneself and the world, further compounding the complexity of living with trauma.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TRAUMA AND PTSD (POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER)

Addressing your trauma through therapy is an emotionally challenging process and one that can provide great relief. It is essential for you to feel comfortable with your Denver trauma therapist before you begin trauma therapy.

Using trauma-informed care, your therapist will walk with you through your entire process at a pace that is comfortable for you, as you are ready. You and your therapist will decide, together, what approach to trauma therapy is best for you.

We will provide you with answers to your questions regarding different approaches for your healing journey along the way so you always feel comfortable and informed.

Support is an integral part of the trauma therapy process, and having a counselor you trust can make all the difference. It's important that you feel truly heard and understood throughout your healing journey.

This connection will help you feel more empowered as you work through your trauma, knowing that your counselor is by your side every step of the way.

Our Denver team of trauma therapists provide their clients with a safe, supportive environment where emotions can be explored without judgment. 

We Offer Supportive, Caring Trauma Therapy in Denver, CO

At Denver Metro Counseling, our trauma-informed and trauma trained therapists use a variety of approaches to support clients as they work through trauma.

Our therapists are trained in EMDR therapy, Brainspotting, Polyvagal theory, mind-body based therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. 

Each clinician has a unique lens from which they work and all work with the client's spoken needs and wants in mind. At DMC, we believe the client is the expert in their story. We honor that and work in collaboration with you as you navigate your trauma experiences safely.

Ways we treat trauma

EMDR therapy, Brainspotting, and more

polyvagal theory

Brainspotting

EMDR Therapy

Your first session with your trauma therapist will last 90 minutes. During this first session, we will ask you general questions about your family history, relationship history, mental health history, alcohol and drug use, prior therapy treatments, and other relative information about your social, racial, religious/spiritual, and sexual identities.

The following sessions will range from 50- to 90-minute sessions depending on your needs and treatment goals. You will decide this with your therapist, often on a session-to-session basis.

During these therapy sessions, you will share more of your story and learn specific techniques to help you manage your emotions and reactions to your experiences.

Our Denver-based therapists work to recognize and understand how traumatic experiences can impact one’s mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical well-being.

We offer skills and strategies to assist you in better understanding, coping with, and processing emotions and memories tied to traumatic experiences, to enable you to create a healthier, more peaceful way of living.

We will not ask you to go into detail about your trauma experience during this first meeting. We feel that it is important for you to become comfortable with your therapist and don’t want you to leave feeling overwhelmed or flooded with emotions.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR TRAUMA THERAPISTS

As noted above, trauma therapy can be very emotionally tolling and you may decide that you are not ready or no longer want to process your trauma.

We will support you in this, we just ask that you talk with your therapist about how to best move forward so that you are not left with unresolved trauma that can result in heightened emotional instability in daily life.

We want you to feel safe and will not push you further than you want to go. Additionally, we focus on ensuring you have the tools to manage any emotions or anxiety that may arise during trauma therapy, so you can feel confident and supported in your healing journey.

WHAT IF I START DOING TRAUMA THERAPY AND I WANT TO STOP?

No, you do not. Many therapy approaches are trauma-informed that our clinicians use to help you process your trauma.

Brainspotting and other mind-body approaches are some approaches that our therapists use and have been found to also be effective in working through trauma.

Whether it’s EMDR, brainspotting, or another method, the goal is to ensure you feel supported and empowered throughout the process. We tailor your therapy to what feels right for you at every step.

Do I have to do EMDR Therapy for my Trauma?

Other Questions About Trauma Counseling and Healing From Trauma

Trauma therapy focuses specifically on helping you heal from traumatic experiences using trauma-informed approaches that take into account how trauma affects both your psychology and body.

Regular talk therapy can help with various life challenges, but it may not address the specific ways trauma impacts your emotional and psychological well-being.

Trauma therapy incorporates specialized techniques like EMDR, Brainspotting, and other mind-body approaches to ensure you feel safe and supported as you work through your trauma and improve your overall quality of life.

A qualified trauma therapist works directly with the client and uses an individualized treatment program to address trauma specific to their life experience.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAUMA THERAPY AND REGULAR THERAPY?

What to Expect from Our Trauma Therapists in Denver

At the end of the first meeting, you and your therapist will know your therapy goals and establish a method to achieve them.

Ongoing sessions are 50 minutes and vary in cost based on clinician and certifications. During these sessions, you will share more of your story and learn tools along the way to help manage your trauma symptoms and learn to thrive again.

Create therapy goals

4.

Should you choose to work with one of our therapists, you will schedule an initial 90-minute intake appointment.

During this first session, we want to get to know more about you and how your trauma is affecting your journey. We are careful not to make this too overwhelming and won’t get into anything too deep this first meeting.

Schedule your intake appointment

3.

We will help you decide who might be the best fit for your trauma counseling or EMDR needs and schedule a consultation between you and one of our therapists.

Therapists are matched based on a variety of factors to ensure that you receive the most effective care possible and that you feel comfortable working with the therapist for your specific and unique needs.

Choose your therapist

2.

Schedule a complimentary 20-minute consult to discuss your concerns with a specialized trauma-informed therapist.

Our intake coordinator will walk you through the process of getting onboarded with therapy and scheduling your first appointment.

SCHEDULE A CONSULT

1.
Please type your name below to acknowledge that Denver Metro Counseling is a private paid practice so we do not directly bill health insurance and are is a Medicaid provider.

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Thank you!

We want you to feel confident in your decision to work with Denver Metro Counseling. That is why we offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation with one of our therapists so that you can have all your questions answered and experience what it is like to work with us first hand. 

To book your complimentary consultation, call our office using the call button below and take the first step towards better mental health today. 

Contact us today to book a 20-minute consult

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