TRAUMA

Trauma & PTSD Treatment in Denver, CO

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Understanding Trauma and PTSD

Most people will experience trauma at some point in their lives, whether through a single event such as a car accident or medical emergency, or through more prolonged experiences like childhood adversity, neglect, emotional abuse, or toxic relationships. Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind—it lives in the body. And while not everyone who experiences trauma develops Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the psychological and physiological effects of trauma can be long-lasting.

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PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Common symptoms include intrusive memories or flashbacks, heightened anxiety or startle response, emotional numbness, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, and a persistent sense of threat or danger—even when you're physically safe. For many adults, these symptoms interfere with relationships, work, sleep, and overall quality of life.

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But trauma is not a life sentence. With the right support, healing is possible. Evidence-based therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based approaches are powerful tools in the treatment of trauma and PTSD.

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How Trauma Affects the Mind and Body

Trauma can alter the brain’s stress response system, making it difficult to distinguish between real threats and perceived ones. Even years after the event, your nervous system may continue to operate in survival mode. This can lead to:

• Chronic anxiety or hypervigilance

• Difficulty concentrating or sleeping

• Feeling disconnected from yourself or others

• A tendency to avoid thoughts, feelings, or situations that remind you of the trauma

• Negative beliefs about yourself, others, or the world (e.g., "I'm not safe," "I can't trust anyone," or "I'm broken")

Therapy can help you gently reconnect with parts of your experience that feel overwhelming, so that you're no longer driven by fear, shame, or avoidance.

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CBT for Trauma and PTSD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used, research-supported treatment for trauma and PTSD. CBT works by helping you identify and shift the unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that maintain trauma-related distress.

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Key components of CBT for trauma include:

• Cognitive restructuring: Learning to challenge and reframe negative beliefs that developed after the trauma (e.g., "I should have done something different" or "I'm permanently damaged").

• Exposure-based strategies: Gradually and safely confronting trauma-related memories or situations in a controlled way to reduce fear and avoidance.

• Skills training: Learning grounding techniques, problem-solving skills, and emotional regulation strategies that build confidence and resilience.

CBT is goal-oriented, structured, and highly effective. It helps reduce the intensity of trauma symptoms and empowers you to feel more in control of your internal world. Specifically, I have been thoroughly trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, where I received advanced applied education and substantive clinical experience in the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that setting I treated Veterans for PTSD and post-traumatic sequelae, and I also did a significant amount of clinical research on trauma. You can learn more about that here.

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ACT for Trauma and PTSD

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) takes a slightly different approach. Rather than focusing primarily on changing thoughts, ACT helps you build a new relationship with them.

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ACT for PTSD helps trauma survivors by:

• Teaching acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them or pushing them away

• Cultivating present-moment awareness, so you can notice what’s happening without getting overwhelmed by it

• Helping you clarify your core values—what truly matters to you beyond the trauma

• Encouraging committed action, or taking small, meaningful steps toward the life you want, even when fear or pain is present

In ACT, you learn that painful memories or emotions don’t need to be eliminated in order to live a full and meaningful life. Instead, you develop the psychological flexibility to respond to them in ways that support healing.

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Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Trauma

Mindfulness—the practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness and compassion—is a powerful tool for trauma recovery. Trauma often pulls you into the past (rumination, flashbacks) or the future (fear, what-ifs). Mindfulness anchors you in the here and now.

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Mindfulness for trauma recovery can help:

• Calm the nervous system and reduce physiological symptoms like tension or racing heart

• Increase emotional regulation and distress tolerance

• Promote self-compassion and a gentler relationship with your body and mind

• Create a sense of safety in the present moment

Whether through guided meditations, breathwork, mindful movement, or body-based awareness exercises, mindfulness complements both CBT and ACT in trauma treatment.

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What You Can Expect from Trauma Therapy

Healing from trauma takes courage—and it’s not about “getting over” what happened. It’s about creating space to honor your experience while learning new ways to respond to it. In therapy, we move at a pace that feels right for you. You’ll never be pushed into talking about your trauma before you feel ready.

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Instead, we’ll work collaboratively to:

• Build a foundation of emotional safety and trust

• Identify the ways trauma shows up in your daily life

• Develop personalized coping tools and skills

• Explore the beliefs, habits, and patterns that were shaped by trauma

• Reconnect with your values, strengths, and sense of self

I offer a supportive, compassionate, and evidence-informed space where you can begin to make sense of what you’ve been through—and where healing becomes possible.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I need a PTSD diagnosis to start trauma therapy?
No. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to benefit from trauma-informed therapy. If you've experienced something overwhelming or distressing that's still affecting you, therapy can help.

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Q: How long does trauma therapy take?
There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some clients find relief in a few months, while others may benefit from longer-term work. We'll collaborate on goals that feel meaningful to you.

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Q: What if I don’t want to talk about the trauma directly?
That’s okay. Therapy can focus on the impact of trauma—how it's showing up in your life now—without going into every detail of what happened. You're always in control of the pace.

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Q: Do you offer telehealth sessions?
Yes. I offer secure virtual to clients in Denver, Boulder, and throughout the state of Colorado. I also am licensed via PSYPACT to treat clients across 41 states.

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Q: How do I get started?
You can reach out through the contact form on this site to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We’ll talk about your needs and whether we’re a good fit to work together.

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Resources:

Trauma Workbook: Finding Life Beyond Trauma: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Heal from Post-Traumatic Stress and Trauma-Related Problems (Follette & Pistorello)

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Trauma Workbook: The Posttraumatic Growth Workbook: Coming Through Trauma Wiser, Stronger, and More Resilient (Tedeschi & Bret Moore)

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Moral Injury Workbook: The Moral Injury Workbook: ACT Skills for Moving Beyond Shame, Anger, and Trauma to Reclaim Your Values (Evans, Walser, et al.)

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Getting Unstuck from PTSD: Using Cognitive Processing Therapy to Guide Your Recover (Resick, Wiltsey Stirman, & LoSavio)

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The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Van der Kolk)

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