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Trauma Therapy in Denver, CO

Trauma therapy helps you process overwhelming experiences so they no longer shape your present-day reactions, relationships, or sense of safety. Trauma is not defined only by what happened—it is defined by how your nervous system adapted to survive.

 

If you find yourself feeling hypervigilant, emotionally numb, easily triggered, or stuck in patterns you cannot explain, trauma-informed therapy can help you move toward steadiness and integration.

photo of person's eyes with tears in them with a cloth covering the rest of the face

What Is Trauma?

Trauma occurs when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope at the time.

It may include:

  • Childhood emotional neglect

  • Physical or sexual abuse

  • Sudden loss

  • Medical trauma

  • Accidents

  • Relational betrayal

  • Chronic invalidation

  • High-conflict family environments

  • Ongoing stress exposure

 

Not all trauma is dramatic or visible.

Many adults carry developmental trauma—experiences that shaped attachment, emotional regulation, and self-worth without being recognized as “trauma” at the time.

Common Signs of Unresolved Trauma

Trauma often shows up indirectly.

 

You may notice:

  • Hypervigilance - or frequently scanning for threat

  • Emotional reactivity that feels disproportionate

  • Numbness or dissociation

  • Difficulty trusting others

  • Persistent shame or self-blame

  • Over-responsibility

  • Difficulty relaxing

  • Relationship patterns that repeat

 

Trauma responses are not character flaws.

They are adaptations.

And adaptations can evolve.

PTSD, Complex Trauma, and Developmental Trauma

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may include intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood shifts, and heightened arousal.

 

Complex trauma often develops from prolonged relational stress or repeated early-life experiences.

 

Developmental trauma can affect:

  • Attachment patterns

  • Emotional regulation

  • Self-concept

  • Nervous system stability

 

Therapy is not about revisiting every detail of what happened.

It is about restoring your sense of safety in the present.

How Trauma Therapy Works

Trauma therapy focuses on stabilization before processing.

We move at a pace that feels collaborative and grounded.

1

Stabilization and Safety

  • Nervous system regulation

  • Grounding skills

  • Identifying triggers

  • Building internal resources

  • Strengthening self-compassion

 

Without regulation, processing can feel destabilizing.

Safety comes first.

2

Processing and Integration

We use evidence-based approaches including ACT, CBT/Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, and  trauma-informed methods

  • Meaning-making

  • Emotional integration

  • Reducing avoidance

  • Reclaiming agency

  • Shifting shame narratives

 

You are never forced to revisit details before you are ready.

 

Control remains with you.

Trauma and the Nervous System

Trauma lives in the body.

 

You may experience:

  • Chronic tension

  • Startle responses

  • Sleep disruption

  • Digestive changes

  • Emotional flooding

 

We incorporate nervous-system-informed interventions that help restore flexibility and resilience.

 

When the body feels safer, cognition becomes clearer.

Trauma and Relationships

Unresolved trauma often impacts connection.

 

You may:

 

Trauma therapy helps you understand relational patterns without self-blame.

 

Healing often unfolds in relationship—with safety, pacing, and attunement.

Trauma Therapy in Denver and Online Across Colorado

photo of woman smiling wearing black sleeveless shirt against a blue backdrop

My online practice is based in Denver, Colorado. I provide evidence-based trauma treatment for adults navigating PTSD, complex trauma, and acute trauma responses. Sessions are available via secure telehealth across Colorado, and in participating PSYPACT states when appropriate and clinically indicated.

If you are ready to feel more grounded, less reactive, and more at home in your own nervous system, trauma-informed therapy can help.

 

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to explore next steps.

Trauma Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a PTSD diagnosis to start trauma therapy?

No. You do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from trauma-informed therapy. If past experiences are affecting your present life, therapy can help.

How long does trauma therapy take?

There is no fixed timeline. Some clients experience relief in several months, while others benefit from longer-term work. We collaborate on pacing and goals.

What if I do not want to talk about the trauma directly?

That is completely okay. Therapy can focus on how trauma shows up now without revisiting every detail of the past.

Is trauma therapy safe?

Yes. Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes stabilization and regulation before deeper processing. Safety and pacing are central to the work.

Jennifer Olson-Madden, Ph.D.

Psychologist and Consultant

TELEPSYCHOLOGY SERVICES ONLY

2000 S. Colorado Blvd,

Suite 2000-1024

Denver, CO 80222 

For questions related to services and rates, please see the Psychological Services page.​

 

Jennifer Olson-Madden, PhD, LLC offers services for all ethnic and minority groups and LGBTQIA+ adults in Denver, CO and 43 other states nationwide.

 

©2019-2026 by Jennifer Olson-Madden, PhD, LLC. Proudly created with Wix.com

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