Trauma Therapy

Trauma can stay with you long after a painful experience is over. You may feel on edge, easily startled, or disconnected, or find that certain reminders bring old feelings rushing back. At Active Change Therapy, I help adults heal from trauma in a way that feels safe, steady, and paced to their readiness.

 

I have been in practice since 2008, and trauma is one of my areas of expertise. I am an EMDR therapist, and I combine EMDR with mindfulness, positive psychology, and other evidence-based approaches. My practice is located in Cherry Creek in Denver, Colorado, and I also offer telehealth for clients in Colorado, California, and Texas.

 

Trauma does not have to come from a single dramatic event. It can also grow out of ongoing stress, childhood experiences, relationships, loss, or anything that left you feeling unsafe or unseen. Whatever your history, your reactions make sense, and healing is possible.

 

What Trauma Therapy Can Help With

Trauma therapy may be helpful if you are dealing with:

• PTSD, or symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories

• Feeling constantly on guard, jumpy, or unable to relax

• Feeling numb, shut down, or disconnected from yourself or others

• Childhood experiences that still affect you today

• Relationship trauma or difficulty trusting others

• Grief and traumatic loss

• Medical, accident-related, or other sudden traumatic events

• Shame, guilt, or negative beliefs about yourself

• Anxiety, depression, or anger connected to past experiences

• Avoiding people, places, or memories that bring up distress

 

Many people come to trauma therapy after years of understanding their past intellectually while still feeling its effects in their body and relationships. Therapy can help close that gap.

 

My Approach to Trauma Therapy

Safety comes first. Before we work directly with painful memories, we focus on building stability, trust, and skills that help you feel grounded. I tailor the work to your needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all protocol. Depending on your goals, our work may draw on:

• EMDR therapy to help your brain and nervous system process distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming

• Mindfulness and grounding practices to help you notice and calm stress responses in the body

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to work with beliefs trauma can leave behind, such as "I am not safe" or "It was my fault"

• Positive psychology to strengthen resilience, values, and the supports already in your life

• Attention to sleep, movement, and daily routines that help your nervous system recover

 

You do not have to tell your whole story at once, or at all if you do not want to. We decide together what to focus on and how fast to go.

 

What to Expect in Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy usually unfolds in stages. A typical process may include:

• A free consultation call to see if we are a good fit

• An initial assessment of your history, current symptoms, and goals

• Building grounding and coping skills for distress between sessions

• Identifying the memories, themes, or triggers you want to work on

• Processing difficult experiences, often with EMDR, when you are ready

• Strengthening new beliefs and bringing the changes into daily life

 

You remain in control throughout. We check in often and adjust the pace so the work feels challenging but manageable.

 

Trauma Therapy and EMDR

EMDR is one of the main tools I use for trauma, but trauma therapy is broader than any single method. Some clients do most of their work with EMDR. Others focus first on stabilization, relationships, or coping skills, and add EMDR later or not at all. You can learn more about how it works on my EMDR therapy page.

 

In-Person and Telehealth Options

I offer in-person trauma therapy in Cherry Creek, Denver, Colorado. I also provide telehealth for clients located in Colorado, California, and Texas. We can talk about which setting feels safest and most effective for you.

 

Ready to Begin Trauma Therapy?

If the past is still shaping how you feel today, I invite you to reach out. A free 15-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to ask questions and see whether working together feels right.