Trauma and PTSD therapists in Edgewater, Colorado CO
Trauma and PTSD
Natalie Stemati
Psychologist, Psy.D.
A lot of people experience trauma within their family of origin. I work with developmental (childhood) and attachment (ways of learning how to emotionally bond) trauma which includes growing up in alcoholism, abuse, conflict, parent death and/or any traumatic experience endured during childhood. As a result, a lot of people develop a type of insecure attachment that impacts their current relationships (i.e. dependency, fear, conflict, anxiety).
13 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Denver Wellness Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Here at Denver Wellness Counseling we specialize in EMDR and trauma/PTSD counseling. Our therapists have achieved advanced training in what we call Elevated EMDR, meaning the ability to effectively combine modalities and adapt the EMDR basic protocol to best meet the needs of the client.
Therapy for Trauma and PTSD have some primary components, including (but not limited to), gathering history, identifying parts of self related to the trauma (wounded younger parts and protector parts), building and practicing skills for self-regulation and self-soothing, resourcing by strengthening internal qualities and sources of positive affect, reprocessing traumatic memories (EMDR), and integrating adaptive themes and positive messages about self and the world.
Traumatic memories are stored differently in the brain, remaining in their "raw" form, in isolation from our adaptive (helpful) information, and able to impact our day-to-day experiences. With PTSD, our traumatic memories can frequently cause us to flash back into trauma-related thoughts, feelings, sensation, and action urges (fight, flight, freeze, submit, cry for help). EMDR uses eye movements or other bilateral sensations (similar to those found in REM sleep) to activate and encourage the brains natural ability to "reprocess" memories, which can both desensitize the memory (take the intensity out) and allow integration with the more adaptive neural circuitry. This process of emotional reprocessing can thus take the power away from these memories so they stop replaying and impacting our current functioning.
15 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Anastasia Mitchell
Counselor/Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, Art Therapist
I am trained in EMDR and, if interested, I am able to use art therapy interventions to assist in addressing traumatic experiences and symptoms of PTSD.
6 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado
Marriage and Family Therapist
In our comfortable, home-like ranch setting, clients of all ages and income levels are provided counseling or psychotherapy with the assistance of certified counselors and their trained therapy animals. Have a cup of tea and pet the baby goats while you wait, or sit quietly in our gazebo and read.
39 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Kelly Norris Counseling & Psychotherapy, LLC
Counselor/Therapist, MA, LPC, CCTP-II
“Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then. It’s the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people.”
- Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD (2014)
Sadly, about half of us will experience at least one significant traumatic event in our lifetime. Trauma is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of events and experiences. What actually determines whether an event is “traumatic” is the person’s own reaction to that event.
Trauma can refer to a single event or several distinct events (eg, sexual or physical assualt, car accident, near death experience, combat, etc). It can also come in the form of repeated relational violations (relational trauma) or in the form of abandonment, abuse, neglect and other aversive experiences in early childhood (developmental trauma).
*Time alone does not heal "all" wounds*
The effects of trauma linger in the body. Often, people experience “hyper-arousal” symptoms long after the traumatic event(s). It is as if their mind is constantly “on guard,” vigilant, always scanning the environment for danger. Other hyper-arousal symptoms include irritability, anger outbursts (or having a “short fuse”), restlessness, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, flashbacks and an increased startle response.
People may also experience hypo-arousal symptoms following a traumatic event. For example, they may experience dissociation during times of extreme or overwhelming distress. In other words, they “zone out” and lose their connection with their physical body/sensory experiences, their personal identity (depersonalization), and/or reality (derealization). They may lose time or experience gaps in their memory.
Trauma disrupts and interferes with the normal processing and consolidation of memories in the brain. Past traumatic events are re-lived and re-experienced over and over, as if they were still happening now. As long as the memories go unprocessed, the profound effects of trauma can endure long after the traumatic experience has ended.
*You are NOT ‘broken,’ ‘damaged’ or ‘crazy.’*
It is important to note that these post-traumatic symptoms represent a normal and adaptive response to highly unusual and aversive circumstances. The mind does incredible things to protect us and keep us safe from harm. Since the memories of the traumatic experience haven’t been properly processed, the brain perceives it as something that is still happening, as a present and real threat.
It is possible to ‘turn down’ this threat response. With therapy, you can recover, heal and even thrive after trauma.
*Therapy can help you heal your past wounds*
Trauma-informed therapy involves strategies and interventions for regulating and calming your nervous system, helping you to access a sense of safety, security and calm in your body, and providing an anchor that you can always turn to in order to ground yourself in the present moment.
Trauma treatment facilitates the normal processing and consolidation of memories to occur. As mentioned earlier, these processes can be disrupted by trauma, which means that trauma memories are not stored and consolidated like normal memories. This is what accounts for many post-traumatic symptoms.
Trauma therapy is tailored to the individual. Interventions may include: Somatic Experiencing (SE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), and/or Attachment Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR).
*Goals of Therapy*
You will work collaboratively with your therapist to identify goals for therapy. Below are a few examples of common goals in trauma treatment:
Eliminating or ameliorating symptoms
Releasing yourself from the past and becoming grounded in the present.
Boosting your day-to-day functioning
Regaining your personal power, & minimizing the hold that the trauma has had on you.
Equipping you with skills to effectively manage and regulate your internal experiences and external stressors day to day.
Strengthening your internal resources so that you can recover and heal, and maintain these gains long-term.
If you're dealing with impacts of trauma, I welcome the opportunity to help you heal past wounds and regain control of your life.
11 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Sonya Som
Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, LPCC, EMDR, Hypnotherapist
Many clients present with trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD, yet are unaware of it. I used evidence-based practices in the treatment of traumatic instances, and also understand the various and insidious symptoms of trauma.
5 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Cedric Reeves
Counselor/Therapist, LPCC
The two modalities I am trained in (Schema Therapy and Ideal Parent Figure Protocol) address both recent trauma and early developmental trauma
1 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Kelli Tahaney
Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D.
I have a lot of experience working with individuals with trauma history, as it is often prevalent among individuals suffering from addiction. I've learned to help people process past trauma while also developing coping skills for the present, including replacing maladaptive coping mechanisms.
3 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
TRS Neurofeedback & Counseling
Counselor/Therapist, Ph.D., LPC, BCN, QEEG-D
With developmental trauma we have found that the brain and body "Keep the Score" as Bessel Vanderkolk explains in his book on the subject. Neurofeedback gently helps the brain shift and heal from past trauma. It is not as quick and easy as less complex anxiety and depression, but most clients get to a significantly better place of emotional and behavioral regulation.
18 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Jerleen Sinkes
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
In working with trauma, my priority is to establish a space of safety and trust, where the story of your trauma is met with the utmost respect and care. I understand that trauma affects not just the mind, but the body and spirit as well. Our journey together involves gently uncovering and working through the painful memories and feelings at a pace that feels manageable for you. My goal is to help you regain a sense of control and self-worth, processing the trauma so that it becomes a part of your story without defining it. Healing from trauma is possible, and I am here to support you through every step of this transformative journey.
6 Years Experience