Our therapists offer PTSD & trauma therapy in Colorado Springs, CO

My go-to approach for helping people in PTSD/trauma therapy is first and foremost to ensure a safe, comfortable, empowered therapeutic environment. Overall, I take a focused, gentle approach to guide clients through the healing journey of PTSD/trauma recovery.

While not an exhaustive list, I teach the following tools in PTSD/trauma therapy:

• Trauma-informed CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapy done through a lens of understanding the unique impacts of trauma on a client's ability to manage thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors
• Somatic experiencing: Noticing the impact that positive and negative experiences have on a client's body, aiming to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies

A client making meaningful progress in PTSD/trauma therapy will look different from person to person. Trauma is multi-faceted; there is likely no singular end goal or point where a person will be able to say that their trauma no longer impacts them in some way. A client is making meaningful progress in therapy for PTSD/trauma when they are able to report an improved ability to manage day-to-day symptoms, and when they are able to recount the memory of the experience while holding space for any feelings that may come up.

Clients can supplement their time in therapy for PTSD/trauma by giving themselves a lot of grace, patience, and time. Putting focus and energy towards the things a client wants to see improved will help them spend less time feeling “stuck.” Lean on a consistent support person and reach out when needed.

To prepare for your first session for concerns of trauma, I encourage individuals to simply show up as they are, and to not put too much pressure on themselves. You get to decide how much information you share in the first session and can decide how much time to spend talking about trauma.