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686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a trauma can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Bonnie Sommer

Hear from Bonnie Sommer, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

View Bonnie Sommer's profile

What is your go-to approach for PTSD/trauma therapy?

My go-to approach for helping people in PTSD/trauma therapy is to first establish rapport with the client. Then, I gently and sensitively explore the recollection of the facts of the traumatic incident and their emotional reaction at the time. I assess the client's frequency, duration, intensity, and history of PTSD symptoms and their impact on daily function.

What tools do you teach in PTSD/trauma therapy?

I teach the client strategies from stress inoculation training such as relaxation techniques, breath control, exploring self-talk, and mediating trauma-related fears. I will also teach the client guided self-dialog in which they learn to recognize maladaptive self-talk, challenge biases, and overcome avoidance. I also employ DBT thought-stopping, encourage clients to routinely use strategies learned in sessions and develop a coping card, and (if they choose) do art therapy. I will encourage clients to purchase “The PTSD Workbook” by Mary Beth Williams if they like to read and journal.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in PTSD/trauma therapy?

I know a client is making meaningful progress in PTSD/trauma therapy when they report and the clinician observes more positive cognitive messages that enhance confidence and increase adaptive action.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement PTSD/trauma therapy?

Clients can supplement their time in PTSD/trauma therapy by completing homework prior to each session with provided worksheets and/or articles. Routine use strategies learned in sessions i.e. progressive relaxation, movement, mindfulness, paced breathwork, a morning routine, and bedtime rituals will be completed by the client with input from the clinician.

What should someone do to prepare for starting PTSD/trauma therapy?

To prepare for their first PTSD/trauma therapy session, it would be helpful for the client to read my welcome letter. In my experience with grief and PTSD, it is extremely difficult to ask the client to do any assessments or goals for therapy before our first session. The therapeutic alliance with trauma survivors is critical and can be difficult to establish. It is common that it may take 3 or 4 sessions or a doorknob confession before their story emerges.

Starting Trauma therapy

What is trauma therapy?

Trauma therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on treating the psychological impact of traumatic events on individuals. Trauma therapy helps people process and heal from their trauma by guiding them through their trauma in a compassionate and supportive way, allowing clients to feel the full scope of what happened to them and eventually move on from the event(s). This process helps people who have experienced trauma find ways to feel safe in their lives.

How does trauma therapy work?

Trauma therapy will often require individuals to walk through their experiences in a controlled and compassionate setting (unless the client has a dissociative disorder) so that they can fully process the event, an activity that will allow them to move on from what happened and feel safe again. Thriveworks Pueblo therapists will also help clients learn healthy coping mechanisms to deal with their symptoms outside of therapy.

Is trauma therapy conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks trauma counseling in Pueblo, CO is conducted both in person and online through online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does trauma therapy last?

If an individual is working through a single event that occurred during adulthood, they may only need a few months of treatment. However, in instances of childhood trauma or repeated traumatic events, therapy may continue over the course of years. Trauma therapy usually ends when the client believes they have met their therapeutic goals, however long that takes to occur. Thriveworks therapists in Pueblo, CO will continue to provide care for as long as necessary to help clients meet their therapeutic needs.

Need more help deciding?

Trauma Therapy—Thriveworks Pueblo (Pueblo County)

Thriveworks Pueblo is just one of those ways to heal. We pride ourselves on being empathetic and nonjudgmental, creating a safe place for our clients to heal from their past and prepare for their future. Healing from a trauma can come with pain, anxiety, anger, and feelings of hopelessness, but it is far from impossible.

Thriveworks Pueblo will make sure you don’t go through it alone. But that same strength and courage that is enabling you to read this will enable you to fully heal from your trauma and live the peaceful, fulfilling life that you deserve.

Simply call us at (719) 294-0595  or go online to schedule your session today.

What Are Some Symptoms of Trauma?

If you recognize some of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, reaching out to Thriveworks Pueblo can help:

  • Recurrent, painful dreams
  • Flashbacks
  • Emotional numbness
  • Jittery/always on edge
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Hesitancy to open up to other people, even those you trusted before the trauma
  • Persistent fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame
  • Diminished interest in activities you previously enjoy
  • Difficulty feeling positive emotions
  • A general feeling of detachment from the world or yourself
  • Continuous feeling of discomfort in stomach and gut

Whatever you are struggling with, a professional counselor at Thriveworks Pueblo is here to bridge the gap between your pain and your future by helping you take the steps towards healing.

How Can We Help?

Thriveworks Pueblo believes in practicing counseling with a client-first mentality. You are the true master of yourself and we are simply here to help guide and support you. Some of the ways we can help includes:

  • Education on the symptoms of trauma
  • Learning effective coping skills when symptoms do flare up. (Things like relaxation exercises, anger-management techniques and guided imagery)
  • Guidance on how to better manage sleep, exercise and diet- which may have been severely impacted by the traumatic event and are vital in the healing process.
  • Identify and address any guilt, self-blame or other negative emotions surrounding what happened. The trauma is not your fault.
  • Walk through the lingering fear and anxiety. It can be painful, but the unaddressed emotions play a large part in the negative aftermath of a trauma.
  • Address any comorbid struggles such as anxiety or depression.

Thriveworks Pueblo is here to help bring you to your true potential by healing from past trauma through client-centered and nonjudgmental counseling. If you’re ready to find freedom, call (719) 838-6383 today.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Pueblo therapists and counselors accept 28 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado Medicare Advantage

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado | GHI BMP

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado | PPO - HMO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Pueblo
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Thriveworks Pueblo reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
Really easy to get a session scheduled. The people there are very friendly and willing to work with your schedule. Great atmosphere, great mission!
Read more Really easy to get a session scheduled. The people there are very friendly and willing to work with your schedule. Great atmosphere, great mission!
Pueblo Jul 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Therapy Pueblo is located at the corner of W City Center Drive and Central Main Street. Across the street with Pueblo Convention Center and Loco Wines & Liquors, we share an office space with Vectra Bank and the Thatcher Foundation.

Phone number

(719) 294-0595

Languages spoken by CO providers

  • English
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in MT

Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in MT

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