PTSD Therapy in Denver, Colorado
Trauma can shape our lives in ways that are profound, invisible, and often overwhelming. Whether it stems from a single distressing event, ongoing relational wounds, or deeply rooted childhood experiences, trauma leaves its mark not only on the mind but also on the body and spirit. Understanding trauma, its impacts, and the pathways to healing is the first step toward reclaiming your life or supporting a loved one on their journey.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma occurs when we experience something so overwhelming that it exceeds our ability to cope. This can include:
Acute trauma: A one-time, highly stressful event, such as an accident, natural disaster, or assault.
Complex trauma: Relational wounds or prolonged exposure to difficult environments, often beginning in childhood, such as living with an emotionally unavailable parent.
Trauma isn’t about the event itself but how it impacts us. Two people might experience the same event, yet only one develops trauma because their nervous system perceives it as life-threatening or overwhelming.
The Impact of Trauma
Trauma can ripple through all aspects of life, affecting us mentally, emotionally, and somatically.
Mental impacts: Trauma often leads to anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, or difficulty concentrating. It can distort self-perception, fostering shame, guilt, or a belief that you’re unworthy or unsafe.
Emotional impacts: You might experience emotional numbness, difficulty trusting others, or intense, overwhelming feelings like anger or sadness. Emotional flashbacks—sudden waves of fear or distress without a clear memory—are also common.
Somatic impacts: Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind; it resides in the body. Chronic pain, tension, digestive issues, fatigue, or even autoimmune conditions can often be traced to unresolved trauma. A dysregulated nervous system can leave you stuck in “fight, flight, freeze/shut down, or placating/appeasing.” mode, unable to relax fully.
Approaches to Healing
Healing from trauma is possible. While the process looks different for everyone, the following approaches are particularly effective:
1. Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on the body’s role in trauma. By tuning into sensations, movements, and physical responses, it helps release stored tension and restore balance to the nervous system. Techniques like grounding exercises, breathwork, and gentle body awareness empower you to feel more connected to yourself.
2. Relational Therapy
Trauma often originates in relationships, making relational therapy a crucial part of healing. This approach fosters safe, supportive connections that help you rebuild trust, develop healthier attachment patterns, and redefine how you relate to others. You can learn more about relational therapy here.
3. Trauma Immersives
For those looking for an accelerated path to healing, trauma immersives offer an intensive and transformative experience. These immersives involve focused, personalized sessions designed to dive deeply into your specific needs in a concentrated timeframe.
Trauma immersives combine techniques like somatic therapy, nervous system regulation, and relational healing to address trauma holistically. This focused approach allows you to experience breakthroughs and progress more quickly than traditional weekly therapy sessions. While immersives are not a replacement for ongoing support, they can provide a powerful jumpstart to your healing journey or help you work through a specific issue with greater depth and focus, and can accelerate your healing process, saving you time and money.
Supporting Yourself in Healing
Healing takes time and patience. Here are some ways to support yourself:
Validate your experience: Trauma is not a weakness. It’s a response to something overwhelming. Remind yourself that your reactions make sense given what you’ve endured.
Prioritize self-care: Gentle, consistent self-care can help regulate your nervous system. This might include journaling, yoga, art, nature walks, or simply resting when you need to.
Seek support: Healing isn’t something you have to do alone. Whether through therapy, immersives, support groups, or trusted friends, sharing your story with safe people can ease your burden.
Be kind to your body: Trauma impacts the body deeply. Practices like breathwork, stretching, or simply listening to what your body needs can create a sense of safety from within.
Supporting a Loved One
Watching someone you care about navigate trauma can be heartbreaking. While you can’t fix their pain, you can offer meaningful support:
Hold space for them: Listen without judgment or trying to “fix” them. Validate their emotions and let them know they’re not alone.
Learn about trauma: Educate yourself about trauma’s effects to better understand their experience.
Encourage professional help: Gently suggest therapy or immersives as resources, but respect their pace and autonomy.
Respect boundaries: Trauma survivors may need space or time to process. Honor their limits, even if it’s difficult.
The Road to Recovery
Healing from trauma is a deeply personal journey that requires time, compassion, and the right tools. Whether you’re embarking on this path yourself or supporting someone you love, remember that healing is not about erasing the past—it’s about learning to live fully in the present. With the right support, including trauma-informed therapy or immersives, it’s possible to reclaim your life and rediscover the joy, connection, and peace you deserve.
About the Author
Martha Carter is a licensed therapist providing virtual services in Colorado. She is trauma-informed and trained in somatic, neurobiology-based modalities to help people with all types of trauma, chronic pain, and eating disorders heal from the inside out.
(Colorado residents only)
