Sadly, people experience trauma all the time:

​

• Car accidents

• Criminal acts and violence

• Natural disasters

• Assault and rape

• Combat and law enforcement experience

• Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual)

• Bullying, racism, and other forms of oppression

 

Some people who experience trauma are able to recover quickly and regain a sense of normalcy. 

 

However, many are left feeling the aftereffects of trauma, also known as posttraumatic stress:

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

Posttraumatic stress is the mind and body’s reaction to surviving something shocking, disturbing, or unthinkable. 

 

The experience puts you into survival mode.  You learned to think, feel, and act in ways that keep you safe in the future.  Stay alert.  React quickly.  Get away, or get ready to fight.  The world no longer feels safe.  When the symptoms of posttraumatic stress affect your relationships, your functionality, or your sense of wellbeing, professional help is warranted. 

 

Survivors of trauma often get stuck in survival mode, and so it can take months, even years before things start to feel normal again. 

 

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

 

If you or a loved one have survived a traumatic life event and are struggling with posttraumatic stress, don’t wait.  Get the help you deserve and contact us today. 

​

 

How can therapy for trauma help?

 

 

Psychotherapy (also called therapy or counseling) for trauma can help in three main ways. 

 

First, therapy offers a chance for you to share your thoughts and feelings in a safe, confidential space.  You may have felt a need to keep your experiences private and avoid talking with friends and family members to try to protect them from what you went through.  Therapists can help you feel understood and supported without worrying about being a burden or causing distress. 

 

Second, therapists can help you process and make sense of what happened to you.  This is important, as the mind and body often store trauma in ways that are disorganized, chaotic, and confusing.  Body-based therapy techniques (such as the ones we offer) are particularly effective for helping you gain awareness of and heal from how the trauma affected you physically.  As the trauma is processed and worked through, you will begin to regain your sense of normalcy. 

 

And third, therapy provides an opportunity for you to heal from the past and build a better future.  Therapists can help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, your personality, and your values.  You can rediscover a sense of meaning and purpose in life, move on, and thrive. 

 

No matter how bad things might seem, no matter how long you have been hurting, there is hope. 

​

 

What does therapy look like at

Bearing Witness Therapy?

 

 

You deserve a chance at wellness.

 

Bearing Witness Therapy provides down-to-earth, evidence-based care for people from all over Boulder (where our office is located), as well as Denver and Longmont.  Each session is fully confidential and tailored to help you meet your goals.  We strive to help you feel understood, supported, and cared for as you work to enhance your wellbeing. 

 

Our practice utilizes therapy techniques drawn primarily from Gestalt and Hakomi therapy, both of which focus heavily on the present moment (rather than dwelling on the past) and your mind-body experience.  The body is able to access more of the conscious mind than we realize, and so we utilize body-centered modalities to help you gain deeper awareness. 

 

Therapy for trauma can help you learn to:

​

• Decrease reactivity to reminders (triggers) of trauma

• Calm the mind and body

• Practice mindfulness and other coping strategies

• Reconnect with loved ones

• Make tangible progress towards your goals

• Find healing and closure with what happened

 

We call our practice Bearing Witness Therapy for a reason. 

 

We all experience suffering and hardship in life.  We all endure moments where we feel helpless, defeated, and broken.  We ride the ups and downs of life as best we can.  And yet, all of these experiences are harder to carry when we carry them alone.  We believe in the healing power of having someone to lean on, someone to bear witness to the hurt and heartache you are facing. 

 

You deserve nothing less.

 

Interested?  We are here for you.

 

Interested in learning about us?  Want to hear more about how we can help?  Contact us today - we would love to hear from you.