How to Choose the Right Trauma Therapist in Denver

Erika Baum
Sep 6
4 min read

Updated: Sep 16

Disclaimer: Apparently, I have to add this, this site shares general information and ideas — not therapy, professional advice, or mental health treatment. Reading here does not make me your therapist (imagine the paperwork if it did). As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘A mind stretched by new ideas never returns to its original dimension.’ That’s the spirit of what you’ll find here. Read on, my friend.

Finding the right trauma therapist can feel overwhelming—especially when you're already navigating the emotional weight of CPTSD, attachment trauma, or the long-term effects of growing up in a home where your emotional needs weren’t met.

I get it. I’ve been on both sides of the couch, and I know how vulnerable it is to start this journey. As a trauma therapist here in Denver, I’ve helped many people who were unsure where to begin. The good news is that the right fit does exist—and it can make all the difference in your healing process.

If you’re searching for Denver therapy or Denver counseling and wondering how to choose the right trauma therapist, here are the key things I encourage you to consider.

1. Look for a Therapist Who Specializes in Trauma

Not all therapy is trauma-informed. Many therapists are well-intentioned, but unless they’ve been specifically trained in treating trauma, especially complex trauma like CPTSD, they may not understand how trauma lives in the body, nervous system, and attachment system.

I specialize in working with:

Attachment trauma
Adult children of alcoholics
Adult children of emotionally immature parents
Mother hunger
Disorganized or insecure attachment styles
Individuals recovering from emotionally unavailable or abusive caregiving

If these experiences resonate with you, you’ll want to work with someone who not only understands them clinically—but who can meet them with compassion, skill, and presence.

2. Ask About Their Approach to Trauma Healing

There are many paths to healing trauma. In my practice at Denver Attachment Counseling, I use a combination of evidence-based, depth-oriented methods including:

EMDR therapy to reprocess painful memories and reduce emotional distress
IFS (Internal Family Systems) to work with inner parts and restore self-leadership
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for clients who are ready for deep, accelerated healing and expanded consciousness
Attachment-based therapy to explore how early relationships shaped your current emotional patterns

These modalities work beautifully together because they address trauma not just at the cognitive level, but at the emotional, somatic, and spiritual levels as well.

If you're looking for whole-person healing in Denver, make sure your therapist offers more than just talk therapy.

3. Pay Attention to the Therapist’s Energy and Presence

One of the most important things in trauma recovery is feeling safe. Not just intellectually—but in your body, your nervous system, and your emotional experience.

When you meet with a potential therapist (even just for a consultation), ask yourself:

Do I feel emotionally safe with this person?
Do they speak with warmth, empathy, and clarity?
Can they hold complexity without rushing me or trying to fix me?

In my work, I aim to create a space where you can exhale. Where all parts of you are welcome—especially the ones that have been silenced, dismissed, or misunderstood.

4. Consider Their Experience with Attachment and Relational Trauma

Many of my clients are navigating the ripple effects of attachment trauma—whether that shows up in relationships, self-esteem, trust, or emotional regulation.

This includes:

Being the adult child of an emotionally immature parent
Experiencing mother hunger or emotional neglect
Struggling with disorganized, anxious, or avoidant attachment styles
Feeling like you’re “too much” or “not enough” in your closest relationships

If this sounds like you, you’ll want a therapist who understands attachment theory not just intellectually, but as a living, breathing part of the therapeutic relationship.

Healing attachment wounds requires more than coping skills. It requires being seen, attuned to, and respected at every level of your being.

5. Ask if They Support Spiritual Integration

For some, trauma healing opens the door to spiritual questions, intuitive insight, or experiences that don’t always fit into a traditional talk therapy model.

If that’s you, you’re not alone.

I work with clients who are curious about:

Spiritual integration
Non-ordinary states of consciousness (especially after Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy)
Exploring meaning, identity, and purpose through a trauma-informed spiritual lens

Whether or not you identify as spiritual, having space for your inner world to be seen and honored can be a deeply healing part of the process.

6. Listen to Your Gut

You are the expert on you. No matter how experienced a therapist is, what matters most is how you feel with them. Your trauma healing deserves a therapist who:

Gets it
Shows up fully
Doesn’t pathologize your survival strategies
Helps you move toward wholeness, not just symptom relief

If something in you says, “this feels like a safe place to land,” trust that.

My Approach at Denver Attachment Counseling

I offer individual trauma therapy rooted in relational safety, depth, and spiritual integration. I specialize in working with adults navigating:

CPTSD and complex trauma
Attachment wounds
Emotionally immature parenting
Mother hunger
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy integration
Whole-person healing in Denver

My work is trauma-informed, spiritually aware, and grounded in evidence-based approaches like EMDR, IFS, and attachment-based therapy.

If you’re ready to explore how therapy can support your healing—not just as a client, but as a full human being—I would be honored to walk with you.

Ready to Begin?

Finding the right trauma therapist in Denver doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by trusting your body, your needs, and your inner wisdom. You deserve support that meets you exactly where you are.

I offer consultations so you can get a feel for the work before committing.

Visit Denver Attachment Counseling to schedule your first call. Let’s find out if we’re the right fit—for your healing, your nervous system, and your path forward.

You are not too much. You are not broken. You are ready.