What to Expect in Your First Trauma Therapy Session

Erika Baum
Sep 17
3 min read

Hi there,

If you’re reading this, it probably means you’re considering therapy for trauma, and first, I just want to acknowledge how big that is. Whether you're exploring healing from CPTSD, attachment trauma, or simply beginning to notice patterns that no longer serve you, reaching out is a courageous first step.

I’m Erika, a therapist here at Denver Attachment Counseling, and I want to walk you through what to expect in your first trauma therapy session with me. My hope is that this gives you some clarity—and maybe even a bit of calm—before we meet.

First, You Don’t Have to Tell Me Everything Right Away

Let’s get this one out of the way early: you will not be expected to dive into your most painful experiences in our first session.

Trauma therapy is about creating safety, and that starts from the very beginning. Our first session is more about getting to know you—your story, your goals, your rhythms. You’ll have space to share whatever feels comfortable, and we’ll go at your pace. Healing doesn’t have a timeline, and we’re in no rush.

A Focus on Whole-Person Healing

At Denver Attachment Counseling, we don’t treat symptoms in isolation. We look at you as a whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Whether you’re working through attachment wounds, developmental trauma, or the chronic impact of CPTSD, we explore how these experiences have shaped your nervous system, your relationships, and your sense of self.

I draw from integrative, evidence-based modalities like:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Spiritual Integration

Depending on your needs, we might incorporate any of these approaches into your treatment plan. In our first session, we’ll talk about which modalities resonate with you and what your comfort level is. Nothing is forced. Everything is collaborative.

We'll Explore Attachment Patterns—Without Judgment

If you’ve ever wondered why certain relationship dynamics repeat, why you feel disconnected, or why boundaries are so hard (or maybe too rigid), this could be related to your attachment style.

Understanding your attachment patterns can be incredibly liberating. In our work together, we’ll start to gently explore where those patterns came from—and how they can shift. We don’t pathologize your defenses; we honor them as once-necessary strategies that helped you survive.

Your First Session Is a Partnership

Therapy isn’t something I do to you—it’s something we co-create. During our first session, I’ll ask you what you’re hoping for, what’s been hard, and what you’d like to get out of our work together. You don’t have to have all the answers; curiosity is more than enough.

This is your space. Your story. Your healing. I’m here to walk alongside you.

The Reason Behind Weekly Sessions:

I offer weekly in-person therapy sessions at my office here in Denver. I’ve found that consistent, face-to-face connection offers a powerful container for trauma work and attachment healing.

My work is deeply relational and somatically oriented, which means having a shared physical space can support nervous system regulation, emotional attunement, and the slow, steady repair of relational trauma.

At Denver Attachment Counseling, I specialize in working with individuals navigating:

Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
Attachment trauma
Dissociation and emotional numbness
Chronic overwhelm and nervous system dysregulation
Difficult relationship patterns and attachment styles
Spiritual and psychedelic integration (including Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy)

All sessions are held in person at my Denver office on a weekly basis. This structure supports depth work, consistency, and a felt sense of safety in the therapeutic relationship.

This Is A New Beginning

I want to leave you with this: you are not broken. The ways you’ve adapted make sense in the context of what you’ve been through. Together, we can work toward healing that honors every part of you, from your survival strategies to your deepest longings.

If you're ready to take the next step or just have questions about how Denver counseling can support your journey, I’d be honored to connect with you.