Trauma Therapy in Castle Rock, CO
What happened to you matters. And healing is possible. Specialized trauma treatment to help you reclaim your life.
Book a Free ConsultationTrauma changes you. It affects how you think, how you feel in your body, how you connect with others, and how you see the world. Maybe you've tried to push through, to move on, to just forget about it – but the past has a way of showing up when you least expect it.
You might not even call what happened "trauma." Maybe it dosent seem dramatic enough, or you've convinced yourself it shouldn't still affect you. But if painful experiences from your past are still impacting your present, you deserve support.
At South Denver Therapy in Castle Rock, we specialize in trauma therapy that actually works. We use evidence-based approaches like EMDR to help you process what happened so it stops controlling your life. You don't have to keep living this way.
Understanding Trauma and Its Effects
Trauma isn't just about what happened – it's about how your brain and body responded to overwhelming experiences. When something threatens your safety (physically or emotionally), your nervous system goes into survival mode. Sometimes it gets stuck there, even long after the danger has passed.
This is why trauma symptoms often don't make logical sense. You know you're safe now, but your body doesn't believe it. You might react to things that seem harmless to others. You might feel on edge all the time, or strangely numb. This isn't weakness – it's your nervous system doing what it was designed to do. It just needs help finding its way back.
How Trauma Affects You
Trauma impacts every part of who you are:
Your Brain
Memory, concentration, emotional regulation, decision-making
Your Body
Sleep, digestion, chronic pain, immune function, tension
Your Relationships
Trust, intimacy, communication, attachment patterns
Types of Trauma We Treat
Trauma takes many forms. We provide specialized treatment for all types:
Childhood Trauma
Abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that shaped how you developed and how you see yourself and others today.
Physical or Sexual Abuse
Past or recent experiences of violence, assault, or violation. We provide a safe space to process these experiences at your own pace.
Accidents & Injuries
Car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or other sudden events that left you shaken – even if you walked away physically okay.
Medical Trauma
Frightening medical experiences, surgeries, diagnoses, ICU stays, or traumatic childbirth that left lasting emotional impact.
Domestic Violence
Physical, emotional, or psychological abuse from an intimate partner. We understand the complexity of these experiences.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
Ongoing or repeated trauma, often in childhood or relationships, that affects identity, emotional regulation, and relationships differently than single-incident trauma.
Signs You May Be Struggling with Unresolved Trauma
Trauma doesn't always look like what you'd expect. Many people don't realize that their struggles are connected to past experiences. Here are some signs that trauma may be affecting you:
Our Trauma-Informed Approach
Trauma therapy isn't just regular talk therapy. It requires specialized training and approaches that work with how the brain actually stores and processes traumatic memories. Our approach combines multiple evidence-based methods tailored to your unique needs.
EMDR Therapy
Our primary tool for trauma processing. EMDR helps your brain reprocess stuck memories so they stop triggering intense reactions. Highly effective and often faster than traditional approaches.
Somatic Awareness
Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. We help you reconnect with physical sensations and release tension your body has been holding.
Stabilization & Safety
Before processing trauma, we make sure you have solid coping tools and feel safe enough to do the work. We never rush this foundation.
EMDR: An Effective Treatment for Trauma
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most researched and effective treatments for trauma and PTSD. It's recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the VA as a first-line treatment.
Why We Use EMDR for Trauma
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to describe traumatic events in detail or spend months analyzing the past. Instead, it helps your brain process stuck memories so they lose their emotional charge. The memory remains, but it stops controlling you.
Carissa is EMDRIA-certified, meaning she's completed advanced training and supervision in EMDR therapy beyond basic certification.
Learn more about EMDR therapy →Read: EMDR for Complex PTSD and Childhood Trauma →
How Trauma Affects Relationships
Trauma doesn't just affect you – it ripples into your relationships. You might struggle to trust, to let people close, or to feel safe being vulnerable. You might react to your partner in ways that confuse both of you. Or you might find yourself repeating unhealthy relationship patterns without understanding why.
Individual Support for Relationship Challenges
We help you understand how trauma is showing up in your relationships and work toward healthier patterns:
- Understanding your attachment style and how it developed
- Recognizing trauma responses that affect how you relate to others
- Building capacity for trust and emotional intimacy
- Learning to communicate needs and set healthy boundaries
- Breaking cycles of unhealthy relationship patterns
- Processing relationship trauma (infidelity, betrayal, abuse)
If trauma is affecting your relationship and you'd like to work on it together with your partner, our practice also offers specialized couples counseling.
Learn about couples counseling →What Trauma Therapy Looks Like
Starting trauma therapy can feel scary. Here's what to actually expect:
Free Consultation
A 15-minute call to connect and see if we're a good fit. You can share a little about what you're dealing with and ask questions. No pressure, no commitment.
Assessment & History
We take time to understand your story, your symptoms, and what you're hoping to achieve. This helps us create a treatment plan tailored to you.
Stabilization & Preparation
Before diving into trauma processing, we make sure you have solid coping skills and resources. This foundation is what makes deeper work safe and effective.
Trauma Processing
Using EMDR and other techniques, we work through the memories and experiences that are keeping you stuck. You stay in control of the pace.
Integration & Growth
As symptoms decrease, we focus on building the life you want. New beliefs about yourself, healthier relationships, and a sense of freedom from the past.
Why Choose South Denver Therapy
Meet Carissa Keeter
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) • EMDRIA CertifiedCarissa specializes in trauma therapy and has helped countless clients heal from painful experiences. She's EMDRIA-certified, meaning she's completed advanced training in EMDR beyond basic certification. Her approach is warm but direct – she'll meet you where you are while also helping you move forward. Trauma work is hard, and you deserve a therapist who knows how to guide you through it safely.
Learn more about CarissaAward-Winning Care
Voted Best of the Best in Mental Health for Castle Rock in 2024 and 2025.
Trauma Specialist
EMDRIA-certified with extensive experience in trauma treatment and PTSD.
Safe & Supportive
A judgment-free space where you can process at your own pace.
In-Person & Telehealth
Meet at our Castle Rock office or from home via secure video.
FAQs About Trauma Treatment
What's the difference between trauma therapy and regular therapy?
Trauma therapy uses specialized techniques designed specifically for processing traumatic memories and experiences. Regular talk therapy can be helpful for many issues, but trauma often requires approaches that work with how the brain stores and processes traumatic memories. We use evidence-based methods like EMDR that are specifically designed for trauma healing.
Do I have to talk about all the details of what happened?
No. With approaches like EMDR, you don't need to describe traumatic events in detail. You stay in control of what you share, and effective trauma processing can happen without reliving every detail. We'll never push you to share more than you're comfortable with.
How long does trauma therapy take?
It depends on your unique situation. Single-incident trauma (like a car accident) often resolves faster than complex or childhood trauma. Some people see significant improvement in 8-12 sessions, while others with more complex histories benefit from longer-term work. We'll give you a realistic picture after learning more about your situation.
Is what I experienced "bad enough" to be trauma?
Trauma isn't measured by comparing your experience to someone else's. If something overwhelmed your ability to cope and continues to affect you, it's worth addressing. Many people minimize their experiences, but emotional neglect, verbal abuse, medical procedures, and other "smaller" events can absolutely cause trauma responses.
How much does trauma therapy cost?
Sessions are $175 for 60 minutes. Many clients get reimbursed through their out-of-network insurance benefits. Visit our FAQs page to learn how Mentaya can help you recover a significant portion of your costs.
Can trauma therapy make things worse before they get better?
It's normal to experience some temporary discomfort as you begin processing trauma – feelings may intensify briefly as they come to the surface. However, we pace treatment carefully and make sure you have coping tools before diving into deeper work. Our goal is healing, not retraumatization.
You Deserve to Heal
You've carried this long enough. Whatever happened to you, however long ago – healing is still possible. Take the first step and reach out.
Book a Free ConsultationOr call us at (720) 663-8046