Complex Trauma & Childhood Wounds Therapy in Littleton, CO
Complex trauma often develops when difficult experiences happen repeatedly over time, especially in relationships where you were supposed to feel safe and supported. It may not always look like what people typically think of as trauma. Sometimes it shows up as anxiety that never seems to turn off, a harsh inner critic, people-pleasing, difficulty trusting yourself, or feeling like you're constantly waiting for something to go wrong. Often, these patterns become most noticeable when things are actually going well in your life.
You may have spent years minimizing what you went through, telling yourself it wasn't "bad enough" or that other people had it worse. But even experiences that were subtle, inconsistent, emotionally neglectful, or chronically stressful can leave lasting impacts on how you see yourself, navigate relationships, and move through the world.
The effects of complex trauma often follow us into adulthood in ways that can feel confusing. You may find that relationships seem harder, stress sends you over the edge, and you always feel on edge. These responses are ways your body has adapted to help you survive, and they worked. Now, you may be realizing it's time to heal those old wounds and find healthier, easier ways of navigating the world.
My Approach
My approach to complex trauma is integrative, relational, and grounded in the safety of the therapeutic relationship. I understand that the effects of trauma live not only in our thoughts, but also in our emotions, relationships, and nervous system. Because of this, healing requires a stable sense of safety, connection, and self-trust, while the brain and body are able to gently reprocess what happened and begin to heal the wounds that were formed.
Drawing from Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness. I help clients explore the impact of past experiences with compassion and curiosity rather than judgment.
Together, we work to better understand the patterns that developed to help you survive. We build awareness of these patterns, strengthen your ability to stay present with difficult emotions, deepen your sense of self, and develop new ways of responding that feel more aligned with who you are today.
In Our Work Together, We May Focus On:
Understanding how past experiences continue to influence your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and sense of self
Identifying survival strategies such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, overfunctioning, hypervigilance, or emotional shutdown
Building awareness of triggers and learning how to respond with greater self-compassion rather than self-criticism
Strengthening your ability to regulate overwhelming emotions and feel more grounded in daily life
Exploring attachment wounds and how they may be impacting your relationships today
Reconnecting with your needs, feelings, and inner voice after years of prioritizing others
Developing boundaries that feel clear, healthy, and sustainable
Learning to trust yourself and your decisions without constant self-doubt
Processing painful experiences at a pace that feels safe and supportive
Creating new patterns that allow you to experience greater connection, authenticity, and emotional freedom