I LOVE to work with:
Teens who can’t stop going down the rabbit hole of worry and anxiety. Perfectionist, people pleasers that used to be goal oriented but are now stuck in the “what ifs.” Thoughtful teens that struggle with a low social battery but desire to be outgoing and own who they are.
I help teens who want to believe in themselves, but don’t know how. They’ve bent over backwards to be strong and keep from being a burden to others, but now can’t figure out why waves of sadness or isolation hit them late at night, preventing sleep. Panic attacks seem to come out of nowhere and happiness is elusive.
Trauma impacts us all. I help teens with trauma.
Hi, I’m Laura and I am a trauma therapist working with teens in Denver. Some therapists find working with teens frustrating; teens are my jam. I love finding ways into their heads and being able to provide a space for them to vent, curse, or just crash and decompress. My office has games and markers and fidgets galore.
Sessions will only be serious when they need to be because laughing is an important part of the therapy process. If we’re serious all the time, they won’t want to come back. One of the reasons why I chose my office is its proximity to a park. Being able to take a break from the office, get outside and ground in nature is often helpful when we are talking about difficult emotions and events.
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“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”
— Brené Brown
A Bit About How I Became A Trauma Therapist
I grew up in Kansas City as a huge sports fan and animal lover. My family was “complicated.” I have a brother with multiple physical and mental health challenges and a sister who was adopted and also struggled with mental health and substance use. Their struggles with finding support and healing were likely what started me on my journey to helping others.
My undergrad experience led me to New England and then I spent two years in Colorado finding myself and subsequently, losing my heart to this spiritual place.
Grad school was back in the Midwest at Washington University where I first participated in social justice movements and activities. After many years back in Kansas City with family, I embarked on my journey to reconnect my soul with my beloved Colorado.
I love sports, hiking, riding bicycles, and being with friends and family. Wolves are my kindred spirit, as family, loyalty, playfulness and strength are integral to their spirit. I look forward to meeting with you and helping you connect to your spirit and body in meaningful ways.
Education & Credentials
Master of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
My Therapeutic Approaches
Somatic Experiencing and Trauma Healing
Somatic Experiencing(SE) is a body-oriented approach to assist in the renegotiation of trauma, shock and other overwhelming experiences. SE helps teens with trauma focus on their bodies, which hold onto stress or tough experiences, like feeling tense or anxious. It teaches teens to listen to what their bodies are telling them and find ways to help it feel calm and safe again.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT helps teens deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way. By breaking struggles down into smaller doable parts, teens will learn how to change negative patterns to improve the way how they feel. Unlike some other talking treatments, CBT deals with current problems, rather than focusing on issues from the past.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is based on the idea that your brain can get stuck on bad memories or feelings, making you feel stressed or upset even when the event is over. EMDR helps teens focus on these memories or feelings while they move their eyes back and forth or tap their body from one side to the other. This might sound a bit strange, but it helps the brain process those tough memories in a different way. It helps the brain sort through those feelings and put them in the right place so they aren’t as impactful.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a way to help teens work through intense memories and feelings. It’s based on the idea that where you look with your eyes can actually help your brain process and let go of those emotions. I help my clients find these ‘brainspots.’ Brainspots are the connection between the position of a teen’s eyes and the emotion they are feeling. It’s like using the eyes to unlock and release the tough experiences.
