PTSD & Complex PTSD Therapy
In Denver
You're not too much and you don't have to keep navigating this alone. We can help you find the way.
Understand What’s Really Happening: Learn why you feel stuck and how trauma shapes your mind and body.
Heal Safely & Gently: Process your experiences at your own pace, in a space that feels warm and human—not clinical.
Move from Surviving to Living: Feel more present, grounded, and able to enjoy your life again.
I support people in healing the trauma beneath their struggles — and finally move from just surviving to actually wanting to live.
Therapy here isn’t about fixing you — it’s about creating a space where healing feels possible.
When You’ve Been Carrying Too Much for Too Long
You’ve lived with this weight for years, maybe decades.
The constant feeling of overwhelm, the panic, the shame. The feeling that no matter how much time has passed, you're still not okay.
You've tried to cope in the only ways you knew how—minimizing your pain, staying silent, pushing through, maybe blaming yourself.
Maybe you’ve even tried seeking support before and walked away feeling like no one really saw you, or your story didn’t matter. Like it was “too much” or “not bad enough.”
So now, you don’t just carry trauma—you might carry self-doubt, isolation, and the ache of being unheard.
This might cause feelings or thoughts of
I'm too sensitive
This was my fault
“I should be over it by now.”
It’s no wonder so many people who’ve experienced trauma feel alone.
And it’s no wonder they arrive here feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to begin, and afraid that even this—especially this—won’t work.
But the truth is: if you’re here, you haven’t given up. And that means something.
Why You’re Feeling This Way: A Nervous System Stuck in Survival
You’re not broken, and you’re not weak. You’re human, and you’ve been through a lot.
You might be in a trauma response—because at some point, your nervous system learned to protect you from pain that was too much to handle.
Maybe it was sexual violence—an experience that was never your fault, never your choice, and maybe you have carried the weight of ever since.
Maybe it was gender-based violence—abuse, violence, or experiences of exploitation tied simply to who you are and your identity.
Maybe it was experiences of abuse, loss, or chronic emotional dismissal.
Maybe you had to care for a parent’s feelings before you even knew how to name your own.
Maybe it was all of the above.
These experiences don’t just leave emotional scars — they shape your body and your nervous system
They create patterns of self-protection, shame, and fear that aren’t easy to talk about—and often feel impossible to untangle on your own.
Trauma doesn’t just live in your mind—it lives in your body.
It shows up as hypervigilance, chronic pain, anxiety, dissociation, fatigue, or shame that feels impossible to shake. And when trauma happens over and over—especially at the hands of people you were told to trust—it can feel like it’s part of you. But that isn’t the end of your story.
Therapy isn’t about talking your way out of it. It’s about gently and safely processing what’s been stuck for too long—so your system can finally feel what it means to be safe.
What Trauma Therapy Can Help You Do
When trauma lives in your body, it’s like your nervous system is stuck with the volume turned all the way up—every sound is too loud, every moment too charged, every feeling too much. And over time, that constant alarm wears you down.
Trauma therapy is the process of gently turning the volume down.
We teach your system that it’s safe to rest. Safe to feel. Safe to exist without being on edge all the time.
Together, we:
Use EMDR therapy to reprocess and release what’s been stuck
Work with parts of you that had to shut down or fight to survive, so they no longer carry the burden alone
Build safety in the therapeutic relationship—because healing from trauma requires being seen and supported, as opposed to doing it on your own
Unravel the layers of grief and shame so you can finally begin to breathe
You don’t have to know where to start, you just have to show up. And from there, we build your path together.
What Healing Can Look Like
The people I work with often tell me they feel like they can finally breathe again.
The constant tension in their bodies softens, and their minds aren’t racing in the same way.
They begin to feel more in control—less reactive, more grounded. They trust themselves more. Their relationships start to feel easier, more open, more real.
The shame doesn’t run the show anymore. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” they start to say, “I understand myself now—and I know I’m not alone.”
And perhaps most powerfully, they begin to want to be here.
Not just surviving—but actually living. Laughing more. Feeling lighter. Looking forward to what’s ahead.
If you’re ready to start your journey of transformation and healing, I’m here to help.
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation by clicking below or give me a call.
Hi, I’m Ashley!
I’ve dedicated my career to working with trauma—not just because it’s what I’m trained in, but because it’s what I care about most.
I am an EMDR Certified Therapist.
To be EMDR Certified requires additional and regular advanced training, a certain amount of consultation hours, and having done EMDR enough with my clients. Basically, I’ve done a lot of EMDR!
I continue to pursue advanced training regularly because I believe you deserve care that is thoughtful, skilled, and deeply attuned.
But what my clients notice first isn’t the credentials—it’s the connection.
That they’re not just a list of symptoms.
That they’re seen, understood, and their story is honored.
EMDR doesn’t have to feel cold or clinical. It can feel like coming home to yourself.
And I’d be honored to help guide you there.
So if you’re ready to get started, I’m here to help.
Why Individuals Choose to Work With Me
In-Person & Online Therapy
I offer in-person counseling at my office in the Speer neighbourhood in Denver, CO (by Capitol Hill) where we can even do outside/walking therapy. I also offer online therapy so you can do sessions at home at ease.
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EMDR Certified
I have completed advanced EMDR training and certification—a process that takes years of specialized study and supervision—so you can feel confident you’re working with a highly skilled trauma therapist.
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Therapy Dog Can Join Us In Sessions
My certified therapy dog, Harleigh, can join us in sessions to offer comfort, calm, and a warm presence while you do the work. Harleigh (pictured above) is registered with Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado and she is on a constant quest to be the very best girl.
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Flexible options for sessions and therapy format
I offer flexible options to fit your needs—weekly or bi-weekly sessions, longer 75–80 minute sessions, EMDR intensives, or multi-day blocks when you want to go deeper.
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Challenges We Can Help With
Sexual Violence
An experience that was never your fault or your choice.
Gender-Based Violence
Experiences of abuse or exploitation tied to your identity.
Chronic Stress and Hypervigilance
Feeling stuck on high alert, always waiting for the next threat.
Betrayal by Trusted People
Abuse or harm from caregivers, partners, or authority figures.
Childhood Emotional Neglect
Having to care for others’ feelings before you knew how to name your own.
Experiences of Loss or Grief
Including chronic emotional pain or complicated bereavement.
Complex Traumas
Experiences of repetitive and prolonged trauma, often occurring in childhood
Rates & FAQ
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Individual 50-minute therapy session: $165
In order to make mental health care more accessible, when available I have reduced-fee options to offer. If this is something you are interested in, please reach out and we can discuss it further.
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I am considered an out-of-network provider and do not directly bill insurance companies for services. Due to the constraints imposed by insurance companies such as dictating treatment and limiting confidentiality, I have chosen to utilize private pay in an effort to practice from the approach of how I best support my clients. Our work and your therapy journey are my top priority, and this includes developing a treatment approach that prioritizes our therapeutic relationship, without external restrictions.
While I do not bill insurance directly, if you would still like to use your insurance, then you can potentially do so if your insurance plan has Out-Of-Network benefits. I would recommend calling your insurance company to confirm if your insurance policy has OON benefits for mental health services. If you are planning to utilize your insurance plan for out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
A note about Medicaid: Ashley Berman Counseling is not credentialed with Medicaid and I am unable to accept Medicaid clients for private pay.
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I understand that the cost of therapy is an important consideration, and I want to be transparent about why I’ve chosen to not be in-network with insurance companies.
Being an out-of-network therapist allows to me to solely focus on my clients and our work together, without being dictated by a third party. This decision is rooted in my commitment to providing a relational, personal, and private therapeutic experience that focuses on your support needs and goals.
By working outside of the insurance system, I’m able to:
Focus on your unique goals without needing to fit within a medical model or diagnosis
Protect your confidentiality—nothing we discuss is shared with insurance companies
Ensure that our work together is on your timeline and at a pace that best supports your growth and healing, without the concern of insurance companies limiting the number of sessions you can have.
Work with you to choose an approach, length, and frequency of sessions that best support your experience in therapy
Maintain a smaller caseload of clients and devote all of my focus into supporting the people I work with
I know this may be a big consideration for you, and I welcome any questions you have. My priority is making sure you feel supported, informed, and empowered in your care.
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I offer standard 50-minute sessions, which are commonly used for individual therapy. I also offer longer sessions for clients who request or might benefit from having more time and space in session. Extended session times can be flexible and determined based on your needs. For example I offer 75-minute sessions or 90-minute sessions, based on your individual goals and schedule.
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The first session is a time for us to start getting to know one another and begin building a trusting, collaborative relationship. I believe the connection we create together is foundational to the healing process, and the first session provides us with the space to start creating that foundation. In our first session, the focus is on:
Getting to know you and your story
Building rapport and establishing connection
Understanding your goals and explore more of what brought you to therapy
Exploring what’s most important to you and how I can support you on your journey
There’s no rush or expectation in the first session—just space to arrive, connect, and begin to get a feel for our work together
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Yes I do. An EMDR intensive is an extended-format EMDR session that allows for deeper, more focused work over a shorter period of time. As opposed to weekly therapy sessions that can require much more time to complete, EMDR intensives allow you to work through stuck experiences and symptoms in just days.
Multi-Day Intensives: These typically take place over 2–3 consecutive days, for 3–5 hours per day.EMDR Intensive Blocks: For ongoing therapy clients, I offer 3-hour EMDR intensive blocks that can be scheduled as needed to support our work.
For more info please head to this page: https://www.ashleybermancounseling.com/emdr-intensives
My Office Location
825 E Speer Blvd #309
Denver, CO 80218
How To Get Started
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Schedule a Call
Simply click below to schedule a FREE 20 minute consultation call with me.
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Free Consultation
I'll call at a time that suits you and learn more about you and your unique situation.
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begin the work
Let's meet! If it sounds like we are a good fit, then I'll invite you to have your first intake session and start on your journey!
This is your time to experience life differently
Reach out below to get started.