Sexual Trauma & Abuse Therapy in Denver
What happened wasn’t your fault. And you don't have to carry it alone anymore.
Specialized therapy for survivors of sexual violence, with a therapist whose training, focus, and passion is dedicated to this work.
Finally Feel Safe Again:
Gently process what happened in a space that is warm, contained, and completely your own.
Move Beyond Self-Blame:
Learn to actually believe, not just know, that what happened was not your fault.
Reclaim Your Life:
Feel more present, more connected, and more like yourself again.
This Is My Specialty — Not Just One of Many Things I Do
A majority of my training, education, and clinical focus is specifically dedicated to working with survivors of sexual violence. This includes EMDR certification, advanced training in parts work, and years of experience supporting survivors of both single-incident trauma and long-term complex sexual trauma.
If you've experienced sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, or sexual exploitation, you're in the right place.
What You Might Be Carrying Right Now
Sexual violence can have a lasting impact. And if you're here, you may already feel that.
There's a version of you from before, and a version of you now. And the distance between them can feel unbridgeable.
Maybe you know logically it wasn't your fault. But something deeper, something in your body, still believes it was. That split is one of the most painful and disorienting parts of healing from sexual trauma. And it makes complete sense.
You might be experiencing:
Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts that show up without warning
A body that doesn't feel safe or familiar anymore, constantly on edge, or on alert
Shame and self-blame that feels impossible to hold
A secret you carry alone, because you're not sure anyone in your life could really understand
Difficulty trusting others, feeling close to people, or feeling comfortable in your own relationships
Emotional pain so heavy it's hard to find relief, sometimes leading to thoughts of self-harm or suicide
None of this is weakness. It's what happens when your nervous system tries to survive something it should never have had to.
You don’t have to keep navigating this alone
Healing from sexual trauma can feel deeply isolating. Many people find that some aspects of the experience are difficult to fully process alone.
Without the space to process what happened, it can feel like you are carrying it on your own. Certain memories or feelings may still come up unexpectedly. Self-blame may linger. Relationships may sometimes feel harder to navigate. You may notice times when you don’t quite feel like yourself.
You deserve more than just managing. You deserve to actually heal.
How I Work, And What Makes This Different
A lot of people come in worried about what therapy will look like. Will I have to talk about it in detail? Will I have to relive it?
The answer is: You will never be asked to do anything you don’t feel ready for. We move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, with choice and collaboration guiding the process.
For some, telling their story in a safe and contained space is deeply healing. For others, that's not what the process needs to look like. My approach is flexible, individualized, and always at your pace.
What matters most is getting to the root, because sexual trauma doesn't just live in your memory. It lives in the nervous system, the body, and our sense of self. Together we help your brain and body understand that what happened is no longer happening now.
In our work together, we:
Use EMDR to process what's been stuck, without flooding your system
Work with the parts of you that are carrying shame, fear, or self-blame
Build safety in the therapeutic relationship first, because healing from sexual trauma can't happen in isolation
Help you move from surviving the aftermath to actually living your life again
What Healing Can Feel Like
Clients describe feeling distance from the experience for the first time. Like they can think about what happened without it taking over.
The self-blame softens. The body starts to feel like home again. Triggers that used to derail entire days lose their grip.
Most of all, they start to actually believe it wasn't their fault.
They feel more connected to the people in their lives and have more hope about the future. They feel more connected to themselves, with a greater sense of ease and stability.
IF YOU’RE READY to take the next step, I’M HERE TO HELP.
SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY 20-MINUTE CONSULTATION BY CLICKING BELOW.
Hi, I’m Ashley
Supporting survivors of sexual trauma isn't just something I do. It's the work I have chosen to dedicate my career to.
A majority of my clinical training is specific to this area, including EMDR certification and advanced training in parts work and complex trauma. I regularly pursue continuing education in this work because my clients deserve care that is skilled, current, and deeply attuned.
But what I hear most from clients isn't about credentials. It's that they finally feel seen. That they don't have to explain themselves. That the space we create together feels safe enough to actually do this work.
You deserve support. What happened is not a reflection of who you are, and you don't have to figure this out alone.
Why Individuals Choose to Work With Me
In-Person & Online Therapy
I offer in-person counseling at my office in the Speer neighborhood in Denver, CO (by Capitol Hill) where we can even do sessions outside when requested. I also offer online therapy so you can do sessions at home.
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EMDR Certified
I have completed advanced EMDR training and certification, a process that requires 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 therapy dog, Harleigh, can join us in sessions to offer comfort, calm, and a warm presence while we do the work. Harleigh 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: standard 50-minute sessions, longer 75–90 minute sessions, EMDR intensives, or multi-day blocks when you want to go deeper.
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My Office Location
825 E Speer Blvd #309
Denver, CO 80218
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
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.