Therapist for PTSD and Depression: What to Look For and What to Expect
Living with PTSD and depression can feel like carrying a weight that no one else can see. The exhaustion, the intrusive thoughts, the numbness—these struggles can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. If you're searching for a therapist for PTSD and depression to help you navigate this, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
Finding the right therapist is about more than just credentials, it’s about connection, support, and personalization. Whether it’s Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic therapy, or a more integrative treatment plan, your therapist (I’d love that to be me!) can help you find the right type of therapy that helps you finally heal.
Finding the Right Therapist for PTSD and Depression is Critical to Your Healing Journey
Therapy is one of the most important factors in healing from PTSD and depression. A skilled therapist doesn’t just offer techniques and strategies—they create a space where you feel seen, heard, and safe enough to process your experiences.
Along with their expertise, it’s just as important to find a therapist whose style resonates with you. Ultimately, therapy should feel like a collaborative process, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Healing takes time, but with the right therapist, you’ll have a steady, compassionate guide to help you move forward.
What to Look For in a Therapist for PTSD and Depression
As you’re looking for a therapist for PTSD and depression, keep these key qualities in mind:
Trauma-Informed training – A therapist with trauma-specific training understands how trauma affects the brain and body. Look for someone trained in evidence-based approaches like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems), or somatic therapies, which help process trauma safely and effectively while prioritizing trust and empowerment.
Compassionate and nonjudgmental – Healing requires vulnerability, so it’s essential to work with a therapist who listens with empathy and without shame or criticism. A supportive environment fosters trust and allows for deeper healing.
Experience Working with PTSD or depression – Therapists with specialized experience in trauma and mood disorders can offer evidence-based techniques. Their expertise ensures you receive treatment tailored to your unique needs.
Finding the right therapist can make all the difference in your healing journey, providing the guidance and support you need to move forward. If you’re in the Denver area, I’d love to help you take that first step.
What to Expect From Therapy
Starting therapy for PTSD or depression can feel like a big step, but knowing what to expect can help ease any uncertainty. While every therapist has their own approach, the general process follows a few key stages, all designed to support your healing at a pace that feels safe for you. The process I utilize with individuals is below.
Building Safety and Trust
In the first few sessions, we’ll focus on creating a safe, supportive space where you feel comfortable sharing your experiences. Trauma and depression can make it difficult to trust others, so this stage is about building a strong relationship. When you’re comfortable, we’ll talk about your history, current struggles, and goals for therapy, but there’s no rush—you’re in control of how much you share and when.
Exploring Deeper Issues
Once a foundation of trust is established, we can begin to use different techniques that address the underlying causes of your PTSD or depression. Depending on your needs, the techniques may include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or IFS (Internal Family Systems), which help process traumatic memories and shift long-standing patterns of emotional pain. These approaches allow you to work through difficult past experiences in a structured, supportive way, reducing their emotional intensity over time.
Developing Tools for Emotional Regulation and Self-Compassion
Alongside deeper trauma work, therapy will help you build skills to navigate daily life with more ease. I’ll help you build practical skills for managing overwhelming emotions, reducing stress, and fostering greater self-compassion. This might include breathwork, mindfulness techniques, or cognitive strategies to reframe negative thoughts. Over time, these skills empower you to handle challenges with greater resilience and self-understanding.
The Role of Therapy in Healing
Therapy plays a crucial role in healing from PTSD and depression by not only relieving symptoms but fostering deep, lasting change. While some treatments focus on short-term relief, therapy goes further—it helps you address the root causes of emotional pain and develop the resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges.
Unresolved trauma and long-standing patterns of depression don’t disappear on their own. Through therapy, you can safely explore painful experiences, understand how they’ve shaped your thoughts and behaviors, and begin to reprocess them in a way that promotes healing.
Beyond processing trauma, therapy is also about building resilience—the ability to adapt and recover from adversity. This happens by developing emotional regulation skills, increasing self-awareness, and learning healthier ways to respond to stress and triggers. Over time, therapy helps you replace patterns of fear, shame, or self-criticism with greater self-compassion and confidence.
Why Finding the Right Therapist Makes All the Difference
Finding the right therapist for PTSD and depression can feel overwhelming, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take toward healing. As a trauma therapist in Denver, I know that healing isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about working through the deeper wounds that have shaped how you experience yourself and the world. That’s why I’m here to offer a safe, supportive space where you can begin to process your past and build a future that feels lighter and more hopeful.
I take a personalized approach to therapy because I know that no two healing journeys are the same. Whether we use EMDR, IFS Informed therapy, somatic therapy, or an integrative approach, my goal is to help you move through your trauma in a way that feels manageable and empowering. Beyond techniques, what matters most is that you feel heard, understood, and truly supported throughout the process.
You don’t have to go through this alone. If you’re ready to start therapy or just want to learn more about how I can help, I’d love to connect. Reach out today to schedule a consultation, and let’s take the first step together.
About the Author
Gigi Woodall, LMFT
Eating Disorder & Trauma Therapist in Denver
Hi, I’m Gigi—a Denver-based trauma therapist passionate about helping individuals heal and reconnect with themselves. My work focuses on exploring how early experiences, relationships, and protective parts of the self shape our inner narratives. Through a compassionate and individualized approach, I help clients challenge limiting beliefs and step into a more authentic, intuitive way of living.
My background includes working with nonprofit organizations and treatment centers before transitioning to private practice. I am actively involved with the Eating Disorder Foundation and the Denver chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP). Currently, I’m on the path to becoming a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS).
With specialized training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed therapy, EMDR, and eating disorders, I provide a safe, supportive space for those navigating recovery, trauma, and self-discovery.
Looking for support on your healing journey? Book a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit.