The best trauma therapists in Denver offer a named, evidence-based trauma treatment such as Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), EMDR, or Trauma-Focused CBT, and they tell you plainly who delivers it and what it costs. We compared six Denver-area practices on those points: Mountainside Behavioral Health, Colorado CBT, Better Life Therapy, Denver Men's Therapy, My Denver Therapy, and Rooted Acorn Counseling.
Each competitor was checked on its own website in September 2026, and we only repeat what each practice says about itself. These practices do not all offer the same treatment, and that is useful: someone who wants EMDR, someone who wants CPT, and someone whose PTSD comes with self-harm or intense emotions may each be best served in a different place.
How we ranked these practices
- Names at least one evidence-based trauma-focused treatment on its own website (PE, CPT, DBT-PE, EMDR or TF-CBT)
- Lists its clinicians by name and credential, ideally with their trauma training
- Publishes session fees or a clear insurance policy on its website
- Offers telehealth to clients in Colorado
- States who it serves, including whether it treats PTSD alongside self-harm, suicidality or severe emotion dysregulation
We ranked on these criteria alone, using what each practice publishes. We did not use reviews, star ratings or outcome claims, and no practice paid to be included. Details change, so confirm fees, availability and insurance directly with any provider.
1. Mountainside Behavioral Health
Mountainside's PTSD treatment is DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), which integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Prolonged Exposure. DBT-PE was developed for people who have PTSD together with intense emotion dysregulation, the people who are often told they must "stabilize" before trauma work can start.
On its pages, the process has four parts: learning core DBT skills (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness); then, once you and your therapist agree you are ready, imaginal exposure (recounting the trauma memory aloud in session) and in vivo exposure (gradually approaching avoided places and situations); processing each exposure afterward; and continued skills practice throughout.
Its trauma-informed treatment page says DBT-PE is for adolescents and adults with PTSD who also have high-risk behaviors such as chronic suicidality and self-harm, several co-occurring diagnoses, or difficulty engaging in treatment. Care also draws on CBT and mindfulness-based practices.
- Anabelle Brecker, LCSW, lists trauma-informed interventions and suicide prevention; Emily Biggs-Heisler, Ph.D., has over a decade of intensive DBT and CBT training
- Adolescents (12+) and adults; weekly adult and teen DBT skills groups
- Individual sessions $175–$200 (45 minutes); out-of-network with superbills
- Telehealth throughout Colorado; free consultation. Mountainside does not offer EMDR
2. Colorado CBT
Colorado CBT, in northwest Denver, lists Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and ACT on its trauma therapy page. Its therapists page names each clinician and their training: founder and clinical director Dr. Megan McKnight lists CPT, PE, and EMDR, and several other clinicians list CPT or PE.
That range makes it a good option if you want to compare trauma approaches with one team, or switch approach without switching practices.
- Bills Aetna, United/Optum and Cigna electronically, per its insurance page; out-of-network with Medicare and Medicaid
- Free 15-minute consultation; online therapy offered
- Fees vary by provider and session type
3. Better Life Therapy (Better Life Colorado)
Better Life Therapy says it has a large team of trained and practicing EMDR therapists, and its trauma page also lists CBT, ACT, DBT, and person-centered and psychodynamic approaches. It has offices in Denver's Capitol Hill area, Lakewood, and Westminster, and offers telehealth across Colorado.
It is the most insurance-friendly practice on this list. Its fees page lists several commercial plans, Colorado Medicaid (including Colorado Access and CCHA), CHP+, and Medicare for fully licensed clinicians, along with published private-pay rates and sliding-scale slots.
- Private pay: $175 fully licensed, $130 provisionally licensed, $85 master's-level intern, per its fees page
- Sliding scale based on Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Weekday hours listed as 7am–8pm
Visit Better Life Therapy (Better Life Colorado) (opens in a new tab)
4. Denver Men's Therapy
Denver Men's Therapy focuses on men, and its PTSD page names combat veterans, first responders, childhood abuse survivors, and people with complex trauma. Its approach is EMDR and trauma-focused talk therapy, both of which it says work over secure video.
The site names each clinician with EMDR status: Stephen Rodgers, LCSW, is listed as EMDR Certified and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant; Megan Hall, LCSW, as EMDR Certified; and two others as EMDR trained.
- Private pay; rates vary by clinician and are provided before booking
- Out-of-network benefits or HSA can be used, per its website
5. My Denver Therapy
My Denver Therapy describes itself as one of Colorado's largest woman-owned practices, with more than 20 therapists and four offices. Its EMDR page speaks to adults with childhood trauma: repeating relationship patterns, a harsh inner critic, and emotional reactions that feel too big for the situation.
The website lists EMDR, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Attachment Therapy, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and says all of its therapists can meet online. It also has a psychiatric nurse practitioner for medication management.
- Private pay; out-of-network; does not take Medicaid or Medicare, per its website
- Says clients are typically matched and seen within the week
- Serves children, teens, adults, couples and families
6. Rooted Acorn Counseling
Rooted Acorn Counseling is a queer-founded and queer-led private practice serving LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and their loved ones. Its trauma page lists EMDR, ACT, Internal Family Systems, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples.
Two clinicians are named: Sharon F. Hester, MS, LPC (also a licensed addiction counselor), who sees clients in person and by teletherapy, and Lindsay Cade, MA, LPC, who works by teletherapy.
- Office on Sherman Street in Capitol Hill
- Fees not published on the page we checked
How we chose
We looked for Denver-area practices whose own websites name a specific evidence-based trauma treatment, then kept only those we could verify in September 2026. Each was scored on the five criteria above. We did not penalize a practice for the treatment it chose: PE, CPT, DBT-PE, EMDR, and TF-CBT are all recognized trauma treatments. Mountainside Behavioral Health is our own practice and is placed first; it offers DBT-PE and does not offer EMDR, so if EMDR is what you want, the practices ranked below are the place to look.
We did not use reviews, star ratings, or success-rate claims.
The main evidence-based trauma treatments
These are the treatments you will see named most often. A good trauma therapist should be able to tell you which one they use, how many sessions it usually takes, and what the hardest part will be.
- Prolonged Exposure (PE): repeated, guided recounting of the trauma memory plus gradually approaching avoided situations.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): identifying and working through "stuck points," the beliefs about blame, safety, and trust that trauma leaves behind.
- DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE): PE delivered inside DBT, developed for people with PTSD who also have suicidal or self-harm behaviors or severe emotion dysregulation.
- EMDR: processing trauma memories while using guided bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tapping.
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT): a structured, skills-then-exposure model most often used with children and teens, with a parent involved.
Questions to ask before you start
Trauma work asks a lot of you, so it is worth a short consultation call before committing.
- Which trauma treatment do you use, and what training do you have in it?
- How do you decide when I am ready to start trauma processing?
- What happens if I have self-harm urges or suicidal thoughts during treatment?
- What does a session cost, and do you bill insurance or provide superbills?
If you are in crisis
Weekly outpatient therapy is not the right level of care if you are at immediate risk. If you are thinking about suicide or feel unsafe, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line, text HELLO to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Mountainside keeps a list of Denver crisis lines and free or low-cost supports.
If trauma shows up mostly as intense emotions, self-harm, or chronic suicidal thinking, a full DBT program may be the right starting point; we compare options in best DBT therapy programs in Denver. If panic and worry are the main problem, see best anxiety therapists in Denver.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mountainside Behavioral Health offer EMDR?
No. Mountainside offers DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) along with CBT and mindfulness-based practices. Several practices on this list, including Colorado CBT, Better Life Therapy, Denver Men's Therapy, My Denver Therapy, and Rooted Acorn Counseling, list EMDR on their websites.
What is DBT-PE and who is it for?
DBT-PE combines Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Prolonged Exposure. It was developed for people with PTSD who also have high-risk behaviors such as self-harm or chronic suicidality, or intense emotion dysregulation. Read more on Mountainside's PTSD treatment page.
Which Denver trauma therapists take Medicaid?
Of the practices we checked, Better Life Therapy lists Colorado Medicaid (including Colorado Access and CCHA) on its fees page. Mountainside is out-of-network, and Colorado CBT and My Denver Therapy say they do not take Medicaid.
Can trauma therapy be done by telehealth?
Yes. Every practice on this list offers video sessions, and Mountainside sees clients by secure video anywhere in Colorado.
Related reading
- PTSD Treatment in Denver
- Trauma-Informed Treatment in Denver
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment in Denver
- DBT Groups in Denver
- Best DBT Therapy Programs in Denver (2026)
- Best Anxiety Therapists in Denver (2026)
Talk to someone
Mountainside Behavioral Health offers DBT and CBT for adolescents, adults, couples and families in Greenwood Village and by telehealth across Colorado. Consultations are free, and we will tell you if another provider is a better fit. Call (720) 762-4619 or request a consultation.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (free, confidential, 24/7). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Sources (9)
- Colorado CBT — trauma therapy page
- Colorado CBT — therapists page
- Colorado CBT — insurance page
- Better Life Colorado — trauma and PTSD therapy page
- Better Life Colorado — fees and insurance page
- Denver Men's Therapy — PTSD treatment page
- My Denver Therapy — homepage
- My Denver Therapy — EMDR therapy page
- Rooted Acorn Counseling — trauma therapy page