Types of Treatment
Our Therapy Modalities
Explore Ensouled Counseling’s Trauma-informed and attachment-focused therapy treatments in Boulder, CO, for a personalized path to healing and wholeness.
Depth Psychology
Jungian-based Depth psychology is a profound element of our therapeutic practice, deeply rooted in the work of Carl Jung, who believed in the intrinsic link between our personal experiences and the collective unconscious—a realm housing the shared memories and archetypes common to all human beings. This approach is particularly rich, offering pathways to explore the deeper, often uncharted territories of the psyche.
In our sessions, we guide clients through the process of individuation, a central concept in Jungian therapy. This is the journey towards self-realization, where one becomes aware of and integrates the various facets of the self, including those parts that are unconscious or have been neglected—the shadow self. By confronting and understanding these aspects, individuals can grow into their full potential, moving towards a more balanced and authentic self.
We employ techniques such as dream analysis, where dreams are viewed as direct communications from the unconscious, containing symbols and messages that, when deciphered, can offer insights into the client’s inner world and psychological conflicts. This can reveal unexpressed emotions, unresolved conflicts, and future potential.
Active imagination is another technique used in Jungian therapy, where clients engage with their imagination to dialogue with different parts of themselves, such as personas, shadows, and archetypes. This creative engagement can result in profound insights and the resolution of internal conflicts.
We also explore the personal and collective unconscious through the use of archetypes—universal, mythic characters that reside within the collective unconscious. These figures embody fundamental human experiences and emotions. By understanding the role these archetypes play in their lives, clients can gain insight into their behaviors, motivations, and the universal themes playing out in their personal narratives.
With a deep understanding of the power of symbolism and the unconscious, we facilitate a transformative process for her clients. Through the exploration of dreams, myths, and symbols, individuals can find meaning, direction, and healing, contributing to a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic Therapy, or Body-Based Therapy, aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies and impact our emotional patterns and can create limiting beliefs about ourselves and the world. We incorporate this approach to help clients become more attuned to their physical sensations as a gateway to understanding and processing their emotions.
We are trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP), which is a therapeutic modality for trauma and attachment issues. SP welcomes the body as an integral source of information that can guide resourcing and the accessing and processing of challenging, traumatic, and developmental experiences. SP is a holistic approach that includes somatic, emotional, and cognitive processing and integration.
SP enables clients to discover and change habitual physical and psychological patterns that impede optimal functioning and well-being. SP helps work with dysregulated activation and other effects of trauma, as well as the limiting belief systems of developmental issues.
SP helps clients cultivate their strengths while providing enough challenge to stimulate growth, long-lasting change, and well-being.
During somatic sessions, clients are encouraged to actively focus on bodily sensations and movements. We may use techniques such as mindful breathing, meditation, grounding exercises, or gentle physical movements to help clients release the tension that is associated with past traumas. This physical engagement allows for a different kind of access to the client’s internal experience, providing a path to release emotional blockages through the body rather than through verbal expression alone.
The objective of somatic therapy with us is to aid in the development of greater awareness and understanding of the body’s wisdom. This, in turn, can lead to a more integrated sense of self, reduced anxiety, and improved emotional regulation. We create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore the physical narratives of their experiences and embark on a transformative journey toward holistic health and harmony.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic method that Colleen incorporates into her practice, designed to help individuals process and release the impact of emotionally charged or traumatic experiences. Developed by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting is based on the premise that the position of our eyes can affect the way we access and hold trauma in our brain.
In a session with Colleen, Brainspotting begins with identifying a “brainspot”—an eye position that correlates with the client’s internal experience. This spot is linked to the emotional activation found in the brain that often lies beneath conscious awareness. By maintaining focus on this specific visual point, clients can tap into the body’s natural self-scanning and healing abilities.
Colleen uses this method to bypass the conscious, thinking mind and directly target the subcortical brain regions where trauma and emotional disturbances are stored. This can be particularly effective for clients who may struggle to articulate their experiences or find traditional talk therapy to be insufficient in addressing deeply rooted issues.
During Brainspotting, Colleen creates a supportive and attuned presence, providing a safe space for clients to explore their inner experiences. She may use bilateral sound, which is delivered through headphones, to enhance the therapy’s effectiveness. The auditory stimulation helps to activate the brain’s processing by engaging both hemispheres simultaneously.
This treatment modality can be useful for a wide range of psychological concerns, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the aftermath of physical or emotional trauma. By locating and focusing on brainspots, clients have the opportunity to process and release these experiences, leading to a decrease in symptoms and an increased sense of emotional well-being.
Colleen’s approach with Brainspotting is integrative, allowing it to be used in conjunction with other therapeutic practices. She understands that every individual’s response to therapy is unique, and she tailors her sessions to meet the specific needs and comfort levels of each client, aiming to facilitate profound healing and personal growth.
Parts Work
Colleen Conroy is a seasoned therapist whose methodology is deeply informed by the concept that individuals possess various internal “parts” shaping their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her use of TIST (Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment) is underpinned by neuroscience and structural dissociation theory, blending mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, ego-state techniques, and Internal Family Systems. This comprehensive approach has proven effective in treating complex PTSD, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, addictive behaviors, eating disorders, and dissociative disorders. By framing self-destructive behaviors as responses to trauma, Colleen helps clients feel less stigmatized, which enhances their motivation to heal and fosters a more positive path toward recovery from trauma.
Here’s how Colleen guides clients through this transformative process:
- Assessment and Exploration: Colleen collaborates closely with her clients to identify the various internal parts that shape their thoughts and behaviors. These parts often include protective elements, wounded segments, and sometimes conflicting aspects. Together, they explore the roles these parts play in the clients’ lives, striving to understand the motivations and underlying emotions that drive them.
- Dialogue and Integration: Through compassionate dialogue, Colleen facilitates communication between the different internal parts. Clients learn to listen to their inner voices without judgment. The goal is to work towards integration, helping clients harmonize conflicting parts and fostering a sense of wholeness and inner peace.
- Healing and Empowerment: By addressing wounded parts and unmet needs, clients experience significant healing and emotional release. Colleen empowers her clients to access their innate wisdom and self-compassion, fostering resilience and promoting personal growth.
- Holistic Approach:
Colleen integrates parts of her work with other therapeutic modalities, tailoring the therapeutic process to each client’s unique needs and circumstances. They create a safe and supportive space for exploration, self-discovery, and transformative healing.
If you’re ready to embark on a journey of self-awareness and healing, Colleen invites you to connect with her. Together, you can explore the intricate landscape of your inner world and unlock your true potential.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a distinctive and evidence-based treatment method that Colleen incorporates into her practice to help individuals heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Recognized for its effectiveness, particularly with PTSD, EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories to bring these to an adaptive resolution.
During EMDR therapy sessions with Colleen, clients are guided to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. The bilateral stimulation of EMDR is thought to mimic the psychological state that we enter into during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep – a time when the mind is believed to naturally process the day’s emotional experiences.
Colleen provides a structured eight-phase approach to EMDR that ensures a safe and measured progression through the client’s traumatic memories. This includes:
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- History and treatment planning, where Colleen takes a thorough background to understand the nature of the issues and plan the treatment effectively.
- Preparation, where she establishes trust with the client, explains the EMDR process, and offers techniques for emotional distress management.
- Assessment, in which Colleen helps identify the vivid visual image related to the memory, a negative belief about self, related emotions, and body sensations.
- Desensitization, where she facilitates the EMDR processing of the targeted memory, alongside the bilateral eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, to reduce the client’s distress.
- Installation, where the focus is on strengthening the positive belief that the client has chosen to replace the original negative belief.
- Body scan, to ensure that the client no longer feels distress when thinking about the memory.
- Closure, which returns the client to equilibrium at the end of each session.
- Reevaluation, which starts every new session, assessing the progress made and whether further processing is needed.
EMDR therapy with Colleen is not merely about the cessation of negative emotion or symptom relief but is about enabling clients to engage fully with life. By reprocessing past traumas, clients can diminish their present distress and negativity, which also paves the way for a healthier and more hopeful future. Through her compassionate guidance, Colleen ensures that clients feel secure and supported as they move through the often intense process of healing with EMDR.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with Colleen is a comprehensive therapeutic approach that is designed to help individuals manage difficult emotions, improve relationships, and live more mindful, contented lives. This type of therapy is particularly effective for those who experience intense emotional responses and may be struggling with issues like borderline personality disorder, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, though it’s also broadly applicable to anyone wanting to improve their emotional and interpersonal skills.
In her practice, Colleen applies the core principles of DBT through four main modules:
- Mindfulness: Colleen teaches clients to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings in the present moment without judgment. This foundational skill underpins all other DBT techniques, fostering an increased sense of calm and centeredness.
- Distress Tolerance: Life inevitably involves stress, and Colleen helps clients to develop strategies to cope with and tolerate pain in difficult situations, not just change it. She equips clients with practical tools to survive crises and accept life circumstances that cannot be changed.
- Emotion Regulation: Through this module, Colleen assists clients in managing and changing intense emotions that are causing problems in their lives. She provides techniques for clients to identify and adjust emotions that may be overwhelming, helping them to reduce emotional vulnerability and decrease emotional suffering.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Colleen works with clients to enhance their communication skills. She teaches them how to assert their needs, set healthy boundaries, and handle interpersonal conflict in ways that maintain self-respect and strengthen relationships.
DBT with Colleen is an interactive process. Clients are often given homework assignments to practice new skills in real-life situations and are encouraged to discuss these experiences in subsequent sessions. Colleen’s approach to DBT is characterized by a balance between acceptance and change—she accepts clients as they are, while also acknowledging the need for change to improve their quality of life.
With Colleen, DBT is a journey of learning to balance opposites: change and acceptance, emotion and reason, the individual and the environment. It’s about crafting a life worth living by harmonizing the emotional storms and navigating the challenges of relationships and self-image.
Nature-Based Therapy
Nature-based therapy is a holistic and expansive psychotherapeutic approach rooted in the belief that human well-being is deeply interconnected with the natural world. This perspective recognizes that we are part of a larger, diverse, and interdependent system, where our mental, emotional, and physical health are intrinsically tied to our relationship with nature. The flexibility of nature-based therapy allows it to range from simple, grounding practices like mindfulness walks or breathing exercises in natural settings to more structured interventions such as horticultural therapy, animal-assisted therapy, or even transformative rites of passage.
The beauty of this approach lies in its scalability and accessibility; nature is ever-present and adaptable, offering countless ways to be integrated into therapy sessions. This makes it particularly effective for individuals who may feel overwhelmed by traditional therapeutic settings. For those with deep attachment wounds, trauma, or persistent mood disorders, nature provides a gentle, nonjudgmental space where exploration of relationships, self-esteem, and identity can occur without the same social pressures or vulnerabilities often found in human interactions.
By fostering a sense of rootedness, belonging, and interconnectedness, nature-based therapy not only supports emotional healing but also encourages clients to develop healthier relationships with themselves, others, and the environment. It invites participants to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world, which can help them find clarity, resilience, and balance in their lives. Whether through quiet reflection under a tree, nurturing growth in a garden, or building trust with an animal, nature-based therapy opens pathways for profound healing and transformation.
If you’re in Boulder, CO, and exploring therapy options, we invite you to discover how Colleen Conroy’s unique treatment modalities can pave the way for your healing and personal growth. Offering a free 30-minute consultation, Colleen provides an opportunity for you to learn more about her personalized therapeutic approach in a supportive and confidential setting. This session is a chance for you to ask questions, share your goals, and see how Colleen’s expertise aligns with your journey towards well-being. Don’t hesitate to take the first step towards transformation and empowerment. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation and begin the path to a more fulfilled life.