Meredith Berger, LMFT, LPCC
Holistic Trauma Therapist
Online Psychotherapy
for residents of
Colorado, Oregon, California
more than
just talk
therapy
Parts Work - You've heard of inner child healing, but that is just one aspect of parts work. This approach views individuals as having multiple or many distinct internal aspects or "parts" that influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I am primarily influenced by Internal Family Systems and the Structural Dissociation model.
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EMDR - (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-focused therapy that utilizes guided bilateral brain stimulation to help clients process and alleviate the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories. The best part about EMDR is you don't even have to verbalize your trauma if you don't want to.
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Somatic Work - Nervous system regulation is of upmost importance in trauma recovery. I will guide you in creating safety within your body so you can learn its language and interpret the constant messages it conveys. Recognizing that trauma often resides in the body, we work to safely integrate it into the healing process.​​
Spirituality - This is about what YOU bring to the healing process. The spiritual dimension of therapy is all about supporting you in defining what spirituality means for you personally, cultivating your intuition, and exploring your unique inner truths—without the imposition of any specific spiritual philosophies.
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Connect to your intuition- Trauma, fear, and limiting beliefs cloud our access to our innate healing ability. The answers to all of your questions are within you, so we will work to clear the pathway between your consciousness and intuition. Finally overcome the question of "is it anxiety or intuition?"​
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Connect to your unconscious - The unconscious holds unresolved emotions, suppressed memories, sneaky ingrained beliefs, & automatic responses that influence our behavior and emotional states without our awareness. Therapy will help to gently bring all this to the surface where it can be resolved.
How I Work
read more about what to expect
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Cancellation PolicyI understand that life can be unpredictable, and sometimes schedules change. To ensure fairness and make the most of our time together, I have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide at least 48 hours' notice prior to your scheduled session. This notice allows me the opportunity to offer that time slot to another client who may need it. If a cancellation is made with less than 48 hours' notice, the full session fee will be charged. I recognize that unexpected situations can arise. If you contact me after the 48-hour window has closed but I'm able to accommodate a schedule change within the same week without disrupting our ongoing scheduled session times, we can reschedule at no additional charge. While my busy schedule doesn't always allow for this flexibility, I will do my best to make myself available when possible. Your session time is valuable, both for your progress and for those who might benefit from your changed availability. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this policy.
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Teletherapy & EMDRAt this time, my practice is fully virtual. For EMDR, I utilize an online program that allows for effective eye movement and auditory bilateral stimulation.
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My AvailabilityI do not hold fixed, regularly scheduled time slots for clients. Instead, we typically plan our sessions one to two months in advance at times that work best for both of us. This approach allows for flexibility on both sides. I generally see clients from Tuesday through Friday, sometimes shifting to Monday through Thursday to accommodate occasional schedule changes for travel, trainings, etc. My session hours begin around 10:00 AM Pacific Time, with the last session of the day starting at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
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Cost & Financial Transparency20 minute consultations are FREE 50 minute sessions are $200 75 minute sessions are $300 100 minute sessions are $400 For the first three months of therapy I strongly recommend weekly sessions. After that initial period we can adjust the frequency of your sessions. I reserve a portion of my caseload for sliding scale clients. FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY I recognize that therapy is a significant financial investment, and I believe in being transparent about the value and commitment behind my services. I take my role as a psychotherapist very seriously, especially when it comes to providing an intentional and sacred space for trauma healing. This work requires extensive self-care, thoughtful preparation, and deep reflection to ensure that I am fully present and effective for each of my clients. My commitment to your well-being extends beyond our sessions. A huge portion of my life is dedicated to continually engaging in education and specialized training to hone my skills and deepen my own personal and spiritual journey, recognizing that I can guide others only as far as I have gone myself. I have chosen not to work with insurance companies. This is a conscious choice rooted in my commitment to offer personalized care without external constraints. Insurance models often impose limitations that can pathologize experiences and dictate treatment based on profitability rather than individual needs of the client or the therapist. Working independently allows me to focus entirely on your well-being, ensuring that our work is guided solely by your needs. Thank you for considering this investment in yourself. It is a privilege to accompany you on your healing journey.
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Contact between sessionsI am not available for unscheduled communications between sessions and I am not an active crisis resource. If you feel the need for additional support, you may reach out to schedule an extra session. Upon becoming a client, I will help those who need in creating a plan for handling crisis situations, including providing additional resources, so you can feel confident in managing them with support.
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COMPLEX PTSDWhen attachment trauma is prolonged, it can lead to more complex and deeply rooted symptoms like those seen in CPTSD. There is considerable overlap between disorganized attachment and CPTSD, so although they do not always occur together, you may recognize yourself in both. If you’re someone who feels like you’re on the edge, struggling to trust others, and caught in a cycle of intense emotions or numbness (dissociation), you might be dealing with CPTSD. This often develops from prolonged or repeated trauma at any time in life, especially in relationships where you felt trapped or powerless. You might find yourself stuck in patterns of self-blame, feeling overwhelmed by shame, or disconnected from who you truly are. The past may seem to keep intruding into your present, leaving you feeling exhausted, fragmented, or like you’re just trying to survive sometimes. In therapy, we’ll focus on helping you regain control, reconnect with yourself, and build a sense of safety in your life.
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ATTACHMENT TRAUMAAttachment trauma occurs when early relationships fail to provide the safety and security needed for healthy emotional development. Attachment can also be impacted by difficult or unhealthy adult relationships. These experiences can deeply affect how you relate to others and yourself, often leading to patterns of people-pleasing, anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional distancing. If you are someone who finds yourself constantly seeking reassurance or worried that those you care about might abandon or reject you, you may be experiencing an anxious attachment style. This often stems from relationships where your emotional needs were inconsistently met, leaving you unsure about the reliability of others. As a result, you might fall into patterns of people-pleasing and heightened anxiety in relationships, driven by a fear that you are not enough. Together, we can work on building your sense of worth, creating boundaries, and developing more secure, trusting relationships. Avoidantly attached folks are often described as people who value independence over emotional reliance, avoid vulnerability and minimize closeness, and that is true for many. More often than we realize, however, people with this style actually want emotional connection deep down, but push it away to protect themselves from pain. This usually develops when caregivers or partners are emotionally unavailable or dismissive, leading you to prioritize self-reliance over connection. This can make it difficult for you to trust or rely on others, creating a pattern of emotional distancing and a tendency to maintain a facade of independence. In therapy, we focus on understanding these protective strategies while gently working towards healthier ways to allow connection without sacrificing your sense of safety. You might feel torn between craving connection and fearing it, leading to unpredictable or tumultuous relationships with others and yourself. Disorganized attachment is often rooted in chaotic or traumatic early relationships where caregivers were a source of both comfort and fear. This creates a confusing mix of anxious and avoidant behaviors, often linked to complex PTSD, where the effects of past trauma continue to disrupt your present life. When clients come to therapy for this, we work on untangling these conflicting patterns to help you find a more stable, consistent sense of connection. Borderline Personality Disorder is one specific attachment disorder that has many shared features with CPTSD including dissociation, emotional instability, and a history of attachment trauma. Unresolved attachment wounds typically manifest in the intense emotional dysregulation and relational challenges that characterize BPD. If you feel your emotions are intense and hard to control, have fears of abandonment and unstable relationships, you might relate to Borderline Personality Disorder. You may struggle with impulsive reactions, self-doubt, and a shifting sense of identity, often feeling disconnected from yourself or others. We can work together to help you emotionally regulate, foster true self-acceptance, and build a confident sense of identity.
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DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERSDissociation is something everyone experiences at some point in their life as a natural response to stress, overwhelm, or trauma. Some common and mild symptoms of dissociation might include feeling numb, struggling to connect with your emotions, or going on autopilot throughout your day. However, dissociation becomes disordered when these symptoms are more severe and begin to interfere with daily life. This might include feeling at times as though you’re watching your life from a distance, being detached from your body or thoughts, or experiencing the world as foggy or distorted. I use approaches beyond talk therapy to support your nervous system and create safety in your body, helping you feel more connected and present. One of the most severe ways attachment trauma can manifest itself is in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which requires specialized support to heal and manage. My approach to working with DID and other severe dissociative disorders focuses on helping you gain a greater sense of control and stability by helping parts to coexist, collaborate, and communicate effectively.
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What a typical session looks likeI offer 50, 75, and 100 minute sessions. 50 minute sessions are typical, however some of my clientele opt for 75 or 100 minute sessions. Longer sessions are beneficial for people who struggle to 'warm up' or otherwise take extra time to build trust or connect to their emotions. For others, longer sessions are preferred simply because it allows for more progress to be made faster. For EMDR sessions I require a minimum of 75 minute sessions to allow us the space needed to complete the protocol. ​ Of course, the content of sessions can vary greatly depending on what you are processing and your individual style and preferences. However, a typical session will consist of me guiding you through somatic and meditative exercises designed to help you feel and process emotions, connect with your intuition and body, and uncover unconscious processes. I also offer interpretive reflections based on the content you share, engage in interactive conversation, hold space, and provide education.​
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Length of treatmentThe amount of time you spend in therapy is completely up to you. I will assess and give you my recommendation, however you are ultimately in charge. ​ Some people are in therapy for 3 months, others for 10 years. The length of your therapy totally depends on what you are looking for! If you are looking for support to heal from a single incident trauma, you may only need short term therapy to resolve the symptoms. If you are needing to heal chronic or very severe trauma, the therapeutic process can be much slower as it may take more time to develop trust and safety. Some people attend therapy for many years for ongoing emotional support and mentorship. We will check in regarding your goals regularly so you can decide if you would like to continue in therapy or move on.
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Frequency of treatmentFor the first three months of therapy, I strongly recommend weekly sessions. This frequency is essential to build momentum and foster meaningful change. Therapy aimed at creating substantial change often proves less effective when sessions are spaced out biweekly in the beginning. The process of transformation is challenging and requires your commitment, consistent effort, and regular engagement to see significant progress. After the initial three months, we can revisit and adjust the frequency of sessions based on your needs and goals.
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What it's like to work with meBeing a therapist is my life's purpose, and I love my job. I am committed, present, and I want to work with you. I am not easily shaken and can handle whatever you show up with. My style is casual and often incorporates humor. I will laugh with you, cry with you, and cuss with you. ​ One of the most important aspects of my job is being a container holder. This means that while I allow you to guide the direction of our work, I take responsibility for ensuring the session remains grounded and appropriately contained to foster a space where you can feel held and supported enough to 'let go'. **** find languaging for container being the containment of the emotional releases that occur from trauma release. people fear they can't stop, but what i do manage the emotions that come out, and help you regulate and contain before the end of the session