Aleesa Brauer, LCSW

I am a LGBTQ+ psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in social work and seven years of experience providing individual and group psychotherapy (more than three years of full-time experience and four years of part-time experience). I love working with adults who are curious about themselves and who are ready to look at and work on their past, including any trauma that impacts their day to day life. I am fully trained in EMDR through Rebecca Kase & Co. EMDR is a powerful treatment modality that helps people process traumatic events, memories, or distressing things that happened (for more info, please see https://www.emdria.org/news-and-announcements/new-what-is-emdr-therapy-video/). I am committed to continual improvement in my practice of EMDR and am therefore voluntarily pursuing Certification by the EMDR International Association and have begun working on this process. I use an integrative approach to psychotherapy that incorporates psychoeducation, EMDR, psychodynamic (insight-oriented) talk therapy, person-centered therapy, feminist therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused interventions to help adults achieve better mental health. I incorporate a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach in my work. I place a high value on self-determination in that I believe you are the expert in your life and you get to determine how to best live your life. I will ask about what is working best for you in therapy and will tailor my approach to what you need. I will also use assessments and self-report tools that have been validated and researched to ensure that I understand what you are dealing with and going through. I have experience working with LGBTQ+ issues such as coming out, adjustment to new medical diagnoses like HIV and cancer, depression, anxiety, substance use, grief and loss, trauma and PTSD, relationship issues, domestic violence/intimate partner violence, and career and employment issues. I have worked with all ages throughout my career and in many different settings. I have a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CSW.09928630) in the state of Colorado. I accept Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana, Kaiser, and United/Optum/UMR insurances. Please note that using health insurance for psychotherapy does require diagnosis of a mental health disorder based on DSM-5 and/or ICD-10 criteria. I am open to discussing this if you have concerns or are wondering about this aspect of therapy. If you think I may be a good fit for you, please schedule a free 20-50 minute video consult with me (contact me at aleesa@enhancingwellnesspllc.com or at 720-443-2833 (text or cell)) during which you can share what you are looking for, I can tell you about my style, and I can answer any questions you may have. The fit between therapist and client is one of the most important factors in whether or not psychotherapy is successful. Congratulations on taking this important step towards better mental health! Note: In-person now available in Arvada!