Marisa Kraft, LCSW, AASW

When was the last time you felt safe? When you could really relax, and not worry about anything?

Sometimes, the impacts of trauma are clear. The anxiety, the constant tension, the nightmares… Memories from the past haunt you, and make you feel scared in ways that seem impossible to shake.

But trauma also has the ability to steal our peace in ways that people often aren’t aware of. For example, it can make you feel like to have to be perfect. It convinces you that you are unlovable, or that you constantly have to please others to gain their approval. It makes you believe that you have to always “keep it together,” to not let yourself be vulnerable around others. It can make it hard to speak up for yourself and set boundaries, because you believe that you would be selfish to expect anything from anyone else. It drives you to serve others while ultimately neglecting yourself. It can even make your body feel pain or fall ill.

Maybe you know what you’re dealing with, or even have a diagnosis of PTSD. Maybe you have known for a while, and have tried to help yourself without success. If this is you, it can be hard to believe that you can feel better, that you aren’t broken beyond repair. It’s hard to believe that trauma therapy really does work, when you’ve been let down so many times.

But I often hear from people that they don’t think their experiences should “count” as trauma, that it “wasn’t that bad.” They wonder why they feel so much pain and anxiety and can’t make sense of it. They often think that they’re just “too sensitive” or "there's something wrong with me."

If either of these stories feel familiar, I want you to know that there are ways to heal this pain. It may be hard to believe that trauma therapy really does work, especially if you’ve been let down many times before. I have heard stories like these many, many times. And I really hope that if you're still reading this, that you can try to trust (just a little bit!) that there's still a chance for you. It would be a privilege to help you figure this out!

A bit about me: I have over a decade of experience as a therapist providing services to clients experiencing the effects of trauma and abuse, oppression, severe and persistent mental illnesses, personality disorders, and living in a world that wasn't built for them to thrive. I have been fortunate to work with individuals of diverse identities, cultural backgrounds, and neurotypes. I sincerely love what I do, and feel fortunate to be in a career that I am passionate about!

In my opinion, there is no one right way to “do therapy.” Everyone has different needs, and so I am constantly adapting my style to meet those needs. Sure, I have my favorite techniques, like Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS)/parts work, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). But I also recognize that having a safe relationship with another human is the most essential piece of this puzzle. I believe that people grow when they feel safe. I will do my utmost to ensure that you experience safety when we are meeting, and that every part of you feels welcomed. And by committing to this work together, we can help you get closer to the most natural, whole, and peaceful state that you are capable of embodying.

My values are important to me, and inform my practice and how I work with clients. I am a feminist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, neurodivergence-affirming, HAES-adopting provider. I will always try my hardest to embrace you exactly as you are, and invite you to call me on my mistakes if I miss the mark on that.

When I'm not busy being a therapy nerd, I'm hanging with family. I'm a mom, a dog mom, a social justice fanatic, a foodie, a nature-lover, a gardener, and a book worm.

• Master of Social Work, University of Denver
• Certificate in Animal Assisted Social Work, University of Denver
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bard College

• Adults

• Abuse
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Caregiver Stress
• Childhood Trauma
• Co-Occurring Disorders
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• EMDR
• Family Conflicts
• Family/Peer Relationship Issues
• Healthy Coping Strategies
• Identity/Body Image Issues
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Intimate Partner Violence
• LGBTQIA Community
• Life Changes
• Life Transitions
• Maternal Mental Health
• Mood Disorders
• Neurodivergence/Neurodiversity
• PTSD
• Parenting Support
• People with Disabilities
• Postpartum Depression
• Relationship Issues
• Self-Esteem
• Stress Management
• Trauma
• Trauma/PTSD
• Women’s Issues
• Young Adults

• Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed

• Kaiser Permanente
• Kaiser Permanente (Medicare)
• Self-Pay

• Out of Network

• Male
• Female
• Cisgender
• Transgender
• Non-Binary
• Gender Fluid
• Buddhist
• Christian
• Hindu
• Jewish
• Muslim
• Secular and Non-Religious
• Sikh
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• White
• Black and African American
• Hispanic and Latino
• Asian
• Native American
• Pacific Islander
• Asexual
• Bisexual
• Gay
• Heterosexual
• Intersex
• Lesbian
• Pansexual
• Polysexual
• Queer
• Questioning
• Sexual Fluidity