Down to the Root Denver Therapy — EMDR and IFS-informed trauma therapy for adults of all genders.

Individual Therapy in Denver for Trauma, Relationships, and Self-Trust

Helping adults of all genders heal past experiences, build confidence, and create more fulfilling relationships through EMDR and IFS-informed therapy

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Do you ever feel…

 

  • Stuck in the same relationship patterns, even when you want to change

  • Afraid of conflict or worried someone will be mad at you over the littlest things

  • Unworthy, like a burden, or unsure how to take up space

  • Letting people walk all over you because saying “no” feels impossible

  • Prone to people-pleasing, perfectionism, or trying to “fix everything”

If so, you’re not alone — and therapy can help.

Briana Johnson, LPC, LAC — Denver therapist specializing in trauma therapy, EMDR, and IFS

Hi, I’m Briana — a Denver therapist and the founder of Down to the Root Denver Therapy. I specialize in helping adults of all genders heal from trauma and feel more confident in their relationships. I’m terrible at keeping up with pop culture and I love a good pun.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), I’ve spent the past decade and a half working with adults navigating trauma, boundaries, substance use, and relationships.

I know therapy works best when you can show up as your full self — so I bring warmth, curiosity, and a little humor into the room. Together, we’ll explore your story, connect with your strengths, and get down to the root of what’s holding you back.

Meet Briana Johnson, LPC, LAC

More about Briana

  • Heal the root causes of self-doubt and unworthiness

  • Communicate your needs with clarity and confidence

  • Build self-esteem and trust in yourself

  • Create stronger, more balanced relationships

  • Break free from fear of conflict and people-pleasing

Therapy can help you…

Schedule a therapy appointment
Briana Johnson, LPC, LAC EMDR therapist in Denver for better boundaries

My Approach to Therapy

I combine relationship-focused talk therapy with experiential methods like EMDR and IFS-informed work to help you:

  • Process unresolved pain that fuels current struggles

  • Understand and honor all parts of yourself

  • Create new patterns of connection that feel authentic and empowering

Therapy with me is about more than just coping — it’s about true transformation from the inside out.

more about briana.

Why “Down to the Root”?

Lasting change doesn’t happen by just managing symptoms — it happens when we understand and heal the beliefs underneath them.

Many of the people I work with find that, beneath patterns like people-pleasing, fear of conflict, or difficulty setting boundaries, there are quieter beliefs that keep surfacing, such as:

  • “My needs don’t matter.”

  • “If I speak up, something bad will happen.”

  • “I’m too much — or not enough.”

  • “I have to keep the peace to stay connected.”

These beliefs often formed in earlier relationships or experiences and can continue to shape how you show up — especially in close relationships.

At Down to the Root Denver Therapy, I use EMDR and IFS-informed therapy to help gently identify and heal these beliefs at their source.

Start Healing at the Root
Therapist in Denver providing EMDR therapy for confidence and communication

Who I Help

I work with adults of all genders who want healthier, more balanced relationships and are ready to do the deeper work of healing. Whether you’re navigating family dynamics, friendships, dating, or long-term partnerships, I help you:

  • Advocate for your needs without guilt

  • Break unhealthy patterns that keep you stuck

  • Build stronger, more trusting connections

Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable adults—including professionals in fields like healthcare, engineering, law, and education—who appear high-functioning on the outside while struggling internally with self-doubt, people-pleasing, or disconnection.

My practice is LGBTQ-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, fat-positive, and poly-friendly. I won’t look at you sideways if you change your pronouns or ask me to use a new name. We’ll curse, cry, and (hopefully) laugh—but most importantly, we’ll be human together.

LGBTQ adults and diverse clients in Denver seeking therapy for trauma, boundaries, and relationships.
Denver therapy clients healing trauma, building confidence, and creating healthier relationships.

Imagine yourself…

  • Feeling confident and capable through life’s ups and downs

  • Knowing you are deeply worthy, having compassion on yourself

  • Taking up space and setting boundaries that feel good to you

  • Enjoying meaningful friendships and romantic relationships without fear of conflict

Ready to get down to the root?

You deserve to feel empowered, respected, and fulfilled in your relationships. Therapy is a safe space to begin that change.

Book a free consultation, grab your coffee, and let’s get started.

Let's get started

 FAQs

 

  • Yes! Schedule a free 20 minute appointment with me to get started!

  • Yes. Many people hesitate to call their experiences trauma, especially if there wasn’t one obvious event. Trauma can come from ongoing relational experiences, feeling unsafe or unseen, identity-based rejection, or having to adapt for a long time in difficult environments. If something from your past is still shaping how you feel, relate, or respond today, it’s worth exploring—and we can do that gently, without needing labels.

  • Yes! I offer both in-person therapy in Denver between Glendale and Belcaro (Colorado Blvd & Exposition Ave) and secure online therapy for adults across Colorado.

    Whether you prefer the comfort of your own space or the connection of meeting in person, we’ll find the format that works best for you.

  • Many people I work with have tried therapy before and felt they understood their patterns but couldn’t change them.

    Trauma-informed approaches like EMDR and IFS help us go to the root of the problem and heal from the bottom up, so changes you make in your life feel more natural and easier to make.

More questions? Visit the full FAQ page.

Colleague Testimonials

  • Briana is one of the best clinicians with whom I have had the pleasure to work. She is so thoughtful, warm, insightful and incredibly skilled. She is the kind of therapist that clients are fortunate to see for support and colleagues are inspired by as she keeps us learning and growing in the best possible way.

    Jennifer Schroeder, LCSW

  • Briana is incredibly empathetic, compassionate, knowledgeable, and authentic. She has the rare gift of creating a space that feels non-judgmental, genuine, and safe for all of her clients and colleagues. I would whole-heartedly trust her with any referral personally and professionally. I feel very fortunate to know her and I believe my life is better for knowing her. I think you will feel the same way when you get the opportunity to work with her in the counseling space.

    Jessica Smith, LPC, LAC

  • I've worked with Briana for multiple years and she has been a wonderful colleague, therapist, and human being. She is knowledgeable, is always up to date on the latest developments in the field of therapy, brings appropriate humor to professional settings, and is overall a warm and welcoming person. She is at the top of my recommendation list, always.

    Nahed Barakat, PsyD

  • Briana is wonderful. Compassionate, knowledgeable and skilled. Anyone who seeks her out for therapy and support will not be disappointed!

    Brandon Kozloff, LCSW, LAC

  • I have had the honor of working with Briana in a professional capacity for the last couple of years, and can honestly say that she is one of the most special humans and therapists I have had the pleasure of getting to know and learn from. Her clinical expertise is evident, and her warmth and kindness builds trust effortlessly. If you are looking for a new therapist, I could not recommend her more.

    Cameron Bell, LCSW, LAC

  • I have worked professionally with Briana for years. She is a bright, warm, funny, and dedicated therapist who makes you feel so easy to open up. I would highly recommend Briana for anyone looking for a therapist they can trust.

    Wendy Morrison, PhD

  • I wholeheartedly endorse Briana as an exceptional clinician with expertise in trauma, substance abuse, gender, and sexuality. Briana is compassionate, skilled, and centers her care for her clients around their unique needs. I have worked alongside Briana for some time now and am always humbled to learn from her. I believe she provides outstanding care to every individual she works with.

    Kenzie Baques, LCSW

  • Briana always is learning and engaged in professional development to use new techniques and evidence-based interventions. She is motivated to help others and very compassionate. She loves being a therapist and is incredibly inclusive. She is self-aware and consistently strives to be a better person and therapist. She's very good at what she does.

    Andrea Filson, LPC, LAC

At Down to the Root Denver Therapy, I offer several ways to support your healing and growth. Click below to learn more about each service:

Therapy Services in Denver

LGBTQ & Trans-Affirming Therapy in Denver

A safe, affirming space for queer and trans adults to heal, explore identity, and live authentically.

LGBTQ & Trans-Affirming Therapy

Substance Use Counseling in Denver

Compassionate, harm reduction–based counseling for adults exploring or changing their relationship with substances.

Substance Use Counseling

Trauma Therapy in Denver

Trauma therapy for adults who feel stuck in patterns shaped by past experiences. Using EMDR and IFS-informed therapy, I help clients heal underlying beliefs, build self-trust, and feel more grounded and connected in their relationships.

Trauma Therapy in Denver

Individual Therapy for Relationship Issues

Work one-on-one to set boundaries, communicate with confidence, and build healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Individual Therapy for Relationships

Costs and Good Faith Estimate

The No Surprises Act is a law which protects you from unexpected fees for medical services not covered by insurance (but we don’t do surprise fees around here anyway!) Click below to read about costs of therapy and your right to a Good Faith Estimate.

Rates and Policies
Trauma Therapy for Adults with Down to the Root Denver Therapy
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