About Briana Johnson, LPC, LAC | Denver Trauma & Relationship Therapist

Hi! I’m Briana.

I’m a Denver-based therapist who helps adults heal from past experiences and feel more confident and connected in their relationships.

My work focuses on getting to the root of patterns like people-pleasing, fear of conflict, burnout, and self-doubt. I use experiential approaches such as EMDR and IFS-informed therapy to support meaningful, lasting change.

Professional Experience

I’ve worked as a therapist for more than 15 years in settings ranging from intensive residential treatment to outpatient therapy.

Over time I’ve supported people navigating trauma, substance use, identity exploration, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. I’ve worked with college and graduate students, professionals across many fields, and therapists themselves.

As a queer therapist, LGBTQ+ clinical work has been central to my career. I’ve also facilitated trainings on power, privilege, and oppression and supervised therapists in training.

Today, my practice is focused on integrative trauma therapy — blending approaches like EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy, attachment-focused work, and parts-informed therapy to help people heal deeply and live more sustainably.

My goal is not just symptom relief, but meaningful and sustainable change — helping you feel more grounded, confident, and connected in your life.

My Approach to Trauma Therapy

I practice integrative, experiential trauma therapy. This means we work not only through insight and conversation, but also through body-based and memory-processing approaches that support deeper change.

My work draws from:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

  • Attachment-Focused EMDR

  • IFS-informed parts work

  • Sensorimotor psychotherapy

  • ACT, CBT, DBT skills

  • Motivational interviewing

We work to understand and heal the underlying experiences shaping how you feel about yourself and others.

Identity and Therapy

We both bring different identities into therapy.

I identify as white, straight-passing, and queer, among other things.

Some of our identities may overlap, and some won’t. I believe good therapy makes room to talk about how identity, relationships, and larger systems shape your experiences and mental health.

Many of my clients are navigating the impact of marginalization, discrimination, and the current sociopolitical climate. This can show up in ways that are both obvious and subtle—like anxiety about safety, chronic stress, internalized messages about who you’re allowed to be, or the emotional weight of navigating systems that weren’t built with you in mind.

Therapy can be a place to name and process these experiences, including internalized homophobia, transphobia, or other forms of internalized oppression, at your own pace. My goal is to offer a space where all parts of you are welcome, and where we can explore your experiences with curiosity, care, and respect.

My personal story

I’ve wanted to be a therapist since I knew what that was. On the playground as a kid I would dole out advice, and my friends nicknamed me ‘the psychiatrist.’

These days, I spend my time chasing my small kids with my partner, reading mystery books last-minute for book club, moving my body to de-stress, or watching trashy dating shows. (It’s called balance, okay?) I panic when asked about hobbies, so I usually say I knit—which is true, but may not be the coolest thing to say at parties.

I’m curious about the world and interested in almost any topic, people especially. I’m deeply grateful for the work I get to do. I get a front row seat to people’s healing which makes this the best job in the world.

I’ve benefitted myself from EMDR and IFS therapy, so I know firsthand how powerful these therapies can be. I want to walk alongside others in creating lives we love that feel sustainable.

Get Started
Briana Johnson, LPC, LAC, Denver Therapist for Trauma and Relationships

My credentials:

  • Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

  • Colorado Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

  • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • EMDR Trained (via the Maiberger Institute)

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy-Level I Trauma Themes (via the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Instititute)

  • IFS-Informed (via Dr. Kendhal Hart & Dr. Frank Anderson)

  • Best Laugh—High School Senior Superlative

    If you’re looking for trauma therapy in Denver or online across Colorado, you’re welcome to request a free consultation. We can talk about what’s bringing you in and whether working together feels like a good fit.

Let’s Go!