Kelli Ruhl

Kelli Ruhl

LPC, NCC, LAC

Many of my clients have already done a lot of talking. They understand their story, sometimes in great detail, and still feel stuck, on edge, or numb. That’s often a sign the experience is living in the body, below where words reach. That’s where I like to work.

I’m a trauma therapist in Denver, and I also work with people in addiction recovery and with anxiety and depression. My foundation is person-centered therapy, and I integrate somatic interventions, parts work, and evidence-based approaches like DBT, ACT, and CBT, tailored to what you need.

There is magic in being truly seen, both by ourselves and in connection with others. When we trade judgment for curiosity, we can peel back the layers of “shoulds” and inherited narratives and find out who’s underneath. More than anything, I want my clients to know they matter, their experiences are valid, and they already hold the strength to grow and heal.

I Specialize In

My Approach

Trauma doesn’t only live in memory. It shows up as a jaw that won’t unclench, a startle that’s too big, or a strange flatness when you should feel something. I work with those places directly, through somatic work that helps your nervous system settle and parts work for the pieces of you that are still braced for the worst.

A lot of clients are surprised how much can shift without having to retell every detail of what happened. Alongside the body-based work, we build concrete skills you can use when things get hard, drawn from DBT, ACT, and CBT.

You Might Be Here Because…

• You can explain exactly why you feel this way, and it hasn’t made it go away.
• Your body reacts before your mind catches up: a tight chest, a big startle, a shutdown.
• You grew up having to stay on guard, and part of you still is.
• You’re in recovery, or thinking about it, and want support that looks at what’s underneath.
• Your pregnancy, birth, or postpartum experience left you shaken.
• Your inner critic is loud and relentless.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

Therapy with me is a collaborative relationship built on trust, respect, and genuine connection, and you set the pace. Some sessions are mostly talking. In others, we slow down and notice what’s happening in your body as we talk, and work with that directly.

I’m nonjudgmental, curious, and steady, and I’ll tailor each session to what you need that day, whether that’s processing something old or getting through something happening right now.

A Little About Me

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from CU Boulder and first pursued a career in writing and teaching. Over time, I realized my love for storytelling was really a passion for understanding people: their complexities, their emotions, and their capacity for change. That led me to a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University, and to this work.

Methods & Training

• Person-Centered Therapy
• Somatic Interventions
• Parts Work
• DBT
• ACT
• CBT
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
• National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Areas of Focus

• Trauma Therapy
• Complex PTSD
• Somatic Therapy
• Addiction Recovery
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Perinatal & Postpartum
• Pregnancy Loss
• Attachment & Relationships