Welcome!
My name is Amy Allerheiligen, LMFT, Certified EMDR Therapist new to Boulder, CO after relocating from the Bay Area. I have over 15 years experience helping children, teens, and adults heal the wounds of the past and create more calm, connection, and choice in the present.
Support for Adults
One thing I know for sure is that there is always a reason for behavior, and that many of the challenging symptoms clients seek help for are rooted in past trauma- distressing experiences that overwhelmed their nervous system. Whether the trauma comes from a single incident – like a natural disaster, sexual assault, or act of violence – or is rooted in difficult or abusive experiences from childhood, these unprocessed, “stuck” memories can cause the brain to unconsciously react to benign present day events as if they are threats to our safety. This can show up as symptoms like:
- anxiety, phobias, OCD
- depression
- emotional reactivity/anger
- hypervigilance
- low self-esteem, imposter syndrome
- relationship problems
- challenges at work
- attachment issues – avoidant/insecure/disorganized
- substance use disorder or other methods used to numb or avoid hard feelings
You’re doing your best – but your nervous system has other plans. I work with adults who find themselves stuck in patterns of reactivity, shame, and self-blame. Despite all their insight and intention, they still get hijacked by fight-or-flight responses in hard moments – then feel like they’ve failed all over again. These patterns aren’t signs of brokenness – they’re protective strategies shaped by trauma, and they can be worked with and healed. My approach blends several therapeutic modalities including EMDR, IFS, and nervous system/poly-vagal work to help you understand your reactions, soothe the parts of you that are trying to protect, and build the capacity to respond rather than react. You make sense – and together we will help your system put the past in the past and to find more space, choice, and calm.
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it."
-Helen Keller
Support for Children, Teens and Parents
As a child and teen therapist, I specialize in supporting young people who are struggling with anxiety, emotional outbursts, low self-esteem, oppositional behaviors, depression, or difficulty connecting with peers and family. Many of the kids I work with feel overwhelmed by their feelings and don’t always have the tools or words to express what’s going on inside. That’s where play, creativity, and attunement come in.
I use an integrative approach grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based practices – including EMDR for children and teens, play therapy, CBT, and parent-child attachment work. Whether your child is processing a recent event (like a medical trauma, loss, or scary experience), navigating big life transitions (like divorce or a move), or carrying wounds from early trauma, I provide a safe, warm space for them to explore, regulate, and grow.
For teens, I help them begin to understand themselves more deeply – to explore their internal world, build confidence, and develop skills for managing emotions and stress. For younger children, I meet them at their level through play, movement, and games – inviting them to get to know and express their thoughts and feelings, helping them understand how their brains and nervous systems work, and teaching ways to manage their big feelings.
I also work closely with parents as they are partners in this process and know their child best. Whether we’re strengthening the parent-child bond through attachment interventions or strategizing ways to help parents respond to concerning behaviors, I support the entire family.
My goal is always the same: to help kids and families feel safer, more connected, and more empowered – so they can move through challenges with resilience and confidence.
