My Story


Therapy for People Ready for Real Change.

Meet Sheila Trabelsi, LPC LAC, LMHC

If you've spent your life being the capable one—the achiever, the problem-solver, the helper—you may have become so good at holding everything together that you've forgotten what it feels like to simply be.
 As an entrepreneur and recovering perfectionist, I understand the pull to keep striving, fixing, and pushing forward, even when you're running on empty. I know what it's like to build a life that looks successful while quietly wondering why it doesn't feel the way you expected. I've chased achievement, held myself to impossible standards, and learned that fulfillment doesn't come from doing more—it comes from living more intentionally. I haven't lost my ambition. I've simply learned that peace, play, relationships, and rest deserve a seat at the table too.
The goal isn't to become less driven; it's to build a life where your ambition no longer comes at the expense of your peace, your relationships, or yourself. Together, we'll help you create success that feels just as fulfilling on the inside as it appears on the outside.

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Therapy should fit your life-
not the other way around. 

You deserve more than a place to vent.

You deserve therapy that creates lasting change.

Why Clients Choose to Work with Me

 Most of my clients don't come to therapy because they haven't tried hard enough. They arrive after reading the books, listening to the podcasts, talking with friends, and doing everything they know to do—yet they still find themselves repeating the same patterns, carrying the same pain, or wondering why insight alone hasn't created lasting change.
They aren't looking for someone to simply listen; they want:

✓ More than talk therapy
✓ Practical tools they can actually use
✓ A therapist who sees patterns they can't yet see
✓ An approach tailored to them—not a one-size-fits-all model
✓ Meaningful change that lasts beyond our sessions

Together, we'll chose the services (traditional therapy, extended sessions or therapy intensives) that best fit your need, and tailor sessions to combine practical skills, evidence-based strategies, trauma-informed approaches, and nervous system work to create real, sustainable change that fits for you.
I draw from years of experience integrating
  • EMDR
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
  • parts work
  • cognitive behavioral therapies
  •  attachment theory
  • somatic interventions
  • relationship science
  • addiction expertise 

Areas of Expertise






My ApproaCh

My approach to care is bold, real, and unapologetically human. I’m not afraid to dive into the messy, the uncomfortable, the taboo—trauma, relationships, sexuality, money, power, spirituality—and yes, I’ll cuss if it fits. Humor, even the dark kind, is welcome here. I meet you exactly where you are and partner with you to figure out where you want to go, tailoring each session to your goals, needs, and personality. I speak honestly, call out the BS when it matters, and admit when I screw up, because growth is mutual. My sessions aren’t cookie-cutter; they shift based on what you need in the moment. You’ll leave each session feeling like you’ve learned something meaningful, gained clarity, and carried a sense of relief with you. No judgment. No fluff. Just real work that moves you forward.

Licensed Professional Counselor (CO)  #11614
Licensed Addictions Counselor (CO) #1164
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (WA) MHC.LH.61667847

B.S. Psychology from Colorado State University 
M.Ed. Community Counseling from Colorado State University (2010)

EMDR I & II (Eye Movement Desensitization & Processing) (2012)
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) (2025)
I-CBT (for OCD) (2025)
Infidelity Repair Specialist (2026)
Integrative Sex and Couples Certification Training-Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP) (2026)
Immigration Evaluations (2024)
TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Internal Family Systems Trauma Treatment Program: A 4-Month Online Intensive (In-Process)
Hundreds of hours of trainings focused on Trauma, Couples Therapy, modalities like ACT and CBT, Suicide Prevention and Cultural Diverse Care.

EMDRIA member
Addictions Training Facilitator & Former Adjunct Professor
Former Mental Health Emergency First Responder


What Therapy with Me Feels Like

Clients describe me as real, skilled, and authentic. Sure, every therapist is supposed to listen and be non-judgmental—but let’s be honest, that’s not always people’s experience. Many of my clients come to me after working with therapists where they didn’t get much out of it, felt like the therapist didn’t say much, or even sensed that what they needed to bring into the space was “too much.” With me, you’ll find a balance of authenticity and directness, while also holding space for your full humanity. I’m relational in my approach, which means I’ll bring my own lived experience and hard-earned wisdom into the room, not just nod and smile.

Therapy with me is about digging into the messy stuff that’s weighing you down and learning the skills to shift it. Together, we’ll look at the patterns and pain that keep showing up, build new ways of thinking and coping, and clear out what no longer serves you. My goal is that you leave sessions not just feeling lighter, but also equipped—with clarity, confidence, and practical tools you can actually use to thrive in your life and relationships.


Life Outside the Therapy Office

I've always been driven. Long before I became a therapist, I was the person asking deeper questions, noticing the patterns other people overlooked, and trying to understand not just *what* people were doing, but *why*. That curiosity eventually became a career, but it's also shaped the way I move through the world. I'm a recovering perfectionist, entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and someone who genuinely loves building meaningful things. I understand the satisfaction that comes from working hard toward something you care about, but I've also learned firsthand that achievement without rest, play, connection, and purpose eventually catches up with us. These days, I still work hard, but I rest hard, play hard, and intentionally create space for the life I'm working so hard to build. I believe we don't have to choose between ambition and peace. We can learn to hold both.

I'm a Colorado transplant with roots in the Ozarks, carrying a little of both places with me, the grounded, down-home warmth of where I grew up and the adventurous spirit I found here in Colorado. My journey has also included leaving behind the certainty of evangelical teachings and later embracing Islam, a path that deepened my appreciation for spirituality, curiosity, and the courage it takes to question long-held beliefs. Those experiences remind me that identity isn't something we discover once; it's something we continue to shape throughout our lives.

Outside the therapy office, I'm endlessly curious. I'm love and enjoy photography, travel, fashion, great food, thrift stores, and trying new experiences. I'm drawn to astrology, tarot, moon phases, symbolism, and yes...I'm a little obsessed with doors. They remind me that growth often begins the moment we're willing to walk through something unfamiliar.

At home, I'm a mom to a teenage son, a severely anxious cat, and an ever-growing collection of plants that continually teach me patience, resilience, and that growth rarely follows a perfectly planned timeline. If I had to describe myself, imagine Hermione's love of learning, Luna Lovegood's curiosity and openness, with just enough Snape-like honesty to gently challenge you when you need it most. To my core, I'm someone who believes in growth, meaning, and helping people build lives that feel as good on the inside as they may already look on the outside.

Work With Me

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

  • Humanistic, Client Centered                     
  • EMDR                          
  • ART 
  • Informed IFS                      
  • Somatics                           
  • I-CBT                           
  •  Informed ERP       

Advanced Training & Experience

  • Informed Gottman and EFT
  • Informed Integrative Couples & Sex Therapy
  • Narrative
  • Informed Imago
  • Discernment Counseling
  • Harm Reduction Philosophy
  • Attachment Lens
         
  • Trauma Recovery  (EMDR, ART, attachment, nervous system healing)
  • Relationship & Couples Therapy (communication, infidelity, discernment, nontraditional relationships)
  • Addiction & Recovery 
  • High Achievers & Professionals (perfectionism, leadership, work/life balance, relationshisps)
  • Life Transitions & Identity (grief, divorce, perimenopause, career, exploring sexual identity)
  • Therapy Intensives & Extended Sessions (for those seeking deeper, more accelerated progress)

Frequently Asked Questions about working with me

What type of clients do you work best with?

What makes your therapy approach different?

I work best with adults who are motivated to create meaningful change, not because they have everything figured out, but because they're ready to approach their lives differently. Many of my clients are high achievers, professionals, entrepreneurs, caregivers, therapists, and couples who have spent years taking care of everyone else or pushing through difficult seasons. They often feel stuck despite doing "all the right things" and are looking for more than a place to vent. They want practical tools, deeper understanding, and lasting transformation. Whether you're navigating trauma, relationship challenges, anxiety, burnout, addiction recovery, grief, identity exploration, or a major life transition, we'll tailor therapy to your goals and where you are today.

I believe therapy should do more than help you understand why you're struggling—it should help you experience life differently. While being heard and understood is an important part of the process, I also integrate practical skills, trauma-informed approaches, nervous system regulation, and evidence-based therapies to help create lasting change. Rather than relying on one method, I draw from EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), parts work, attachment theory, CBT, somatic interventions, and relationship-focused approaches depending on what will best support your goals. My clients often tell me they leave sessions with new perspectives, tangible tools, and a clearer path forward.

Do you only offer EMDR?

No. EMDR is one of many tools I use, and it's incredibly effective for processing trauma, distressing experiences, and deeply held beliefs. However, not every client needs EMDR, and not every session should involve it. Therapy with me is integrative, meaning I tailor our work to your needs rather than fitting you into a single approach. Depending on your goals, we may incorporate EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), parts work, cognitive and behavioral strategies, somatic interventions, relationship skills, communication tools, or insight-oriented exploration. My focus is always on finding the approach that will best help you move forward.

What if I've already tried therapy before?

Many of my clients have. In fact, it's common for people to tell me they've been in therapy before, understand their patterns intellectually, and still feel stuck. Insight is valuable, but insight alone doesn't always create change. My approach combines understanding with action, helping you process what's happened, learn new skills, shift long-standing patterns, and create experiences that allow your mind and body to respond differently. Previous therapy doesn't mean therapy "didn't work." It may simply mean you're ready for a different approach or a different stage of healing. My goal isn't to keep you in therapy longer than you need—it's to help you build the insight, skills, and confidence to navigate life well beyond our sessions. Therapy can be as brief or as long as it needs to be, depending on your goals. Many clients complete one chapter of work, go out and live their lives, and then return months or even years later when a new season, challenge, or opportunity for growth arises. I see therapy as a resource you can return to throughout life, not a lifelong commitment.

How do I know if we're a good fit?

The relationship you have with your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy. My style is warm, collaborative, and compassionate, but I'm also direct, engaged, and action-oriented. I'll support you, challenge you when needed, and help you notice patterns that may be difficult to see on your own. If you're looking for someone who balances deep emotional work with practical strategies and tailors therapy to your unique goals, we may be a great fit. The best way to find out is to schedule a complimentary consultation where we can discuss what's bringing you in, answer your questions, and determine whether working together feels right for both of us.

Can therapy help even if nothing is "wrong"?

Absolutely. Many of my clients aren't in crisis,  they often don't fit a diagnostic criteria and just want to be the best version of themselves and see therapy as a beneficial tool. Others are functioning well on the outside but know something isn't quite right on the inside. They may feel disconnected from themselves or their relationships, notice they're becoming more reactive or burned out, struggle to find balance, or simply feel like they've outgrown old ways of coping. Therapy isn't just about reducing symptoms; it's about understanding yourself more deeply, strengthening your relationships, processing life's challenges, and creating a life that feels more aligned with who you are now. You don't have to wait until things fall apart to invest in your well-being.

Why do you offer therapy intensives and extended sessions?

Some work simply benefits from having more time. Extended sessions and therapy intensives allow us to move beyond feeling like we have to stop just as we're getting somewhere. They can be especially helpful for trauma processing with EMDR or ART, couples wanting to make meaningful progress, clients traveling for care, busy professionals who prefer fewer appointments, or anyone looking to focus on a specific issue without stretching the work over many weeks or months. For many people, having the space to stay with the work leads to deeper insights, greater momentum, and lasting change.
We'll decide together based on your goals, schedule, and the type of work you're hoping to do. If you're working through complex trauma, preparing for a major life transition, hoping to make significant progress in a shorter period of time, or find that 50-minute sessions often leave you feeling cut off, an extended session or intensive may be a great fit. If weekly therapy better supports your needs, we'll do that instead. My goal isn't to fit you into a particular service—it's to recommend the approach that gives you the best opportunity for meaningful, lasting progress.

Therapy is tailored to what you need, not confined to a single method. Clients often tell me I help them make connections they've never seen before. I'm naturally drawn to patterns—how childhood experiences show up in adult relationships, how perfectionism disguises itself as productivity, or how our nervous system quietly shapes the way we move through the world.

Because growth isn't just something I help clients pursue—it's something I intentionally practice in my own life.

The way I show up as a therapist is shaped by the way I've lived my own life.

Experience you can trust

  • 16+ years of clinical experience
  • EMDR, ART trained
  • Addiction Specialist
  • Couples Therapy
  • Clinical Supervisor  & Clinical Leadership Experience
  •  Former Adjunct Professor & Colorado State Addictions Trainer

Whether you're ready for one chapter of growth or several along the way, therapy should support your life—not become your life.

Work With Me

Learn More

If you're experiencing a significant life transition, feeling disconnected, or having trouble communicating with your partner, I offer a number of preventative and responsive therapy options for couples.

Couples Intensives & Extended Sessions

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Intensive sessions range between 2-4.5 hours each day for up to three days to help you go deeper and accelerate the healing process. This option is tailored to those with busy lives who are looking for transformational results now. 

Therapy Intensives

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If you are experiencing a season of transition, anxiety, grief, or symptoms of trauma that hinder you from moving forward, I provide a variety of treatments to target your specific needs and schedule.

Individual Therapy

CHOOSE YOUR PATH

READY TO BEGIN?

my fees

Individual Virtual Therapy: $180/ 60 min session
Sliding Scale: $130-170/session
Extended Sessions: $294/90min, $392/2 hour session
Couples: $324/90minutes or $432/2 hour sessions

Additionally, to make our premium treatment options and other services more accessible, we’ve partnered with CareCredit and Affirm, offering flexible financing options. These can be applied to all therapeutic services, including individual therapy, immigration evaluations*, and our premium therapy intensives.

Please click below to access my full cost of services, payment policies, and fee schedules.

Download Payment Policies

 At Path to Growth Therapy, we’ve chosen not to work directly with insurance companies so that our clients’ care remains fully confidential, personalized, and free from unnecessary restrictions.  Insurance billing requires a formal DSM diagnosis and often limits the type or depth of work we can do together. Many clients come to therapy seeking personal growth, self-understanding, and healing that cannot — and should not — be reduced to a diagnosis code. Sheila is in-network with a select few insurance plans through partnerships with other entities, inquire within for more information.  Clients with PPO plans may receive partial reimbursement for out-of-network services and can obtain a superbill or use utilize our partnership with Thrizer. By remaining independent from insurance systems, I can uphold my ethical commitment to provide care that is truly aligned with each client’s needs — without labeling, gatekeeping, or compromising the integrity and privacy of our therapeutic work. To accommodate clients best, accept FSA, HSA and offer flexible financing and payment plans for larger packages like intensives. Click below for more details.

DO I ACCEPT INSURANCE?

About Care Credit

Sheila has been the most amazing professional therapist that I have worked with. She has a lot of different skills to apply when needed in sessions, and her ability to know when to use which skill has kept sessions productive and healing. She has helped me through huge life transitions, including a very traumatic car accident. -A.

"I've had a lot of therapists over the years, but my experience with Sheila has been unique. I've finally been given practical skills to address my anxiety. Now, I feel more in control of my symptoms.. It's refreshing to work with a therapist who focuses on providing actionable tools. Highly recommend!" -S.

“I cannot express how transformative my experience has been working with Sheila. The combination of trauma-informed therapy, mindfulness practices, and depth of sessions provided me with the tools I needed to heal and grow, creating a fundamental shift I have been longing to have. EMDR has changed my life! Thank you!” -R.

It was a truly transformative experience. The focused, immersive nature of the intensive created a safe and supportive environment for profound healing and growth. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to more deepening sessions in the future. It was totally worth it! -E.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY?

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