Meghan Hargaden, LMHC

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EMDR therapy and how does it help with trauma

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed specifically for traumatic memory. Rather than requiring you to talk through every detail of what happened, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess a memory that has remained stuck in a raw, unresolved state. Over time the memory becomes something you can recall without the same physical and emotional flood. Meghan is EMDR trained and works with adults and adolescents living with PTSD and complex PTSD, including survivors of prolonged and repeated trauma. Many clients find that symptoms such as hypervigilance, intrusive memories, and emotional reactivity begin to loosen once reprocessing is underway.

Do I have to be sober before starting therapy for addiction

No. Meghan practices from a harm reduction framework, which means therapy can begin wherever you actually are rather than where you think you are supposed to be. Requiring abstinence as a precondition often keeps people out of treatment at the exact moment they need it most. Using Motivational Interviewing, Meghan works with ambivalence directly, exploring what change would mean for you without pressure or judgment. Some clients move toward abstinence. Others focus first on reducing risk, stabilizing daily functioning, or understanding what the behavior is doing for them. Both paths are legitimate starting points.

Can therapy actually help with anger

Yes. Anger is rarely the whole story. It usually sits on top of something else, such as fear, shame, grief, or a nervous system that has learned to move quickly into threat. Meghan has advanced anger management training and works with men and women on recognizing escalation earlier, tolerating intense emotion without acting on it, and repairing the relationships that anger has strained. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are often central to this work because they provide concrete, practiceable tools rather than general advice. The goal is not suppression. The goal is genuine self-regulation and a sense of autonomy in how you show up with the people who matter to you.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy and who is it for

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a skills-based approach originally developed for emotional dysregulation and now widely used for anxiety, depression, self-harm, and impulsive behavior. It teaches four core skill sets, including distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. Meghan is DBT trained for both adolescents and adults and has facilitated DBT groups in multiple clinical settings. DBT tends to suit people who understand their patterns intellectually but still find themselves overwhelmed in the moment, and who want practical tools they can use between sessions rather than insight alone.

Does Meghan work with teenagers

Yes. Meghan works extensively with adolescents, particularly those facing substance use, trauma, anger, and body image concerns. Her background includes wilderness therapy programs for adolescents and high-conflict families, adolescent DBT groups, and life skills work with emerging adults. She is direct with teens in a way that most find refreshing rather than off-putting, and she works collaboratively with parents while protecting the trust that makes adolescent therapy effective in the first place.

Can faith or spirituality be part of my therapy

If you want it to be. Meghan holds theological training through Denver Seminary alongside her counseling degree, and she has formal philosophy training as well, which means she is equipped to sit with existential and spiritual questions rather than redirecting away from them. This work is entirely client-led. Some clients want faith explicitly integrated. Others are processing spiritual injury, doubt, or a transition in belief. Many never raise it at all, and that is equally welcome. Therapy with Meghan does not require any particular belief system.