Trauma Therapy in Murray, Utah

Compassionate Care for Deep Healing
If you are reading this page right now, something in your life has brought you here — and we want you to know that simply searching for help takes real courage. You may be carrying wounds that others cannot see: memories that intrude without warning, a body that stays tense even when nothing is "wrong," a quiet numbness that makes it hard to feel fully present in your own life. Whatever brought you here, you are not broken. You are not too far gone. And you do not have to keep carrying this alone.

At Living Waters Counseling LLC, we specialize in trauma therapy for people across the Salt Lake Valley and the state of Utah. Our lead clinician, Dr. Ron Llewelyn, Psy.D., is a doctoral-level psychologist with deep expertise in complex trauma, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and advanced trauma treatment modalities. Alongside Dr. Llewelyn, Dax Johnson, CMHC, brings a warm, trauma-informed approach that meets clients exactly where they are. Together, they offer a comprehensive, individualized approach to healing that goes far beyond talk therapy alone.

​Understanding Trauma: More Than What Happened to You 

Trauma is one of the most misunderstood words in mental health. Many people think trauma only applies to dramatic, life-threatening events — war, assault, a car crash. But the truth is far broader, and far more human, than that. Trauma is any experience that overwhelms your nervous system's capacity to cope — and its effects can echo through a lifetime long after the event itself has passed.
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Trauma shows up in many forms:

Type of Trauma	What it Looks Like
Single-Incident Trauma	A discrete event such as an accident, assault, natural disaster, or medical emergency.
Complex/Relational Trauma	Repeated or prolonged exposure to harmful experiences, often involving people who were supposed to provide safety.
Developmental/Childhood Trauma	Abuse, neglect, or instability experienced during formative years when the brain is most vulnerable.
Generational/ Intergenerational Trauma	Patterns of trauma passed down through families, communities, or cultural histories

When trauma goes unprocessed, it does not simply fade away. It lives in both the brain and the body — stored as fragmented memories, heightened stress responses, and nervous system patterns that were once protective but now get in the way of daily life. Common signs of unprocessed trauma include:

• Hypervigilance — feeling perpetually on alert, as if danger is always near
• Dissociation — feeling detached from yourself, your emotions, or your surroundings
• Emotional numbing or a sense of emptiness
• Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or distressing dreams
• Avoidance of people, places, or situations that trigger painful memories
• Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
• Shame, guilt, or persistent self-blame

Our Trauma Therapy Approaches
There is no single path to healing from trauma. That is why Living Waters Counseling offers one of the most comprehensive trauma treatment toolkits in the Salt Lake Valley. Dr. Llewelyn and Dax Johnson are trained in multiple evidence-based and advanced modalities, allowing them to build a treatment plan that is precisely matched to your unique needs, history, and goals.

EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — one of the most researched trauma therapies in existence. Uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess stuck traumatic memories.	Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) A rapid, imagery-based therapy that uses eye movements to rapidly rescript distressing memories — often producing significant relief in just a few sessions.	Brainspotting A neurobiologically-oriented approach that uses specific eye positions to locate and process trauma held in the subcortical brain — particularly effective for trauma that is difficult to verbalize.
Virtual Reality Therapy Cutting-edge immersive technology used to facilitate exposure and desensitization in a safe, controlled environment — ideal for phobias, combat trauma, and anxiety-based trauma responses.	Hypnotherapy Clinical hypnosis used to access deeper states of awareness, reduce hyperarousal, and facilitate processing of traumatic material that may be difficult to reach in ordinary waking states.	Hypnotherapy Clinical hypnosis used to access deeper states of awareness, reduce hyperarousal, and facilitate processing of traumatic material that may be difficult to reach in ordinary waking states.
Developmental Reenactment Trauma Therapy (DRTT) An advanced approach that addresses the developmental roots of trauma — particularly helpful for attachment wounds and early childhood relational trauma that shaped identity and nervous system functioning.	Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) A psychodynamically-grounded therapy particularly effective for identity disturbance, borderline features, and the relational patterns that emerge from complex trauma and developmental disruption.	Trauma-Informed Talk Therapy Grounding all of our work is a deeply trauma-informed relational approach — recognizing the impact of trauma on the whole person and building the therapeutic relationship as a healing space in itself.

Why Living Waters Counseling for Trauma Therapy in Utah? 

There are many good therapists in the Salt Lake Valley. Here is what sets Living Waters Counseling apart:

Dr. Ron Llewelyn, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist | Trauma & DID Specialist Dr. Llewelyn brings doctoral-level expertise and years of specialized experience in complex trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder — conditions that many therapists lack the training to effectively address. His advanced toolkit includes EMDR, Brainspotting, Ego State Therapy, DRTT, Virtual Reality Therapy, and more.

Dax Johnson, CMHC Clinical Mental Health Counselor | Trauma-Informed Care Dax brings a warm, steady, trauma-informed presence to every session. He works with clients navigating a range of traumatic experiences, offering a collaborative and deeply human approach to therapy that honors each client's unique story and pace.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

No — and this surprises many people. Several of the most effective trauma modalities we use, including EMDR, ART, and Brainspotting, do not require you to narrate the details of what happened to you. You are always in control of what you share, how much you share, and when. You will never be pushed to go somewhere you are not ready to go. It is always wise to establish a sense of stabilization before fully discussing any of the traumatic memories. This allows the parts of the brain responsible for language and logic to be able to process the information more effectively. 

Can trauma therapy make things worse before they get better?

It is possible to experience a temporary increase in emotional distress as you begin engaging with material that has been suppressed. This is why the stabilization phase — building coping skills and a strong therapeutic foundation before processing traumatic content — is so essential. We never rush into processing before you have the internal resources to handle it. We monitor your wellbeing carefully throughout, and you always have the right to slow down or pause.

Can trauma cause physical symptoms?

Absolutely. Trauma is stored not only in the mind but in the body. Physical symptoms commonly associated with unprocessed trauma include chronic pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, autoimmune responses, and a dysregulated nervous system that keeps the body in a state of chronic fight-or-flight. Our body-inclusive approach to trauma therapy — particularly through modalities like Brainspotting and somatic-aware EMDR — addresses these physical dimensions of trauma healing.

Is trauma therapy different for DID or dissociation?

Yes — significantly. Treating dissociative disorders, particularly DID, requires specialized training that goes well beyond standard trauma therapy preparation. Standard exposure-based approaches used without modification can be destabilizing for clients with DID. Dr. Llewelyn's specialization in dissociation means your care is built on a thorough understanding of dissociative processes, parts-based work, and a carefully phased approach that prioritizes internal coordination and stabilization before deeper processing begins.

You Don't Have to Carry This Alone — Reach Out Today
Healing from trauma is real. It is not easy — but it is possible, and you deserve support that truly meets the depth of what you have been through. Whether you are in the Salt Lake Valley or anywhere in the state of Utah, Living Waters Counseling is ready to walk alongside you.

Call or Text (801) 921-7854



Office Location
5296 S Commerce Drive, Suite 206
Murray, UT 84107

Telehealth
Available statewide across Utah — connect from home, work, or wherever you are.
 

 Serving Murray, West Jordan, Sandy, Midvale, South Jordan, Taylorsville, Millcreek, and the greater Salt Lake Valley  |  Telehealth available statewide in Utah  |  Insurance accepted