Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Henderson, NV

I specialize in treating trauma and trauma-related disorders and am a Certified Complex Trauma Professional (CCTP-II).

Demi Tuuk Velarde, LCSW has specialized training in trauma-informed practice. Evidence-based therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, with in- person available for Las Vegas, NV residents. Contact if you want to heal from trauma, improve relationships, and foster emotional resilience. With a warm and collaborative style, she creates a safe space for post-traumatic growth.

Therapy should be a place where you can talk honestly about the things that are difficult to say out loud without being judged or reduced to a diagnosis—or to the hardest chapter of your life.

I work with adults and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, suicidal thoughts, sexual trauma, intimacy and sexual-health concerns, grief, life transitions, military and veteran concerns, first-responder stress, and relational distress. Relational distress can include communication breakdown, recurring conflict, loss of trust, emotional distance, intimacy concerns, separation or divorce-related stress, changes within a family, parenting-related strain, or simply reaching a point where you are unsure how to move forward.

My role in therapy is to help you understand what is happening, identify what you want to change, strengthen your ability to respond differently, and work toward healthier functioning and relationships. My clinical style is direct, collaborative, trauma-informed, practical, and shame-free.

I am independently licensed for clinical social-work practice in Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida; EMDR-trained; a Certified Psychosexual Assessment Specialist (CPAS); a Board-Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE); a Board-Certified Forensic Psychometrist (CFP); and a U.S. Army veteran.

My broader professional practice includes forensic mental-health evaluation and consultation. Those services are separate from psychotherapy. Once I am retained as your treating therapist and a clinical treatment relationship has been established, I cannot also serve as your forensic evaluator, expert witness, or child-custody evaluator in the same matter. Therapy is treatment-focused and is intended to support your clinical needs—not to generate an independent forensic opinion for litigation.

Every person experiences seasons of life that can feel overwhelming. Whether you're facing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, substance use, grief, or major life transitions, my goal is to provide a safe, collaborative, and evidence-based therapeutic experience where meaningful, lasting change can occur.

For nearly two decades, I have had the privilege of serving individuals, couples, and families throughout Nevada as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In addition to direct clinical practice, I have served as a Clinical Director, executive leader, clinical supervisor, consultant, educator, and program developer, helping develop innovative behavioral healthcare programs and clinical services across Nevada. These diverse experiences have allowed me to work with individuals from virtually every walk of life while treating a broad range of complex behavioral health concerns.

My approach is individualized, practical, and grounded in research-supported treatment. I integrate evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, and person-centered therapy to develop treatment plans tailored to each client's unique strengths, needs, and goals.

I believe people are far more than the challenges that bring them to therapy. My commitment is to provide compassionate, clinically excellent care while helping clients build resilience, strengthen relationships, overcome obstacles, and create healthier, more meaningful lives.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in childhood psychology. My educational background has shaped my understanding of how early life experiences, attachment, and childhood development can influence our current thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and emotional responses.

Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of mental health settings, including Behavioral Skills Training (BST), Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR), and case management with foster youth. These experiences provided me with a strong foundation in understanding trauma, family systems, emotional development, and the impact of life experiences on mental health. I have experience supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, ADHD, relationship challenges, emotional dysregulation, life transitions, and chronic stress.

I believe healing begins when individuals feel truly seen, heard, and understood. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and individualized to each client's unique experiences and goals. I integrate evidence-based approaches, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-based interventions, Polyvagal Theory, and somatic approaches.

I work with adults from diverse backgrounds and am passionate about helping clients build emotional resilience, strengthen relationships, improve self-esteem, and develop practical coping skills. Whether you're processing trauma, navigating a major life transition, working through relationship challenges, or simply seeking greater self-understanding, my goal is to help you feel empowered, supported, and equipped to move forward with confidence.