Mark Searle - MSW, LCSW

08/20/2026

I'm excited to announce that AEGIS Trauma & Grief Therapy is now accepting several major insurance plans!

I provide telehealth therapy throughout Colorado for adults experiencing trauma, grief & loss (especially su***de bereavement), and difficult life transitions. If cost or insurance coverage has been one of the things keeping you from reaching out for therapy, I'm excited to make that barrier a little easier

08/20/2026

NOW ACCEPTING INSURANCE
Anthem-Cigna-Aetna-UHC/Optum Telehealth Throughout Colorado

07/22/2026

Why AEGIS?
With The Odyssey renewing interest in Greek mythology, I've been thinking about the story behind the name of my practice.

AEGIS Trauma and Grief Therapy takes its name from Athena's Shield: The Aegis. The shield symbolizes wisdom, protection, and steadfast guidance.

After trauma, profound grief, su***de loss, or an unexpected life change, the world can feel unfamiliar and unsafe.

Therapy cannot erase what happened, but it can offer a place of safety where healing begins and where you don't have to carry your story alone.

That's why I named my practice AEGIS. I love the idea of a shield that can offer protections and support as you find your footing again.

07/18/2026

Self-harm is often misunderstood. For many people, it is not about wanting to die, but about trying to cope with overwhelming emotional pain. Feelings such as trauma, abuse, loneliness, anxiety, anger, or being let down can become so intense that someone may turn to self-harm as a way to release or control those emotions.

Behind self-harm there is often a story of pain that has not been heard or understood. Judging or shaming someone can make the struggle even harder. Compassion, understanding, and support can make a powerful difference.

Recovery is possible. With the right support, healthier ways of coping can be learned. Talking to someone who listens without judgment can help reduce the isolation and pain someone may be feeling.

Ways to help prevent self-harm

• Talk to someone you trust about how you feel
• Seek professional help from a therapist, counselor, or doctor
• Learn coping strategies such as journaling, grounding techniques, or creative outlets
• Remove or avoid items that may be used for self-harm when you are struggling
• Build a support network of people who care about you
• Reach out during moments of crisis instead of facing them alone

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available.

Crisis and Support Lines

🇺🇸 United States – Call or text 988 (Su***de & Crisis Lifeline)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom & Ireland – Samaritans 116 123
🇨🇦 Canada – 1-833-456-4566 (Talk Su***de Canada)
🇦🇺 Australia – Lifeline 13 11 14
🌍 International helplines:
https://www.opencounseling.com/su***de-hotlines

You are not alone, and your pain deserves to be heard and supported.

Self Harm Awareness
www.recoverytrauma.com

07/16/2026

Being grounded doesn’t mean nothing affects you. It means you can feel disappointment, anger, grief, or fear without letting the emotion make every decision for you. Emotions are messengers, but if they escalate they can also hijack our brains (the tsunami of hormones taking over the amygdala, and disabling the prefrontal cortex).

But you can pause. You can listen to what the feeling is trying to show you. Do some deep breathing (inhale for 4 , exhale for 6 to engage the parasympathetic nervous system so things calm down). And then you can choose your response with greater clarity.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” - Viktor Frankl

This is not about denying our emotions or becoming numb. The idea is to become steady enough to stay connected to ourselves, even when life feels difficult.

What helps you return to yourself when your emotions feel overwhelming?

Drop a 💛 if you think have a strategy or are open to one

07/10/2026

"The ones who listen without fixing..." The desire to fix or solve often comes from a genuine place of caring - people who don't want to see loved ones hurting, so they want to solve. It can also come from a dismissive or invalidating place - people who are uncomfortable with emotions or don't want to be bothered to take the time to listen and support.

Those individuals who can listen and support without offering solutions give us a space to mourn, to grieve, to process thoughts and emotions without making it about themselves or offering solutions of what we "should" do.

In times when you just need to vent, organize your thoughts, or process your feelings, maybe try to tell your friends or loved ones that in that moment, you don't need solutions. You just need support.

Meredith Van Ness Therapy and Coaching

07/01/2026

🌼 🌸 A.C.🌻 🌹

06/27/2026