Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP)

Helping therapy professionals and students navigate burnout, grief, moral distress and injury, compassion fatigue, cumulative stress, and trauma.

ASAP programs are designed for professionals and students whose work regularly involves emotionally intense situations, high responsibility, and repeated exposure to stress. For therapists, this can include supporting clients through trauma, grief, crisis, and loss; witnessing suffering and difficult life circumstances; navigating risk and ethical dilemmas; managing complex therapeutic relationships; and carrying the emotional weight of work that doesn't always end when the session does.

Therapists are often exposed to these stressors repeatedly - sometimes directly through the stories and experiences clients bring into the room, and sometimes through the cumulative responsibility of holding space for others day after day. Over time, this ongoing exposure can affect nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and our ability to stay present in the work, even for highly skilled and resilient clinicians.

The ASAP protocol was developed in response to this reality. It offers a structured, repeatable approach to supporting mental and emotional wellbeing in professions where stress exposure is ongoing rather than occasional. The goal is not to eliminate stress or pathologize normal reactions, but to provide timely, practical support that helps therapists process what they've encountered, regain a sense of steadiness, and continue their work with intention and care.

A young woman with shoulder-length dark hair sitting on a modern black chair in a minimalistic room, looking out of a large window covered with sheer curtains, with a white sofa nearby and wooden flooring.

Waitlist Now Open - Groups Forming Soon!

The roots are taking hold. Be part of the growth.

Be among the first to know when our ASAP groups launch.

Email me and I'll reach out as soon as we’re ready to go.

  • The Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) is a structured peer support model informed by principles of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a well-established, evidence-based psychotherapy approach for reducing distress related to overwhelming experiences.

    ASAP was developed as an early intervention for acute stress, with the goal of reducing the intensity and accumulation of post-traumatic stress reactions when support is offered close in time to stressful events.

    While informed by clinical models, ASAP is designed to be:

    • Brief and structured

    • Practical and skills-based

    • Appropriate for high-demand, fast-paced professions

    Research indicates that ASAP can reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms by up to 44%. The protocol can be delivered in both individual and group settings.

  • ASAP may be particularly supportive following:

    • A client crisis, suicide attempt, death, or other unexpected loss

    • Working with particularly difficult or emotionally intense clinical material

    • Challenging therapeutic dynamics, ruptures, or boundary concerns

    • Ethical dilemmas or situations that leave you questioning your decisions

    • Repeated exposure to trauma, grief, or other emotionally demanding material

    • Difficult interactions with clients, colleagues, supervisors, or organizations

    • Periods of cumulative stress, compassion fatigue, or burnout

    You don't have to wait until something feels overwhelming.

    Stressful experiences can be processed soon after an event - or years, even decades, later. ASAP can also be useful as an early intervention, giving therapists an opportunity to process the "low-grade" stressors that accumulate over time before they become something heavier.

    Much like preventive healthcare, seeking support early can be a way of caring for yourself before you reach a crisis point.

    ASAP is not intended to replace ongoing mental health care. Rather, it offers timely, structured support during or after periods of heightened stress, helping you process what you've experienced and reconnect with a sense of steadiness.

  • An ASAP session lasts approximately 45–60 minutes. The session begins with a brief overview of the process, followed by three practical stress-management exercises. After a short break, participants engage in three rounds of adaptive processing. The session concludes with a grounding activity to support emotional regulation and address any lingering stress.

    ASAP sessions are:

    • Structured and time-limited

    • Focused on internal experience rather than verbal processing

    • Designed to support nervous system regulation and adaptive processing

    • Offered in a way that respects privacy and emotional boundaries

    Participants are not required to share details of stressful events. The process emphasizes internal awareness, resourcing, and gentle stabilization rather than discussion or analysis.

    Most participants report significant relief from the stressful experience by the end of the session, and additional support is available if needed.

  • Yes. ASAP is designed with confidentiality in mind.

    • Participants are not asked to describe or disclose specific events

    • Group agreements emphasize privacy and respect

    • The structure minimizes the need for personal disclosure

    Specific confidentiality practices may vary depending on the setting (e.g., clinic-based sessions vs. individual support), and these details are reviewed prior to participation.

  • ASAP groups are offered at $75 per session, or $395 for a package of six - a savings of $55 when you commit to the full series. Payment is required upon registration.

    Critical incident groups are $100 per participant.

    Students: please reach out directly. I am committed to making this work accessible to those just entering the profession, because building resilience early matters.

Close-up of a small green bush with red-spotted leaves growing between cut tree logs in a forest.
Pink and white wildflowers growing in a field with the sun setting in the background.
A hand holding a feather with a sunset or sunrise in the background
A person holding a dandelion seed head against a sky with a gradient of blue, pink, and purple colors.
A woman with curly shoulder-length hair sitting by a large window with cross-hatched panes, holding a mug, with an open book and a calculator on her lap. Outside, trees and a house are visible on a partly cloudy day.
Sunlight filtering through tall pine trees in a green forest on a clear day.

What are my options?

  • These ongoing group sessions are open to therapists and students.

    Monthly ASAP groups are designed to support nervous system regulation, stress recovery, and emotional resilience in the context of clinical mental health work. Sessions focus on resourcing and stabilization and do not require sharing personal details or specific cases. Participants are welcome to attend as often as feels helpful.

    • Ongoing Staff Support
      Employers may offer ASAP sessions on a regular basis (monthly or quarterly) as a proactive approach to staff wellbeing, retention, and burnout prevention.

    • Critical Incident Support
      ASAP can be offered following particularly difficult cases, losses, or periods of cumulative stress to help staff regulate and recover after high-impact events.

  • Available for individuals, group practices, and other organizations, seeking accessible support in Colorado and Oregon. Washington availability coming soon.

  • Available for group practices and other organizations within close geographic proximity of Northern Colorado, depending on scheduling and capacity. Further travel arrangements may be considered for an additional fee.

  • Mental health clinicians who are interested in serving on the ASAP Emotional Support Team may have the opportunity to assist with group sessions in a peer support role. This role focuses on presence, grounding, and support during sessions rather than facilitation. Training, guidance, and clear role boundaries are provided.

    If you are interested, please email me.

People seated in chairs during a group discussion or therapy session, with hands folded or holding notes.

  • “Trauma changes you. Healing is about creating a new version of yourself, the one that is stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.”

    – Michele Rosenthal

  • ASAP is a structured, EMDR-informed group intervention that differs from traditional talk therapy.

    While ASAP is offered through my therapy practice, it is not a traditional process group or psychotherapy group. The focus is on helping participants regulate their nervous systems and reduce the impact of acute or cumulative stress using a structured protocol rather than open-ended discussion or in-depth processing.

    Participants are never asked to share personal histories or describe difficult experiences in detail. Many people appreciate that they can benefit from the group while maintaining their privacy.

    Because ASAP is facilitated within my clinical practice, participants complete intake paperwork and other requirements appropriate for receiving clinical services.

  • Some participants may discover that they would benefit from additional, individualized support. Individual therapy is available separately for those who want or need it, and referrals can be provided. Participation in ASAP does not require enrolling in therapy.

Still have questions?

Reach out!