Somatic-IFS-informed therapy in arvada, Colorado
Reconnect to your inherent wisdom.
meet Lindsey Derus, MA, LPC, C-IAYT
Hi, I’m Lindsey.
I’m a recovering people-pleasing perfectionist. I know what it’s like to feel responsible for everyone else’s wellbeing while unknowingly sacrificing your own. For much of my life I received praise for my carefree, easy going nature. I became the dependable one, the helper, the one people expect to stay calm and look to for smoothing things over. If you’ve found your way here, maybe you can relate. When you live life centered around others, it can be easy to lose yourself.
Through all phases of life, my mindfulness practice has offered a reliable path home. Body-based work has taught me how to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with the parts of myself that had been overlooked for far too long.
As a Somatic-IFS-informed counselor and yoga therapist, I believe our bodies hold innate wisdom, and that healing happens when we when we learn to listen. I view therapy as a collaborative process and empower my clients to access their own inner knowing by compassionately challenging old patterns and turning towards difficult parts. Together, we'll move at a pace that feels safe for your nervous system, building deeper Self-trust along the way. You don't have to know where to begin, just show up as you are.
My Approach
Somatic IFS Therapy
The dominant culture prioritizes the mind. We're taught to look for tangible evidence, rather than trust our intuition. I take an integrative approach to healing, focused on listening to your body, rather than trying to out-think it. I utilize somatic-IFS-informed practices to guide you back to your source, beneath your patterns, habits, and learned adaptations.
Trauma and emotions live in the body. When you experience overwhelming stress without integrating your experience, it is stored as physical tension and patterns of nervous system dysregulation. Somatic therapy helps you tune into your body’s signals, release stored stress, and restore a sense of safety and connection.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) provides a compassionate framework for exploring your inner world. We will get to know many different parts—each with their own voice, beliefs, and intention. Some parts may have taken on protective roles to help you cope with pain or overwhelm. Over time, these strategies can create inner conflict or keep you stuck. In therapy, we turn toward these parts with curiosity and care. Rather than pushing them away, we build supportive relationships with them—and through that process, reconnect with the calm, wise Self that already lives within you.
Healing is a deeply personal process that unfolds through authentic connection, compassionate presence, and collaboration. You are the expert of your experience, I'm here as your guide. That said, growth requires personal commitment and accountability. This is your life, own it!
Effective therapy starts with finding the right fit.
Working with me may be right for you if…
You take responsibility for your healing and know that real change starts within.
You’re self-reflective and curious about the patterns and protective habits that may no longer serve you.
You understand that growth requires discomfort and you’re open to stretching your comfort zone.
You’re ready to do the deeper work— you’re not here to treat symptoms, but to explore the roots of your challenges.
You want lasting change grounded in insight and integration, rather than a “quick fix”.
Other Ways I Can Support You
Education, Credentials & Certifications
MA in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling, Naropa University
Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado- LPC.0021497
C-IAYT Yoga Therapist (800 hr)- 67682540
Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Training, Postpartum Support International
Integrative Somatic Parts Work Certification
professional memberships
International Association of Yoga Therapists
The Embody Lab
Are you ready to come home to your body and trust yourself again?
Gain clarity, understanding, and self-trust so you can navigate your world with greater ease.