top of page

About Me

I am a trauma-informed, HAES-aligned, sex and kink positive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, queer and curious practitioner that offers individual therapy, groups, and breathwork through a social justice, strengths-based lens. 

182C3491-B2BF-44C4-9E3D-C1DDD8037066.jpg

My Story

I'm Alex (she/her) and I'm a psychotherapist and breathwork facilitator. I was born and raised on the stolen lands of the Lenape (New Jersey). I've lived in Miami, FL, Baltimore, MD, Washington DC, and the Limpopo Province of South Africa. I currently live in Denver, Colorado. 

​

As a child, letting myself feel and express my emotions was challenging to me. I felt so deeply that I learned and developed a multitude of ways to prevent overwhelm from connecting to my feelings. 

​

Trauma reinforced my ability to disconnect from my self. As I noticed my trauma impacting my relationships with others and self, I sought out therapy to be "fixed." I wanted all the "bad" parts of myself to go away - especially any emotion that wasn't positive. I hid a lot of my shame and parts of myself from my first therapist in undergrad; and yet still benefited from therapy giving me tools to survive better. I recognize now that I was not at that point in my healing where I could be honest with my therapist and share about what I was really experiencing. 

​

As the years passed, I continued to find ways to survive and "fix" myself while experiencing compounding trauma. When I entered therapy in graduate school, that's when things began to shift. With slow and intentional work, I slowly trusted my therapist with what was behind my walls and began to connect to my self. 

​

Since then, I've been exploring various ways to access healing for myself. Currently, individual therapy and breathwork are the main ways I support myself in healing from trauma; which is why I have been inspired to offer these modalities to others. I want to share what has been so important in my own healing journey with others.  

​

What I hope to communicate to whoever is reading my story, is that wherever you are in your healing journey, that is okay. It's okay if your therapy or healing process looks and feels different than someone else. Your healing process should meet you where you are - not where you should be. 

​

As a therapist and breathwork facilitator, I hope to hold the compassionate and brave space that's been held for me. Together, we can explore and tenderly hold all the parts that have helped you to survive to this point; and we can connect with the parts that have been lost and the parts that support you in living fully. 

Therapeutic Practice

Specialties

Sexual Trauma / Trauma & PTSD / Body Image / Self-Esteem / Anxiety / Depression / Life Transitions / Grief / Chronic Illness / Attachment Trauma

Therapeutic Modalities

Sensorimotor Therapy/ Internal Family Systems (IFS) / Psychodynamic / Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) / Mindfulness / Systems Theory / Relational

Practice 

Telehealth / Licensed in Washington, DC & Virginia & Colorado / Our Collective

​

Accepting In-Person Individual Clients in Denver. CO

20220424_150727 (1).jpg

Credentials

  • Master of Social Work
    University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Social Work, May 2019

  • DC Board of Social Work License
    LC20001986, June 2027

  • VA Board of Social Work License 
    0904014746, May 2026

  • CO Board of Social Work License
    CSW.09930119, January 2024

  • Human Services Management Certificate
    University of Maryland Baltimore, 2019

  • Trauma Informed Clinical Practice Certificate
    The Viva Center, June 2021

  • Internal Family Systems Training Course
    Bright Ideas, March 2021

  • Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training for Survivors of Sexual Assault
    Porchlight Wellness, October 2021 

  • Breathwork Facilitator Training
    Breath Liberation Society, July 2022

  • Sensorimotor Therapy: Level 1 - Trauma Themes
    Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, May 2024

  • Sensorimotor Therapy: Level 2 - Developmental & Relational Injury
    Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, July 2025

  • LPC Supervision Training
    Colorado Counseling Association, May 2025

Fun Facts About Me

Astrology Signs

Cancer Sun

Cancer Moon

Cancer Rising

Favorite Past Times

Being with Friends & Family 

Hiking

Baking 

Paddle Boarding 

Watching Reality TV

Travel

Favorite Places I've Traveled To

Cape Town, South Africa

Tofo, Mozambique

Sorrento, Italy 

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Budapest, Hungary

Yosemite NP, CA

©2025 by Alex Swales, LICSW. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page