01 · Who Gwen works with

Gwen works with stress, Anxiety, trauma and abuse and self esteem

Gwen lists 15 specialisms and 22 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Gwen chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Gwen's own words

What Gwen says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

Hi! I'm a professional counselor with over 20 years of experience. My professional philosophy is rooted in Gestalt therapy, in attachment theory, mindfulness/Buddhist practices and in somatic work. I operate holistically, working with body mind and spirit to create deeper healing. I also follow closely the latest research in neuroscience and strive to incorporate those findings into my work. I work to stay updated on the latest research while still staying grounded in my core philosophies. For you, that means that I am committed to using whatever approach fits for you. Therapy is a creative process between you and I; together we will co-create the path to get you to where you want to be. I specialize in trauma (especially childhood sexual abuse), eating disorders, anxiety, depression and life changes. I have extensive experience helping those who are struggling and unhappy find peace and healing. I would be honored to accompany you on your journey to wholeness and happiness.

Gwen Bartran, on the BetterHelp listing · read 8 Nov 2026

03 · How Gwen works

The 7 approaches Gwen lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Gwen lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Gwen's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Gwen runs a session.

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT

Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Reads present-day relationship difficulty through the lens of how safety and closeness were learned early on. The therapeutic relationship itself is treated as part of the work, because it is where the pattern tends to show up first.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Mindfulness-Based TherapyMBCT

Trains attention on what is happening right now - body, breath, the thought as it arrives - so distress can be observed rather than automatically acted on. Strongest evidence is in preventing depression from recurring, and it is usually taught as a practice you keep doing outside the session.

Narrative Therapy

Treats the story you tell about your life as something that can be examined and retold rather than as the plain facts. Separates the person from the problem - “the anxiety” rather than “your anxiety” - to make room for the parts the current story leaves out.

Trauma-Focused TherapyTF-CBT · trauma-informed

CBT adapted for people whose difficulty is rooted in a frightening or overwhelming event. Pacing is the point: safety and stabilisation come first, the memory itself is approached gradually and only when you are ready, and the aim is that recalling it stops hijacking the present.

Internal Family SystemsIFS

Treats the mind as made up of parts - the critic, the one who withdraws, the one that keeps everything running - each of which is trying to protect you. The work is getting to know them rather than overruling them.

Also listed

• Somatic Therapy

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Gwen practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Gwen's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Gwen at this point.

2. Naming Gwen specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Gwen is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Gwen.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Gwen

Built from what Gwen actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Gwen's - Gwen has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “With 25 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LPC

Licensed in

Colorado

Licence

CO LPC 13622

Licence number

13622

Licence expires

31 Aug 2027

NPI

1215348586

Years in practice

25

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Gwen's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 8 Nov 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Gwen. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.