Bergen Pierson, LCSW

I work with people dealing with chronic or hard-to-diagnose illness, anxiety, exhaustion, or just feeling stuck. Our sessions are a space where your whole story is welcome. Rather than trying to silence anxiety or push away the inner critic, we meet these parts of you with curiosity — listening to what they fear and what they need, so we can begin to heal what they’ve been protecting. Over time, that can mean more calm in your body, boundaries that hold, and enough space to process the past so it stops running your present. Your intuition and lived experience are always our most important guides. My Philosophy: People in Context My approach is direct, compassionate, and trauma-informed — grounded in the belief that your symptoms are often your body’s wise attempt to keep you safe. Before pathologizing the person, I look at the environment: family history, cultural background, and the impact of systemic pressures like racism and ableism. I also welcome clients drawn to integrative or symbolic frameworks — including those who work with tarot as a tool for self-reflection and meaning-making. Specialized Support for Chronic Illness I work with people navigating chronic or hard-to-diagnose illness, including Lyme disease, long COVID, POTS/dysautonomia, and conditions that don’t yet have a clear diagnosis. As a Lyme-literate therapist, I understand navigating a diagnosis that’s often dismissed or misunderstood. This is a space where you don’t have to prove your physical reality. Together, we process the emotional weight of your diagnosis, develop ways to cope with symptoms, and work to reclaim a sense of hope and selfhood. If requested, I’m happy to consult with your medical providers to ensure a holistic circle of care. My Professional Background I hold a Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University, and chose to pursue my Master of Social Work at the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work specifically for its Institute for Human-Animal Connection. Through the Institute, I earned a specialized certificate in Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Social Work. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) holding active licenses to practice in the states of Colorado, Virginia, and Maine. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please send me an appointment request. Selected Trainings • Certificate in Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Social Work, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, Graduate School of Social Work University of Denver, 2021 • Seeds: Growth Conversations in Anti-Racism and Liberation, Building Bridges, 2020-2021 • Polyvagal Informed Therapy Master Class, Deb Dana, LCSW • Clinical Applications of Internal Family Systems, Frank Anderson, MD • Healing the Trauma that Surrounds Medical Syndromes, Lisa Rankin, MD, and Dick Schwartz, PhD • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, EMDRIA approved