Trauma therapy and counselling

What is trauma therapy?

Trauma can leave a lasting impact on the mind and body. Whether it occurs during the earliest years of life, or later on, trauma overwhelms our capacity to process what happened.

You could think of trauma as causing a system overload. In order to cope, the mind resorts to a series of defence mechanisms that buffer against the overwhelm. For example, dissociation might help us to remain disconnected from the intensity of our emotional world, but over time creates a disconnect from our inner experiences and the outside world which has unintended consequences. 

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My approach to trauma therapy considers four key ideas alongside each other:

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1) It recognises the impact of trauma on the body and nervous system. Tools can be offered to help stabilise and ground a dys-regulated nervous system. 

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2) Trauma can result in explicit symptoms of PTSD or CPTSD, like flashbacks, night terrors, dissociation, re-experiencing symptoms, difficulties in relationships, a rigid negative view of oneself and others...If you think you have a clinical diagnosis of PTSD, then my approach will include specific interventions that help shift the symptoms so that you have more room to breathe and think.

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3) Trauma shapes how we see ourselves, others and the world. Attention is paid to how trauma has shaped the way life is being lived. 

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4) Trauma does not happen in a vacuum. Attention is paid to the social context, such as how traumatic events might interact with systems of power and identity. 

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If you have experienced trauma, and would like to discuss therapy, you are welcome to get in touch via the form below. 

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