Trauma Therapy
Trauma can change how you experience yourself and the world.
You may feel stuck in patterns you don't fully understand, constantly on edge, disconnected from yourself, or overwhelmed by memories and emotions from the past.
Trauma therapy offers a safe, supportive space to understand what you've experienced, make sense of how it continues to affect you, and begin moving towards greater safety, connection and control.
What is Trauma?
Trauma isn't only defined by what happened to you. It can also be shaped by how your mind and body responded to what you experienced.
Trauma can result from a single overwhelming event, repeated experiences, difficult relationships, childhood experiences, loss, abuse, neglect, accidents, medical experiences, or situations where you felt powerless, unsafe or unable to escape.
Sometimes, you may not even think of your experience as "traumatic" but you may still be experiencing its effects.
How Trauma Can Affect You?
The effects of trauma can show up in many different ways and can sometimes feel confusing or difficult to explain.
You might experience:
Anxiety, fear or panic
Feeling constantly on guard or easily startled
Intrusive memories or unwanted thoughts
Nightmares or difficulty sleeping
Avoiding certain people, places or situations
Feeling disconnected, numb or emotionally shut down
Difficulty trusting other people
Shame, guilt or self-blame
Feeling overwhelmed by emotions
Difficulties with relationships or boundaries
Feeling disconnected from your body or yourself
Persistent feelings of being unsafe, even when you are no longer in danger
You don't have to experience all of these to be affected by trauma.
Trauma responses are often the mind and body's attempt to protect you.
Responses such as fight, flight, freeze, fawn, avoidance or emotional shutdown can develop as ways of coping with experiences that felt overwhelming or unsafe.
Understanding these responses can help you move away from self-blame and towards greater compassion for yourself.
Therapy can provide a space to explore these patterns safely and at your own pace.
Your response makes sense..
How can Trauma therapy help you?
Trauma therapy is not about forcing you to revisit everything that has happened to you.
Instead, therapy can focus on helping you feel safer, understand your responses, develop ways of managing difficult emotions, and gradually process experiences when, and if, you feel ready.
Your therapy will be shaped around you, your experiences and your goals.
There is no expectation that you should "just get over it."
Depending on your circumstances and what feels appropriate for you, therapy may explore:
Understanding your trauma responses
Managing anxiety and overwhelming emotions
Building emotional regulation skills
Developing a stronger sense of safety
Working through difficult memories
Reducing shame and self-blame
Understanding relationship patterns
Developing healthier boundaries
Reconnecting with yourself and your needs
Building confidence and self-compassion
Processing experiences at a pace that feels manageable
What To Expect From Your First Session
Your first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know each other and understand what has brought you to therapy.
We'll talk about what you're experiencing, what you'd like support with, and what you hope therapy might help you with.
You can ask questions about the therapeutic process and decide whether it feels like the right fit for you.
You don't have to tell me everything straight away.
We can take things one step at a time.A Trauma-informed approach
There is no single way to respond to trauma, and there is no single approach that works for everyone.I offer a compassionate, non-judgemental space where you can talk about what you're experiencing without having to explain or justify everything perfectly.
We can work together to understand what is happening for you and identify approaches that feel safe, appropriate and useful.
You remain in control of the process.
You Don't Have To Have Everything Figured Out
You don't need to know exactly what you need from therapy before reaching out.
You may simply know that something isn't feeling right.
Perhaps you're struggling with something that happened recently, or you're noticing the impact of experiences from years ago.
Therapy can be a place to start making sense of that experience without having to have all the answers first.
Common Questions
Do I need to talk about what happened? Not necessarily. You decide what you feel comfortable sharing and when. Trauma therapy can begin by focusing on how you're feeling now and developing a sense of safety and stability. What if I don't remember everything? That's okay. You don't need a complete or detailed memory of an experience in order to seek support. What if my experience doesn't seem "bad enough"? You don't have to compare your experience to anyone else's. If something is affecting your wellbeing, relationships or sense of safety, it's okay to seek support. Will therapy make me relive everything? Trauma therapy does not have to mean repeatedly going over painful experiences. The pace and focus of therapy should be appropriate for you, and we can work together around what feels manageable. How long will therapy take? This varies from person to person. Some people benefit from shorter-term support, while others may need longer-term therapy. We can review your progress together as therapy develops.
A Note About Safety If you are currently in immediate danger, experiencing a medical emergency, or feel that you may harm yourself or someone else, please contact emergency services or an appropriate crisis service rather than waiting for a therapy appointment.
You don't have to work through it alone.
If you're struggling with the effects of trauma, therapy can offer a space to slow things down, understand what you're experiencing and begin finding a way forward.
You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out.