Trauma Informed Counselling

Free First Session

I offer a free first one hour therapeutic consultation. This includes some assessment of what is going on for you and gives you the opportunity to check me out, and discuss our working agreement (if you wish to continue work with me). 

What I can help with

Abuse, ADD / ADHD, Addictions, Anger management, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Cancer, Child related issues, Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, Cultural issues, Depression, Disability, Health related issues, Identity issues, Infertility, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Men's issues, Mood disorder, Neurodiversity, Personal development, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Sex-related issues, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues


A Trauma-Informed Approach

 

There are two different types of trauma. We can experience a single traumatic event such as a car accident, or we can find ourselves trapped in an overwhelming situation for a long period of time that results in the complex neurological parts of our brain to adjust to survival mode. 

Examples include: surviving abusive/toxic relationships, experiencing long-term bullying at school, growing up in environments that felt overwhelming and where we could not express how we felt, feeling isolated and having to rely on ourselves to survive.


Feeling flooded by emotion "I wasn' myself"

As a person-centred practitioner,  and aim to meet you without judgement, with compassion and empathy and being truly present with you in the session.

I understand that many trauma survivors often experience a sense of not being in control or their emotions when "triggered" by some event, or having strong internal dialogue where it feels like there is a strong self-critical voice. 

My trauma-informed way of working aims to connect you with these different aspects of yourself and feel whole. 

What works? What will it be like when things are better?

Sometimes, looking at what is happening in our lives from different angles, can lead to different outcomes. I am training in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and help people notice what is working in their lives or what they would like to work better.


Phenomenological

We have two brain halves. One helps us survive, be rational, planning and logical. The other feels the body and remembers all that our bodies have ever felt. To be whole, we need both. Often, when we experience trauma or overwhelm, we disconnect our awareness from our feeling brain. Phenomenological approaches help us re-connect with our feeling body, in a safe and confidential way, at our own pace, so we can process what needs to be felt and witnessed. 

Trauma-informed

Each of us is a living miracle. Our past does not define our future. We change and adapt in our bodies and minds all of our lives. If something has hurt us, parts of us adjust to get better at survival. But what if a trauma has ended, yet we are struggling to adjust? Trauma-informed approaches in therapy deal with strategies of how we can heal parts in ourselves, so we can thrive, connected to both our amazing thinking mind and feeling body. 

Practice Description

My practice is on the second floor and there is no lift in the building.