Trauma Counselling

What is Trauma?

Event Trauma is anything that can overwhelm our capacity to cope and respond. Trauma is an emotional response to distressing events or experiences, which can range from single, extraordinary incidents to ongoing stressors and adverse childhood experiences. It can be a fall/ accident/ medical, shocking death of loved one, experiencing witnessing physical or emotional violence or ongoing missattunement between a child and care giver. It can leading to intense feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. Trauma has a profound and lasting impact on emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, often complex in its impacts. 

After a distressing event you might be

Re-Experiencing: You might have intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or moments where it feels like you're reliving the trauma.
Avoidance: You could find yourself avoiding things that remind you of the trauma, and you might feel emotionally distant.
Hyperarousal: You may feel constantly on edge, leading to sleep problems, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Negative Thoughts: You might experience guilt or develop negative beliefs about yourself or the world.
Duration and Impact: These symptoms should persist for at least a month and significantly affect your daily life.

Developmental or Relational Trauma is different from a later single incident or event trauma. As it describes, it is trauma that happened in early years which has an extreme effect on the body. It encompasses negative or harmful experiences and/or emotional unmet needs in the family during childhood and teenage years. As adults you might have experienced a difficult relationship that can exasturbate your inter- and intrapersonal struggles.

Common causes for relational trauma:

Physical violence
Neglect and abandonment
A parent with a mental health condition, emotionally immature or narcissistic tendencies
Being subjected to sexual abuse
A member of the household being in prison
Growing up in a household where adults experienced drug and alcohol use issues

My Approach to Trauma Counselling

In trauma counselling we work together to address the physiological and somatic dimensions of trauma, allowing you to release the physical tension and stored trauma energy that may have been holding you back. We can explore and integrate the various parts within you related to trauma, fostering a comprehensive understanding of your inner world.

Throughout our sessions, I introduce mindfulness and grounding techniques that empower you to manage overwhelming emotions during the delicate process of trauma exploration. You'll gain valuable insights into the neurobiology of trauma, reducing any lingering feelings of shame and self-blame. Additionally, we focus on building your inner resources and self-soothing techniques, equipping you with the tools to effectively manage distress and fortify your resilience.

I leverage evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Brainspotting with an attachment based Body Mind Therapy.