Counselling for trauma

Some experiences stay with us long after they are over, and show up in ways that are hard to explain.

A calm sea fading into mist

How trauma can show up

Trauma is less about the event and more about what it left behind. It may be a single incident or something that went on for years.

In your thoughts
Memories or images that intrude, gaps where memories should be, a sense that the past is still happening.
In your body
Being constantly on guard, startling easily, or going numb and far away.
In your days
Avoiding reminders, finding it hard to trust, feeling different from other people.

How we might work on it together

Safety comes first. We begin by helping you feel steadier in the present before going anywhere near what happened, and you never have to tell the whole story.

When you’re ready, we approach the difficult material in small pieces, checking often how you’re doing. You can stop at any point and I will take that seriously.

You decide what we talk about, and when.

What sessions are like

Every course of therapy is different, but most move through three phases, with regular reviews along the way.

  1. Beginning

    We build a picture of what brings you, what you need, and what you hope therapy will give you.

  2. Middle

    The main work. We go further into what you have brought, and what it means for your life outside our sessions.

  3. Ending

    We bring together what you have learned and plan how you will take it forward.

When it might be time to talk to someone

There is no right moment, and you don’t need to be at breaking point. These are some of the signs people mention.

  • It has gone on for longer than you expected.
  • It is getting in the way of sleep, work or the people close to you.
  • The things that usually help have stopped helping.
  • You have talked to friends or family, or you feel you can’t.
  • You keep thinking about talking to someone.

Questions people ask

Before starting, whatever brings you. Something else? Ask me directly.

Do I need a diagnosis, or a referral from my GP?

No. You can contact me directly, and you don’t need a name for what you are going through. I don’t diagnose or prescribe. If you are already seeing your GP or taking medication, counselling can sit alongside that.

What if I find it hard to talk about?

Most people do at first. We go at your pace, and you choose what to say and what to leave for later. Sitting quietly for a while is fine too.

Will I have to go over everything that has happened?

No. Some people want to tell the whole story and others want to stay with what is happening now. You decide what we talk about, and when.

What if more than one of these fits me?

That is very common. Difficulties rarely arrive one at a time, and we work with all of what you bring. You don’t have to pick one.

What if my problem doesn’t feel serious enough?

There is no threshold to meet. If something is bothering you enough that you are reading this page, it is worth a conversation.

All questions

Whenever you feel ready

Tell me a little about what’s going on, and we’ll take it from there.

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