Trauma is not defined only by what happened to you, but by the impact the experience has had on your mind, body, relationships, and everyday life.

I have supported people who have felt constantly on alert, overwhelmed by fear or worry, or unable to relax even when they are safe. Some have struggled with intense emotions such as anger, fear, or anxiety, while others have found themselves avoiding situations, withdrawing from others, or feeling disconnected from themselves and the world around them.

Trauma responses are often the mind and body’s way of trying to protect us. In the short term, these responses can help us survive overwhelming experiences. However, when they continue long after the danger has passed, they can begin to affect our confidence, relationships, sense of safety, and ability to enjoy everyday life.

Together, we can develop an understanding of these responses, explore what may be keeping them going, and build strategies to help you feel more in control. Therapy can support you in increasing emotional awareness, developing healthier coping strategies, and rebuilding a greater sense of safety and confidence.

A traumatic experience may involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, sexual violence, abuse, or any experience that leaves you feeling overwhelmed, powerless, or unsafe.

Trauma can result from a single event or from repeated experiences over time. Examples may include:

• Serious accidents

• Physical or sexual assault

• Childhood abuse or neglect

• Domestic abuse

• Exposure to traumatic events through work, including emergency services or healthcare settings

• Serious illness, medical procedures, or traumatic childbirth experiences

• War or conflict

• Torture

Sometimes people do not immediately recognise that what they have experienced was traumatic. You may find yourself experiencing anxiety, panic, low mood, difficulties in relationships, low self-esteem, emotional numbness, or a feeling that something does not feel right. Whether or not you identify your experiences as trauma, if you are struggling with distressing symptoms, therapy can help you understand what is happening and support you in moving forward.

Everyone responds to trauma differently. Some people recover naturally over time, while others continue to experience difficulties months or even years later. Trauma can affect both the mind and body, leading to experiences such as feeling constantly alert, expecting the worst, avoiding reminders of what happened, experiencing flashbacks or nightmares, struggling with trust, feeling emotionally numb, or noticing physical symptoms such as tension, a racing heart, or difficulty relaxing.

For some people, these experiences may develop into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I understand how exhausting and overwhelming living with trauma can feel. Through my work supporting individuals experiencing trauma, complex trauma, and psychosis, I have seen the significant impact these experiences can have on every area of life.

My aim is to provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgemental space where you feel understood and supported. We will work at a pace that feels right for you, focusing on your individual experiences and needs. Together, we can work towards reducing distress, strengthening your sense of safety, and helping you reconnect with yourself and your life.