Trauma Therapy

About me as a Trauma therapist

I am a HCPC registered Clinical and Counselling psychologist and expert witness specialising in the assessment and treatment of trauma and other psychological and emotional difficulties.

I am an associate to London Trauma Specialist Clinic – so it will come as no surprise that I have a keen interest in trauma and complex trauma.

However, I am particularly interested in practices that facilitate resilience and post-traumatic growth, guiding my clients in their journey beyond the pain of their past and into the discovery of meaning and purpose in life.

I treat people holistically and focus on building and strength, resilience, self-compassion and psychological flexibility.

“The ability to make sense of tragedy and then find benefit in it is the key that unlocks post traumatic growth.”

~ Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis

I have a specialist interest in

performance-related traumas,
intergenerational trauma,
workforce well-being,
and in treating psychological presentations in the aftermath of traumatic experiences.

Trauma can result from a wide range of experiences, including abuse, violence, accidents, injuries, natural disasters, sudden loss, racism and other forms of group hatred and/or discrimination as well as serious lack of care, emotional connection or neglect.

These experiences can overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, leaving lasting effects on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Often trauma may lead to the development of so called medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) or persistent physical symptoms (Somatic Symptom Disorder, SSD, as per the newest DSM-5 classification of mental health disorders), which manifest by persistent and clinically significant somatic complaints with associated distress, impaired functioning, loss of role and high use of healthcare and welfare, leading to hopelessness and poor prognosis.

Trauma and complex trauma

Trauma literally means ‘wound, injury or shock’ and refers to the way that some distressing events are so extreme or intense that they overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, resulting in lasting negative impact. Trauma that involves multiple events with interpersonal threats during childhood or adolescence is referred to as ‘complex trauma’.

Complex trauma tends to:

Be repeated or ongoing,
Be difficult or impossible to escape from,
Occur within a personal relationship,
Begin in childhood, so that it affects a child’s development, and
Be covered up, kept secret or denied

(International Society for Study of Trauma and Dissociation).

People who experienced trauma may be diagnosed with PTSD or Complex PTSD (resulting from complex trauma).

PTSD

There are three groups of symptoms that are common in trauma/ PTSD:

Core Intrusions or re-experiencing of the event (such as intrusive memories, repetitive play in which the events or aspects of it are expressed, nightmares, flashbacks, and distress triggered by reminders of the event or events).
Avoidance (such as avoiding thoughts, feelings or memories of the event or events, or avoiding people, places, conversations or situations that are associated with the event or the events).
Arousal and reactivity or sense of current threat (such as irritability, being overly vigilant, being easily startled, concentration problems, sleep problems).

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD (ICD-11) consists of the same core symptoms of PTSD, but has three additional groups of symptoms:

Problems in affect regulation (such as marked irritability or anger, feeling emotionally numb)
Beliefs about oneself as diminished, defeated or worthless, accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt or failure related to the traumatic event
Difficulties in sustaining relationships and in feeling close to others

I can help you

Whether you have experienced a single traumatic event or have been affected by prolonged exposure to stress and adversity, I am here to support you on your path to healing.

I can help you:

Recover from traumatic events, such as accidents, injuries, medical traumas, various forms of abuse, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence, terrorism, trafficking, war and torture, natural disasters and more,
Process loss and grief that often comes with trauma,
Find relief from depression or anxiety, which can often develop as a result of trauma/s,
Develop and keep meaningful, nurturing relationships,
Break free from the destructive habits that are derailing your life,
Develop and expand resilience, positive coping strategies and hope for the future.
Heal yourself so that the trauma is not being passed onto next generations (I believe that often trauma does not start with us as we inherit and witness different patterns, but we can ensure that it does stop with us by doing the work)

My therapeutic approaches

Trauma psychotherapy is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on addressing the emotional, psychological, and physical impacts of traumatic experiences and developing coping strategies to reclaim our sense of safety and well-being and be able to move forward.

Whilst below you can read more about different approaches to trauma treatment that I have trained in and have broad clinical experience of, I would like to share my personal stance as it forms a foundation of all my work, which is so much more than just a profession for me.

I am deeply passionate about healing from trauma and doing whatever we can in order for our trauma not to be passed on. I offer compassionate presence, deep attunement and employ all my creativity in order to offer an individualised approach as there is no one-size-fits-all therapy. I bring my self into my exchange with you and together we find the best way for you as I am committed to working in a collaborative, enabling and empowering way, always taking into account your needs and preferences.

You can read about my approach and what to expect in more detail.

My main approaches to working with trauma

When it comes to trauma treatment, I can offer a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to meet your unique needs. we will find the best approach for you, which may employ:

Trauma Focused CBT: CBT helps clients identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to their symptoms of trauma. By challenging distorted beliefs and developing healthier coping strategies, clients can regain a sense of control over their lives.
Brainspotting (which evolved from EMDR): BSP is a highly effective therapy for processing traumatic memories and reducing associated symptoms, such as flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. Through the use of accessing certain states and memories through eye positions and bilateral stimulation and, clients can reprocess distressing memories and achieve emotional healing.
Somatic Psychology based approaches, drawing on polyvagal theory and somatic techniques: somatic approaches focus on the body’s physical sensations and responses to trauma. By gently guiding clients to notice and release tension and stress held in the body, somatic techniques help restore a sense of safety and regulation.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): IFS helps clients explore and understand the various parts of themselves that may have been impacted by traumatic experiences. By identifying and acknowledging these parts, individuals can work towards healing and reconciliation.

As well as elements of:

Compassion Focused Therapy,
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy,
Narrative approaches