Trauma Informed Therapy
What is trauma?
There are many definitions of trauma out there and most people tend to associate trauma with a single incident that leads to an injury.
In my experience, trauma is an unwanted, deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have a significant impact on a person’s physical and emotional well-being. It can result from a single event, such as an accident or natural disaster, or from prolonged exposure to stressful situations, like ongoing abuse or neglect or living in a stress inducing environment.
Trauma is an extremely personal experience and what might be traumatic for one person may not be for another.
Trauma can affect individuals in numerous ways, including:
- Emotional responses: Feelings of fear, sadness, anger, or shame.
- Physical symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, or changes in sleep patterns.
- Behavioural changes: Avoidance of certain places or people, increased vigilance, or difficulty concentrating.
What makes my practice “Trauma Informed”?
A trauma-informed psychotherapy service is delivered with an intent to understand, recognise, and respond to the effects of all types of trauma. Here are the key elements that make my counselling practice trauma-informed:
1. Creating a Safe Space: I prioritise the creation a safe and supportive
environment where clients feel secure and understood. This helps clients
open up about their experiences without fear of judgment or re-traumatisation.
2. Understanding Trauma Responses: I have completed many hours of
additional training to be able to recognise and understand the various ways
trauma can manifest, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. This
understanding allows me to tailor my approach to meet the specific needs of
each client.
3. Empowering Clients: My trauma-informed counselling service focuses on
empowering clients by giving them control over their treatment. Clients are
encouraged to set their own goals and make decisions about their therapy,
which can help restore a sense of agency and self-efficacy.
4. Building Resilience: Through various therapeutic techniques, such as
cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and humanistic talking
therapy clients can develop coping strategies and resilience to manage their
trauma symptoms.
5. Holistic Approach: Trauma-informed counselling often takes an holistic
approach, considering the physical, emotional, and social aspects of trauma.
This can include addressing lifestyle factors, such as sleep, nutrition, and
exercise, which can play a role in recovery.
6. Supportive Relationships: Building a trusting relationship with a counsellor can provide a crucial support system for clients. This relationship can help clients feel less isolated and more connected, which is vital for healing.
7. Consistency and Transparency: My aim is to facilitate the client in learning to trust by consistently offering clear communication, well described and consistent boundaries and transparency around policies and procedures.
8. Collaboration and Mutuality: Working collaboratively provides the opportunity for the client to experience therapy as something that they are engaging in for themselves and not as something being done to them. Through collaboration clients can achieve healing and a sense of empowerment.
9. Cultural, social and gender influences: I take responsibility to recognise and address the impacts of cultural, social and gender issues on the client’s trauma and their healing.
By consistently making sure that my overall practice encompasses these key principles, I offer a safe therapeutic space and am able to support clients and avoid the risks of re-traumatisation.
Please note: I have limited slots available. Book your session today to reserve your spot.
