Firstly we will spend time building a sense of trust so you feel safe to tell me your story, then together we will create a formulation of your current difficulties and symptoms. Using this formulation we will collaboratively create a therapy treatment plan for you.

Generally we will spend quite a bit of time on safety and stabilisation work before moving onto any trauma processing work. Often trauma processing work can be quite emotionally taxing so we need to make sure you have the resources and tools to navigate this safely.

I can treat single event trauma (e.g. birth, medical procedure, natural disaster, fires, road traffic accident, victim of crime, violent assault, rape, life threatening illness or accident, witnessing violent or sudden death). I can also support people with complex trauma who have experienced multiple distressing events during their lifetime (e.g. childhood abuse, abusive relationships, war zone experience, witnessing community violence.) If you are unsure please get in touch to see if we would be a good fit.

I work in an integrative way using the following models:

• Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Schema Therapy (ST)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing.

It is a therapy that is used to help people who have been through distressing events and are experiencing ongoing difficulties such as: flashbacks, nightmares, upsetting thoughts, intrusive images, anxiety, depression.

It is highly effective and evidence based therapy and is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

I've found EMDR to be very helpful for clients who find it too difficult to speak in detail about what happened to them, EMDR only requires you to recall events in your brain so you don't need to talk at length or in detail with me if you don't want to.

Schema Therapy.

Schema Therapy is an integrative therapeutic model, with a strong relational emphasis, designed to address unhelpful core beliefs and interpersonal patterns that are causing you difficulties in your life.

This therapy is designed to provide corrective emotional experiences that facilitate deeper level ‘core’ emotional growth and change. A range of therapeutic tools are explored including imagery rescripting, chair-work, and roleplay.

I've found Schema Therapy to be helpful for people who experiencs emotions strongly and whose difficulties are linked to adverse childhood experiences.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behaviouram Therapy (CBT) can also be used to help people with trauma, reducing associated symptoms of anxiety or depression, and regain a sense of control.

CBT focuses on cognitive restructuring and behavioral techniques to change negative thought patterns and behaviors. I've found CBT to be helpful for people who are more able to create a narrative around their trauma and would like specific tools and strategies to manage related symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)