Trauma Counselling
Understanding Trauma
We all experience different types of trauma in life, and what feels traumatic to one person may not to another. Many people hold an idea of what trauma “should” look like, which can make it harder to recognise and validate their own experiences.
Trauma can show up in the body and mind in ways you may not expect such as chronic pain, stomach issues, skin flare-ups, or changes in relationships. It may not stop you living your daily life, but it can make once-manageable tasks feel overwhelming or trigger strong emotional responses.
Counselling offers space to explore these experiences with compassion and without judgement, helping you make sense of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours at a pace that feels safe.
How Trauma Shows Up
Trauma is understood as your response to an event, whether it happened to you directly or not. When the processing phase is disrupted, emotional and physical symptoms can appear outside of your control.
Trauma affects the nervous system, keeping you in prolonged fight-or-flight and making it harder to gauge what is safe. This can lead to tension in relationships, difficulties at work, or feeling overwhelmed in everyday environments.
Common trauma responses include difficulty trusting others, perfectionism, fatigue, emotional overwhelm, drops in mood, or a sense of disconnect. Your response is valid even if it doesn’t fit a checklist or make logical sense.
Trauma counselling is a talking therapy that helps you understand and regulate emotional responses, always moving at your pace.
My Approach as a Trauma Therapist
As a person-centred counsellor with psychodynamic training, I work integratively and adapt the approach to what feels manageable week to week. Safety and consent underpin everything we do together.
The person-centred element supports you in the present through empathy and authenticity. The psychodynamic element helps us gently explore how past experiences may shape your current emotional world.
The pace is always guided by you.
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Living in a neurotypical world can place ongoing strain on the nervous system. Therapy offers space to explore sensory overwhelm, masking fatigue, and the emotional impact of constantly adapting.
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For athletes, trauma can show up as burnout, fear of underperforming, or loss of connection to sport. Counselling can help you understand how pressure, injury, or expectations affect both body and mind.
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Experiences from childhood, past relationships, or major life transitions can shape how you relate to others. Therapy helps explore these patterns with compassion and safety.
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Trauma often lives in the body. This may appear as panic attacks, chronic pain, or ongoing fatigue without a clear medical cause. Counselling supports gentle reconnection with your body.
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When emotions feel too intense or unpredictable, trauma-informed therapy helps build awareness, grounding, and a greater sense of emotional safety.
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You may notice yourself withdrawing, feeling numb, or disconnected from others or yourself. Therapy offers space to understand these responses without pressure to change them quickly.
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Trauma can leave you questioning who you are or where you belong. Counselling supports exploration of identity at a pace that feels safe and affirming.
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Unwanted thoughts or memories of past experiences can feel distressing and out of your control. Therapy helps you relate to them differently, reducing their intensity over time.
Who Trauma Counselling Can Support
Training and background
Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred and Psychodynamic Counselling (University of Edinburgh, COSCA-accredited)
BA (Hons) Psychology with Sociology (Edinburgh Napier University).
Clinical placements at Health in Mind, ESMS Schools, and the West End Therapy Centre, working with a diverse range of clients and presenting issues.
My ethos
Counselling with me is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in respect. My aim is to create a safe and supportive space where you can bring your whole self: whether you are navigating life transitions, working through challenges, or simply seeking space to reflect and grow.
Fees
My fee is £70 per 50-minute counselling session.
Get Started
Sessions are held online for accessibility and comfort. You can book a free 15-minute consultation to explore whether trauma counselling feels right for you.
Trauma Counselling FAQs
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No. Trauma is not defined by the event itself, but by how it was experienced and processed. What feels manageable to one person may feel overwhelming to another. If something continues to affect your body, emotions, or relationships, it is valid to explore it in therapy.
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That is very common. You do not need to label or fully understand your experience before starting counselling. Therapy offers space to explore what feels difficult in your own words, without needing a clear explanation or diagnosis.
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No. Trauma counselling does not require you to recount events in detail. You remain in control of what you share and when. The work focuses on safety, understanding your responses, and moving at a pace that feels manageable for you.
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This is a valid response, not a problem. Therapy meets you where you are. If talking feels difficult, we work gently with what is present, including silence, body sensations, or emotions.
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Trauma counselling is grounded in nervous system awareness, safety, and consent. The pace is slower, and there is careful attention to how your body and emotions respond. The focus is on helping you feel regulated and supported, not pushed.
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There is no set number. Some people come for short-term support, while others work longer-term. This is something we can explore together, with regular check-ins to ensure the therapy continues to meet your needs.
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You can book a free 15-minute consultation or enquire directly via the contact form. Reaching out is the first step, and you are welcome to take it at your own pace.