Therapy for Trauma and PTSD | Online UK and West London

What is trauma?

Trauma is defined as anything that exceeds your capacity to cope, and can be psychologically, emotionally, mentally and physically devastating. When we experience (or witness) frightening, distressing, or very stressful events, it can leave a deep scar on our psyche and impact the way we relate to ourselves, others, and the world in general. Some trauma is a one off event- such as an accident, or violent incident- and some trauma is ongoing. Trauma is what happens when an experience- or a series of experiences- tips over your nervous system's capacity to process and integrate what happened.

If you are living with the effects of trauma, you may find yourself reacting in ways that feel confusing or out of proportion. You may feel on edge without knowing why, struggle to trust yourself or others, or notice that certain situations, sounds or sensations send you straight back into a state of fear or shutdown. You may have been carrying this for years, wondering why you can't simply move on.

The answer lies in how trauma is held in the body and the nervous system- and that is exactly where the work begins.

Why does trauma have such a lasting impact?

When we experience something frightening or overwhelming, the brain's threat detection system activates the fight, flight, freeze or fawn response- flooding the body with stress hormones and preparing us to survive.

In most cases, once the danger has passed, the nervous system returns to a state of balance. But when an experience is too intense, too prolonged, or happens at a time when we have no support, that process can become incomplete. The body remains in a state of readiness- as if the threat is still present- even long after the event itself has passed.

This is why trauma symptoms are not a failure to cope. They are the nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do- trying to protect you. The problem is that the nervous system becomes stuck in that protective state, and it needs the right conditions to flexibly complete the process and settle back into a state of safety.

What is the difference between trauma and PTSD?

Trauma refers broadly to any experience that overwhelms our capacity to cope- whether that is a single event such as an accident, assault or medical emergency, or a more sustained experience such as childhood adversity, relationship abuse, or prolonged stress.

PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Its a specific clinical condition that can develop following trauma. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, difficulty concentrating, disturbed sleep, having problems with concentration, self image, and low mood, and a persistent sense of threat or danger.

Please note- I am not able to provide a clinical diagnosis of PTSD. If you suspect you have PTSD, please seek an assessment from your GP or a medical professional. I can work alongside an existing diagnosis and as part of a wider support network.

These patterns can also show up as persistent physical symptoms. You can read more about this here.

Complex trauma and CPTSD

Complex PTSD - sometimes called CPTSD - develops in response to repeated or prolonged traumatic experiences, often beginning in childhood. This might include emotional neglect, physical or sexual abuse, living with a parent with addiction or mental illness, or sustained relational trauma.

Where PTSD often relates to a specific event, CPTSD tends to shape a person's entire sense of self- affecting identity, self worth, emotional regulation, and the capacity for safe relationships.

Symptoms of CPTSD can include persistent shame or self-blame, difficulty regulating emotions, a sense of emptiness or disconnection, chronic physical symptoms, and patterns of self-sabotage or self-harm.

This is an area I work in with particular care. The pace and structure of the work is always led by your capacity, access to internal resources and willingness.

How I work with Trauma

Trauma therapy is not about revisiting painful memories for their own sake, or talking over and over about what happened. The aim is rather to reduce the emotional charge held in the nervous system, so that the past no longer drives present symptoms, beliefs and responses.

I take a nervous system-informed, body-based approach- working gently, and at a pace that feels safe for you. We build trust, access to internal positive resources and capacity first, before moving into any deeper processing work.