Understanding what happened and finding a way forward
Trauma can affect us in ways that aren’t always immediately obvious. You may feel constantly on edge, disconnected from yourself or others, overwhelmed by emotions, or find that certain situations, thoughts or experiences continue to affect you long after the event itself.
Trauma isn’t only the result of one significant event. It can also develop through repeated experiences, difficult relationships, neglect, loss or situations where you felt unable to escape, cope or feel safe.
You may understand what happened intellectually, but still find yourself reacting in ways that don’t seem to make sense. Perhaps you struggle with trust, boundaries, relationships, self-worth or feeling safe in your own life.
You are not broken because you’re responding to something that happened to you.
Counselling can provide a safe, confidential space to begin making sense of those experiences without judgement or pressure to simply ‘move on’.
My approach is person-centred and trauma-informed. I work collaboratively and at your pace, recognising that feeling safe and having a sense of control are important parts of the therapeutic process.
Rather than asking “What’s wrong with me?”, we can begin to explore “What happened to me, and how has it affected me?”
Through developing greater understanding of your experiences, emotions and responses, counselling can help you build self-compassion, recognise patterns and develop ways of relating to yourself and others that feel more manageable.
You don’t have to tell your whole story before you’re ready. We can start with where you are now, and work from there.
