Trauma

When your past doesn't stay in the past.

If you’re reading this, you might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to make sense of what’s happening inside you.

Perhaps you’ve been through something painful and can’t seem to ‘move on,’ no matter how hard you try. You might be living with the effects of trauma, even if you don’t call it that yet.

Living with trauma can feel like your body is still caught in experiences that hurt you, even though your conscious mind knows it’s over. You might find yourself on edge for no clear reason, or flooded by sadness, fear, or anger. Or maybe you feel detached, as though you’re watching life happen through frosted glass or a fog. Just the effort of keeping it all together can feel exhausting.

However it shows up, none of this means you’re broken. It means you’ve been through something that was too much, and your body is still trying to protect you.

What trauma really is

Trauma isn’t only about a single ‘big’ event. It can come from years of feeling unsafe, from childhood neglect, bullying, discrimination, medical trauma, loss, or violence. Sometimes, it comes from simply trying to survive in a world that hasn’t always been kind.

Trauma happens when something overcomes your ability to cope. Your mind and body do their best to protect you, but sometimes those protective responses keep happening long after the danger has passed. That’s why trauma isn’t just in your memories, it can live in your body, your nervous system, your relationships, and even your sense of who you are.

How trauma might show up

Trauma can affect every part of life, often in ways that don’t look like ‘trauma’ at first glance. You might notice:

Flashbacks, nightmares, or vivid memories that won’t stay in the past
Feeling constantly on alert, jumpy, or unable to relax
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself or others
Struggles with sleep, concentration, or memory
Guilt, shame, or a sense of being ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’
Difficulty trusting people or maintaining relationships
Using alcohol, food, or other substances to cope

These are not signs of weakness. They are signs of what you have been through, and how hard your nervous system is still working to try and keep you safe.

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It’s not your fault

Trauma changes how the nervous system works. Your reactions; shutting down, zoning out, withdrawing, or lashing out, are not character flaws. They’re protective responses designed to keep you safe.

For some people, that means staying constantly alert and ready for danger. For others, it means going numb or disconnecting because feeling everything would be too much. These responses once helped you survive.

In therapy, we work together to help your body and mind learn that it’s safe enough to stand down again.

How online trauma therapy can help

The idea of opening up about your experiences can feel difficult, even embarrassing or shaming; especially if you’ve learned to hide your pain or stay in control. Therapy provides a calm, secure space to explore, gently and at your own pace. There’s no pressure to retell the details. We work collaboratively, so you always have choice and control.

Together, we can explore ways to:

Build safety and stability in the present
Understand your trauma responses without judgment
Process painful memories when you’re ready
Reconnect with your body and your sense of self
Restore trust in yourself and others

Therapy for childhood and complex trauma

Some of the deepest wounds come from early relationships; experiences where you were hurt, neglected, or made to feel unsafe as a child. These experiences can shape how you relate to yourself and others, even decades later.

If you find it hard to trust, struggle with closeness, or feel ashamed of your emotions, therapy can help you gently make sense of these patterns and begin to heal.

I draw on several trauma-focused approaches, including EMDR, Rewind Therapy, and somatic methods that work with the body as well as the mind. Every session is adapted to your pace, your needs, and your story.

As I often say:

“Bring your muddle. We’ll work from there.”

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means learning to live a fuller, more connected life alongside your story, rather than being defined by it.

Next steps

Click an option if you’d like to learn more.

If you’re not sure where to begin, that’s completely okay.

Using the form below, you can get in touch to ask a question, talk things through, or see if working together feels right for you.

Get in touch

If you’d like to explore working together, you’re very welcome to contact me using the form on this page. If you'd prefer, you can send me an email, or, if you'd rather speak, we can arrange a short call.