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When people think about trauma, they often imagine a single major event. Something obviously distressing that anyone would recognise as traumatic. For some people, the connection is clear. They may have experienced a serious accident, abuse, assault, a traumatic loss, medical trauma, or multiple overwhelming events throughout their lives and recognise that these experiences continue to affect them today. For others, the impact is less obvious. Trauma can also develop through

I’m often asked about the difference between my coaching sessions and my therapy sessions. On the surface, they can look similar, both involve conversation, reflection, and personal development. However, they differ significantly in purpose, scope, and training. This blog is intended to offer clarity for potential clients, current therapy clients, and anyone exploring what type of support might be right for them. An Important Note About Regulation in the UK In the UK, neither

The start of a new year often comes with the expectation that we must set big, ambitious resolutions. Eat healthier. Exercise more. Learn a new skill. Be “better.” For many, this can create pressure, guilt, or disappointment if we don’t follow through. Especially if the last year felt challenging or overwhelming, the idea of fixing everything all at once can be a reassuring thought but is often unrealistic. Personal growth doesn’t have to be rigid, all-or-nothing, or tied to

When we’re hurting, especially from trauma, it’s natural to search for meaning. We want to believe that what we went through had a purpose. That it taught us something. That we’re stronger for it. Because if there’s meaning, maybe the pain wasn’t just pain. Maybe it was worth something. But the truth is, some experiences are just deeply painful. Some events are senseless and some wounds exist simply because something happened that shouldn’t have. Exploring trauma healing beyo

If you’ve been looking into trauma therapy, you may have come across EMDR, but what exactly is it, and what makes EMDR such a transformative path for trauma recovery? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a specialist therapy designed to help people process and heal from distressing memories or experiences. It’s particularly effective for trauma, PTSD, and anxiety-related difficulties. How Does EMDR Work? Imagine a room filled with filing cabinets. Some are

When we think about healing from trauma, many people imagine talking about painful memories or understanding the past. While this is part of the process, it’s not the whole picture. Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind, it lives in the body, too. The physical effects of trauma can manifest in tension, discomfort, or even chronic pain, making it essential to address not only the mental and emotional aspects of healing but also the body’s response. That’s why movement and somat

Wondering about how therapy can help with trauma? Therapy isn't just about talking the issues through, or just having some tools to manage; it's about healing on a profound level. The therapeutic process is a journey that can lead to significant emotional and psychological transformation. Trauma can impact how we think, feel, and relate to others in various ways, often leading to patterns of behaviour that may be detrimental to our well-being. It can create barriers in our re

Do you feel disconnected? Our hectic lives and endless tasks can cause us to lose touch with ourselves and our true feelings. The more interruptions we face in maintaining this self-connection, and the longer it persists, the more we become detached from our genuine emotions, which can also end up impacting our relationships with others. What is your perspective on your emotions? Do you consider them a hindrance, interfering with your ability to complete tasks effectively? Ou

Something that I frequently discuss with clients embarking on their therapy journey is that achieving the goals or changes they desire for themselves or their lives goes beyond just showing up at therapy sessions. True transformation necessitates developing self-awareness by engaging in self-reflection, and actively implementing the insights gained in therapy into their daily lives. Some clients may discover that the insights gained during sessions seem to fade away once they

Engaging in therapy is a collaborative process that demands your active involvement and commitment. While attending therapy sessions consistently is a crucial step, it is just the beginning of the journey towards achieving your desired goals. To truly benefit from therapy, it is essential to be fully engaged in the process, this involves being open, honest, and willing to explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Therapy provides a supportive environment for you to del

As you experience life events, your brain usually stores them as memories. However in the case of traumatic events, sometimes the brain does not properly encode them as memories. Instead, they remain in a part of the brain that is easily triggered by external stimuli making it difficult for the nervous system to differentiate between the past trauma and present reality. For individuals who experience this, there may be frequent instances where they involuntarily remember the

Have you ever wondered what happens the first time you meet a therapist? It's completely normal to feel a mix of emotions - from nervousness to relief - as you embark on this journey. One way to ease into the process is by understanding what to expect during your initial session. Certain therapists adopt a structured method for assessments during the initial session, where they might request you to complete concise forms to evaluate your current mental and emotional state. Su

The therapy landscape has changed significantly in recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the most notable shifts has been the increased use of remote therapy. What began as a necessity during periods of social distancing has since become a popular and accessible way for many people to receive mental health support. Research has shown that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions in terms of structure, content, and therapeutic

In therapy sessions, you might experience a variety of emotions coming to the surface. For individuals who have survived trauma, a common emotion that arises when addressing trauma is a profound feeling of sadness. It is natural to have concerns about embracing grief in trauma therapy, such as the worry that it may become overpowering and all consuming. Recognising the crucial part that grief plays in your path to healing can help to alleviate some of the apprehension around

Dealing with trauma during therapy can be an incredibly challenging and draining experience that impacts various aspects of your being. The toll it takes is not limited to just the mental and emotional realms but can also manifest physically and spiritually. The process of confronting past traumas can stir up intense emotions, memories, and sensations, leading to a profound sense of exhaustion. It is important to recognise that navigating through trauma is a journey that requ

Any journey that you set out on will have its challenges and recovering from trauma is no different. Encountering setbacks in the process can be disheartening, it can feel like you are taking steps backwards, but this isn't the case. Setbacks are actually part of the journey and a completely natural and often common occurrence for people that are taking on the difficult task of working through trauma. Even though setbacks can dampen your resolve, it can also remind you of jus

With the word 'trauma' fast becoming a buzzword it can be challenging and confusing to determine if you are impacted by trauma or stress, or possibly both. Whilst it is positive that awareness of trauma is increasing, I also believe that the overuse and misuse of the word can have a devastating impact. It can contribute to those that are most vulnerable and in need of support, minimising and misunderstanding their experiences, at times this can prove fatal. Trauma is much mor

Trauma is an emotional response to a very stressful event, series of events or a highly distressing incident. The incident overwhelms the person's ability to cope and can leave the person disorientated with a deep sense of fear and hopelessness. The response is nearly always detrimental to the person's functioning and can lead to physical, mental and emotional expressions of the harm and pain experienced. This can be challenging for a person to understand and overcome without

Although therapy is not a quick fix, people often enter therapy because they'd like something about their lives to be different. Depending on what you are bringing to therapy feeling significant changes after only a short period of time may not be realistic, and as a result you may become frustrated with yourself and the process of therapy. Your therapist may have asked you what you'd like to get from therapy and how you know that therapy has been successful for you in your f

Are you somebody that struggles with self-blame? Do you often feel that a situation you found yourself in was partially or all your fault, or maybe you feel that there was something that you should have done differently? Constantly attributing traumatic experiences or negative outcomes to personal character flaws or believing that you should have foreseen what was going to happen or done more to avoid it or stop it from happening can leave you feeling trapped in a painful spi