What is trauma?
Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have lasting effects on an individual's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It can arise from a single life-altering event or prolonged exposure to distressing circumstances. Trauma often results in significant fear, helplessness, and other disruptive feelings that can negatively impact a person's attitudes and behaviour.
What is Trauma-Informed Practice?
Understanding
Trauma-informed practice is an approach to counselling which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure can impact an individual’s neurological, biological, psychological and social development.
Empathy
It seeks to avoid re-traumatisation which is the re-experiencing of thoughts, feelings or sensations experienced at the time of a traumatic event or circumstance in a person’s past.
Empowerment
Trauma-informed practice seeks to address the barriers that people affected by trauma can experience in everyday life, supporting people to make decisions and take action.
Professional background
My trauma counselling journey began during my training where I worked with local charity CLEAR and adult clients who affected by childhood abuse.
This gave me significant experience in trauma-informed practice and an understanding of a range of approaches to support clients along with understanding of the implications of pre-trial therapy.
I have continued my interest in this area with personal learning in the area of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and the impact of domestic abuse on male victims.
Alongside my private counselling, I also work with Welsh charity New Pathways, providing therapy for survivors of sexual violence online and via telephone.
How I work
In the counselling space, my role is to listen without judgement.
Many people experience guilt or shame around their trauma, making it harder to reach out, leaving them feeling isolated and lost with no-one else to turn to.
Without support, trauma can lead to feelings of overwhelm, lack of control and intrusive thoughts, including self-harm and suicide.
With me, you will have the space and time you need to work around the feelings associated with your personal trauma - you may find that simply talking and giving voice to your thoughts and feelings is enough. Alternatively, we can work together to find strategies and coping mechanisms that work for you.
