Sometimes a single event can be traumatising and sometimes trauma is the result of a series of difficult experiences. The traumatising event(s) may have happened recently or many years ago. The symptoms of trauma can begin immediately following a traumatic experience or surface much later. Each person responds to life events in their own way.
Examples of psychological and emotional trauma include experiencing violence, experiencing physical or sexual abuse (as an adult or a child), witnessing the abuse or violence of other people, catastrophic events (like war or natural disasters) and accidents. The loss of a person can be traumatic for some people and life transitions like moving home or leaving one’s culture can have a traumatic impact on some people’s lives. Throughout life, there are many experiences that some people might find traumatic.
Difficult experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, confused and afraid. In a state of trauma our bodies can respond in ways they didn’t before. This can be unsettling and very frightening.
The symptoms of trauma include rage, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, nightmares, insomnia, panic attacks, disturbing thoughts or feelings and emotional detachment. Some people re-experience the traumatic event both psychologically and physically. Each person experiences trauma differently and the symptoms of trauma can vary significantly between individuals.
Trauma is not always the result of physical harm. It’s not the objective facts that determine whether an experience is traumatic, but the subjective emotional response of the person experiencing the event.
Appointments available
Mondays to Fridays
7.30 am until 8.30 pm
Saturdays and Sundays
8.00 am until 6.00 pm
Call to book a first appointment
0333 207 9330
Some trauma survivors feel they have lost their sense of security and the world may feel more frightening or more dangerous than it did before. They may have problems trusting themselves or others and they may feel unsafe even in places that felt safe before.
Trauma therapy can help untangle the complex emotions and fears that trauma survivors often describe. The concept of therapy can be daunting for trauma survivors as they often fear therapy will trigger difficult feelings around the traumatic events of their life.
A common fear is that trauma therapy will be as frightening as the original traumatic experiences. A competent, experienced therapist will support trauma survivors carefully, facilitating a process that can help restore a sense of safety and control in the trauma sufferer’s life.
When I trained as a psychotherapist, me and my fellow students were given the assignment of doing something we’d never done before. The course tutors wanted us to get in touch with how scary it can be to do something new, to feel the fear of the unknown. I chose to …
Read more
One of the most common worries I hear expressed by people starting counselling is that they won’t know what to talk about. Some people think their problems aren’t significant enough. Others fear they have too much to say, that they might overwhelm the therapist…
Read moreOur personal counselling services take place in a supportive, non-judgemental atmosphere.
Read moreCouples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find resolution.
Read moreOur therapists bring a wealth of experience and training to the therapy services we provide.
Read more
Amrita works with adults in an integrative way, drawing on various therapeutic approaches tailored to meet the needs of each client She provides a safe space to help clients better understand themselves She offers short term and long term therapy Amrita has experience of working with clients on issues such as trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, relationship...
Bloomsbury
With a Masters degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, Annie offers both short and long term, open-ended therapy to individuals Her experience includes depression, stress and anxiety, bereavement, loss, personal development and trauma Annie has additional, specialist training working with survivors of rape, and adult and childhood sexual...
Soho
Antonella is a psychodynamic therapist offering short- and long-term therapy to adults She also sees couples facing issues within their relationship Since obtaining her Master’s degree in Psychodynamic Therapy & Counselling, Antonella has worked in different organisational settings (charities, NHS and university counselling services) helping people from diverse...
Bloomsbury
Kensington
Barbara brings a warm, non-judgmental, and accepting attitude to her work with clients As an integrative Psychotherapist, she draws from a range of theoretical perspectives which allows her to tailor therapy to the needs of the client Barbara thinks that healing and individual growth happen when difficulties in living are explored with empathy, and the client's unique...
Fitzrovia
Barbara is an accredited member of BACP, holding an MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and adhering to the BACP ethical framework Her approach is open-ended, offering both short-term and long-term therapy Barbara has also trained in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a short-term (16 sessions), semi-structured individual therapy developed for mood...
Oxford Circus
Ben believes that at times we all struggle with the challenges life has to offer and therapy provides a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space to explore this Ben works with individuals to make sense of who they are and how they respond to the world today, and to explore new ways of being Ben is also sensitive to how difficult it might be for a client to talk to a...
Oxford Circus
Ben is an experienced psychotherapist who has helped many people through difficult times in their lives He works with clients with a wide range of personal issues around depression, anxiety, bereavement, trauma, abuse, loneliness, stresses within the workplace, low self esteem, relationship and sexual problems including performance anxiety, erectile dysfunction and...
Oxford Circus
Catherine offers a safe, confidential space for clients bringing a wide range of issues to therapy These include anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anger and work-related stress Catherine also supports clients experiencing depression, bereavement and life transitions Among her specialist interests are post traumatic growth and working with adult...
Oxford Circus
Ceri works with adult clients wanting to explore a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, issues arising from physical, emotional or psychological abuse and confidence and self-esteem issues He has particular experience of working with bereavement and loss Ceri’s training in psychodynamic and person-centred approaches to...
Soho
People come to therapy for many different reasons; whatever your reason, therapy is a unique experience It can offer you an environment where you begin to make sense of your experiences, both past and present, and discover how you feel about them Cora likes to create a space that is both safe and supportive in which she can work collaboratively with her clients...
Oxford Circus
