How I can help
Trauma-informed therapy in Farringdon and online
Trauma-informed therapy helps you make sense of how difficult or overwhelming experiences are still affecting you, while putting your sense of safety and control first. I am a BACP-registered psychotherapist with trauma-informed practitioner training, and I work at a pace that feels manageable, online across the UK and internationally, or in person in Farringdon, London.
Recognise this?
You might notice…
- Memories, images or nightmares that pull you back to what happened
- Feeling jumpy, on guard or easily startled
- Going numb, spaced out or disconnected from yourself
- Avoiding people, places or conversations that remind you
- Sudden waves of shame, anger or fear that seem out of proportion
- Finding it hard to trust others or feel safe in your body
Not sure where to start?
An initial consultation is a simple way to see if we’re a good fit. No pressure.
Send an enquiryWhat trauma can feel like
Trauma is less about what happened and more about how it affected you. It can follow a single event, such as an accident, assault or sudden loss, or build up over time through experiences like childhood neglect, emotional abuse, bullying or living with fear. Two people can go through the same thing and be affected very differently, and neither response is wrong.
When something is too much to process at the time, the nervous system can stay stuck in survival mode. You might feel constantly on alert, or the opposite: flat, numb and far away. Many people do not connect their present struggles with past experiences at first. They simply notice that they react strongly to certain things, or feel a heaviness they cannot explain.
How I work with trauma
Safety and choice come first
Working in a trauma-informed way means your sense of safety comes before anything else. You decide what to talk about and when. You do not have to tell me the details of what happened in order for therapy to help, and you can pause, change direction or stop at any point. I'm not here to fix you. I'm here to walk alongside you, at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Steadying the body
Trauma is held in the body as well as the mind, so we often start by building ways to feel more grounded and settled in the present. This might include noticing what happens in your body as we talk, using your senses to come back to the room, or slowing your breathing. You can practise between sessions with the grounding exercise on this site.
Making sense of your story
When you feel ready, we can gently explore how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself, other people and the world. I draw on person-centred and psychodynamic ideas here, offering a steady relationship in which difficult feelings can be noticed and understood. Ideas from CBT can also help us look at the beliefs trauma may have left behind, such as "it was my fault" or "I am never safe".
What to expect and first steps
We start with an initial consultation. You do not need to say anything about what happened. It is a chance to ask questions and get a feel for whether working together seems right. If we go ahead, our early sessions focus on getting to know you, understanding what support you have around you and building a sense of safety. You can read more about the first session.
I see adults online across the UK and internationally, and in person in Farringdon, Central London. Some people prefer to start online, from somewhere familiar, and that is completely fine.
When to seek urgent help
Therapy works best when you have some stability in your day-to-day life. If you are currently unsafe, for example living with someone who is harming you, please reach out to the police or a specialist support service as well.
If you are in crisis or thinking about ending your life, please call 999, go to A&E, call NHS 111, or contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7). Therapy is not an emergency service.
Questions
Common questions
Do I have to talk about what happened?
No. You are in control of what you share and when. Many people find therapy helpful without going into the details of their experiences, and we can focus on how things are affecting you now.
What does trauma-informed therapy mean?
It means I understand how trauma can affect the mind, body and relationships, and I work in a way that prioritises safety, choice and trust. We go at your pace, and I check in with you regularly about how the work feels.
Can trauma therapy be done online?
Yes. Many people find it easier to feel settled in their own space. We can plan together how to make online sessions feel as safe and private as possible, and in-person sessions in Farringdon are also available.
