Specialist support

Trauma, PTSD & Complex Trauma

Trauma-informed support shaped around you

Trauma can affect people in many different ways. You may experience difficult memories, feel constantly alert or unsafe, avoid certain situations, struggle to manage overwhelming emotions or find that relationships and everyday life have become harder.

Sometimes the connection to trauma is clear. At other times, you may simply know that something does not feel right.

We provide specialist support for trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD. Our approach begins with understanding you as a whole person, not asking, “What is wrong with you?” but exploring what has happened, how it has affected you and what you need now.

You will not be expected to tell your whole story at once. We will work collaboratively, at a pace that feels safe and manageable, without pressuring you to share more than you are ready to discuss.

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Original illustration representing safety and support during trauma informed psychological therapy

Understanding what you need

Begin with your experience

Your first appointment is an opportunity to talk about what is happening now, how it is affecting your life and what you would like help with.

Build safety and understanding

Before beginning any trauma processing, we will consider what may help you feel grounded, supported and prepared. We will agree on the pace and boundaries of the work together.

Choose an appropriate approach

There is no single therapy that suits everyone. Depending on your experiences and goals, we may discuss EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, including Trauma-Focused ACT, Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or another appropriate approach.

Your appointments

Session length

Therapy appointments usually last 50 minutes. The structure of your support will be discussed and agreed with you before booking.

Appointment format

Online appointments are our primary format. Face-to-face appointments may be available when suitable for your needs, preferences and the type of trauma work being considered.

Trauma-informed and affirmative care

Trauma-informed and affirmative care is not one specific type of therapy. It describes how we approach every part of your support.

In practice, this means explaining what to expect, working at your pace and involving you in decisions. You can ask questions, request a break or tell us when something does not feel comfortable.

We may use grounding techniques, agree on ways to manage distress and regularly check that the work remains safe and manageable.

We also respect and value every part of who you are, including your identity, culture, sexuality and neurodivergence. Differences are not automatically treated as problems that need to be fixed.

Our aim is to understand your experiences in context, recognise the ways you have learned to cope and help you move forward with greater understanding, choice and self-compassion.

Video coming soon

A guide to trauma-informed support

Josie and Fiona will introduce the clinic's approach to safety, pacing and collaborative treatment after filming.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Answers about first appointments, pacing, treatment approaches, online therapy and choosing support.

Your first appointment may be a psychological assessment or the beginning of therapy, depending on what has been agreed with you.

An assessment focuses on understanding what you are experiencing, how it is affecting your life and what you would like support with. We will begin developing a shared understanding of your difficulties and discuss which type of therapy may be most suitable.

If you are beginning therapy, the first session will usually focus on getting to know you, agreeing on your goals and considering what will help the work feel safe and manageable.

You will not be expected to tell your whole story during one appointment.

No. You remain in control of what you share, and we will not pressure you to discuss experiences before you feel ready.

Trauma-informed therapy is paced carefully. Time may initially be spent building trust, developing ways to manage distress and helping you feel more grounded before directly processing traumatic memories.

You do not always need to describe every detail of what happened for therapy to be helpful.

Different therapies work with trauma in different ways.

Some approaches involve directly revisiting or processing traumatic memories. This is always planned carefully and approached at a pace that feels manageable.

Other approaches may focus more on current emotional patterns, relationships, coping strategies or how you respond to difficult thoughts and feelings.

Even when memories are processed directly, you may not need to describe every detail aloud. We will use clinical judgement alongside your needs, preferences and sense of safety when deciding how to approach the work.

We will help you remain connected to the present, check in throughout and agree on what to do if you begin to feel overwhelmed. Trauma therapy may sometimes feel challenging, but you will not be expected to face difficult experiences without preparation and support.

Each approach works differently.

EMDR

EMDR focuses on processing distressing memories that still feel immediate or overwhelming. It uses a structured process involving eye movements, alternating sounds or tapping.

You remain awake, aware and in control throughout. You are not being hypnotised, and you may not need to describe every detail aloud.

Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is a talking and experiential therapy that explores longstanding emotional patterns.

It can help you understand how earlier experiences and unmet emotional needs may influence how you see yourself, relate to other people and respond to situations today.

Trauma-Focused ACT

Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps you develop a more flexible relationship with painful thoughts, memories and emotions.

It also supports you in reconnecting with your values and taking manageable steps towards the life you want.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Trauma-focused CBT is a structured talking therapy. It explores the connections between your thoughts, emotions, physical responses and actions.

It can help you reconsider trauma-related beliefs, reduce avoidance and develop practical ways of responding differently.

You do not need to choose an approach before contacting us. We will consider your experiences, preferences, needs and goals together.

Research into live video therapy for PTSD is encouraging. Reviews comparing online and face-to-face care have generally found similar improvements in PTSD symptoms, depression, satisfaction and the relationship developed with the therapist.

However, “online therapy” includes several different approaches, and the evidence is stronger for some therapies than others. Research specifically examining remote EMDR is promising but remains less established than the broader evidence for video-based trauma therapy.

Online work will not be the best option for everyone. We will consider the type of therapy, your privacy, internet access, current level of distress, safety, preferences and whether you can feel sufficiently supported in your environment.

If online therapy is not suitable, we will explain this and discuss the available alternatives with you.

There is no fixed number of sessions that is right for everyone. The length of therapy depends on your experiences, current needs, goals and the approach being used.

We do not want you to remain in therapy indefinitely or for sessions to continue without a clear purpose. Our aim is to help you develop understanding, confidence and practical tools that you can continue using independently, sometimes described as learning to become your own therapist.

We will agree on goals with you, review your progress regularly and talk openly about when therapy may be coming to an end.

We will work at your pace while also offering gentle encouragement when fear or avoidance may be preventing you from moving towards what matters. You will never be forced, but you will be supported and appropriately challenged when this may help you make meaningful progress.

You can tell us, ask to pause or take a break at any time. We may use grounding exercises or other agreed strategies to help you reconnect with the present.

We will regularly check how the pace feels and adjust the work when necessary.

Becoming overwhelmed does not mean you have failed at therapy. It may mean that we need to slow down, strengthen the support around you or approach something differently.

You do not need to know whether your experiences meet the criteria for PTSD or complex PTSD before making an enquiry.

An assessment can help us understand what you are experiencing and whether trauma-focused therapy, or another form of support, may be appropriate.

You do not need to decide alone or understand all the different therapies before contacting us.

Your clinician will consider your experiences, current needs, goals and preferences. They will explain the available options in clear language and work with you to agree on an appropriate starting point.

Confidential support

Take the first step

You do not need to have everything understood or know exactly what kind of support you need before getting in touch.

A confidential enquiry gives us an opportunity to hear what you are looking for, answer your questions and consider the most appropriate next step together.

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