Trauma is not just about what happened to you — it’s also about how your mind and body responded in order to survive. Whether the trauma occurred recently or in the distant past, its impact can linger in ways that are confusing, overwhelming, and difficult to put into words.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma can affect every part of life; relationships, work, emotional stability, and physical health. You may feel constantly on edge, numb, easily triggered, or stuck in the past. You might not even realise that some of your current struggles are trauma-related.

Therapy provides a safe, supportive space where you can begin to understand what you’ve experienced, regain control, and slowly reconnect with a sense of safety and self.

What is Trauma?

Trauma can result from any event, or series of events, that leaves you feeling frightened, powerless, or deeply unsafe. It might be a single incident or a prolonged experience.

Examples of traumatic experiences include:

• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
• Domestic violence or coercive control
• Childhood neglect or attachment wounds
• Accidents, injuries, or medical trauma
• Loss, grief, or abandonment
• Natural disasters or war/conflict
• Witnessing violence or traumatic events
• Bullying or systemic discrimination

You don’t need a formal diagnosis of PTSD to seek support for trauma. If something still affects your thoughts, emotions, body, or relationships, it’s worth exploring in therapy.

Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD

Trauma responses are natural — they are your mind and body’s way of coping. However, when those responses get “stuck,” they can become distressing.

Common trauma/PTSD symptoms include:

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Nightmares or sleep disturbances
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached
• Panic, anxiety, or constant fear
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma
• Hypervigilance or feeling “on edge”
• Low self-worth, shame, or guilt
• Dissociation (feeling disconnected from yourself or reality)
• Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships

How Therapy Can Help

Healing from trauma is possible. Therapy is not about re-living the trauma, it’s about gently processing what happened in a way that helps you regain control and feel more grounded.

In trauma-informed therapy, you can:

• Rebuild a sense of safety in your body and environment
• Develop tools to manage flashbacks, triggers, and anxiety
• Explore your story at a pace that feels manageable
• Understand the impact of trauma on your brain and nervous system
• Release stored trauma and learn to regulate emotions
• Reconnect with your identity, values, and sense of self
• Restore trust in yourself and others

You’re not broken. Your symptoms are a response to pain and that pain can be healed.

You Don’t Have to Face It Alone

Many people suffer in silence, thinking they should “be over it” or that their experience “wasn’t that bad.” But if it’s affecting your life, your peace, or your relationships, it matters.

Therapy offers a path to healing that is respectful, non-judgmental, and tailored to your needs. Wherever you are in your journey, support is available