Trauma & PTSD Counselling in Chislehurst and Online

It is completely normal to experience symptoms after painful or frightening experiences. Flashbacks, emotional ups and downs, numbness, tearfulness, feeling unsafe or on edge — these are understandable responses to overwhelming events.

But when these symptoms continue for months or even years, they can begin to interfere with your relationships, work, confidence and sense of self. You may find that certain triggers take you straight back to the moment of the trauma  

or that the experience feels like it’s always with you. This is especially common when the trauma happened in childhood or within a relationship.

Trauma and PTSD can develop after a single harrowing event — something you witnessed, endured or were deeply affected by. Trauma can also be accumulative, building up over time through:

• an abusive or controlling relationship
• the nature of your work
• caring for someone who is unwell
• childhood neglect or abuse

When trauma is long‑term or relational, it can result in Complex PTSD (C‑PTSD). This can be particularly confusing because the trauma may not be consciously remembered, yet still felt in the body, in your emotions, or in how you see yourself.

Trauma is not “all in your head.” It is held in the nervous system, in patterns of protection, and in the meanings you had to make to survive.

How we work together will depend on your needs and your choice. If it feels important to talk about what happened, I will support you to do so safely and at your pace. But research shows that healing does not require going through every detail of the event. What matters most is exploring the meaning you took from the experience — about yourself, other people, or the world.

Therapy can help you:

• understand your symptoms with compassion rather than fear
• reduce the intensity of triggers
• feel safer in your body
• reconnect with parts of yourself that trauma pushed away
• rebuild trust in your emotions, relationships and instincts
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Trauma can leave your nervous system dysregulated — either hypersensitive to threat or shut down and disconnected. I will support you with techniques to calm, soothe and stabilise your system so you can feel more grounded and in control.

This might include:

• grounding and stabilisation strategies
• understanding your trauma responses
• reconnecting with your body safely
• learning how to regulate overwhelming emotions
• building internal resources and resilience

These skills help you feel steadier, safer and more able to move forward.

Dissociation is a very common response to trauma, even though it can feel frightening or confusing when you don’t have a name for it. You might notice moments of feeling detached from yourself, spaced out, unreal, or as though you’re watching life from a distance. These experiences are not signs of weakness — they are your nervous system’s way of protecting you when something feels overwhelming.

Dissociation can happen after single‑event trauma, long‑term relational trauma, or  childhood experiences that were too much to process at the time. In therapy, we work gently to help you understand what’s happening, reconnect with your body safely, and build the internal stability that makes these episodes less frequent and less intense. We go slowly, with care, and always at your pace. 

My approach is warm, steady and collaborative. You won’t be rushed, pushed or asked to share anything before you’re ready. We work gently and intentionally, focusing on what feels safe and manageable for you.

Together we will:

• explore your symptoms with clarity and compassion
• understand how trauma is showing up in your life today
• work with triggers in a way that feels safe and empowering
• support your nervous system to regulate and settle
• rebuild confidence, connection and a sense of safety in yourself

Healing from trauma is not about “getting over it.” It’s about helping your mind and body feel safe again, so you can live with more ease, stability and self‑trust.

No. You never have to share details you don’t want to. Some people choose to talk about their experience, and others prefer to focus on the impact it’s having now. Healing often comes from exploring the meaning you took from the trauma, rather than revisiting every moment of it.

PTSD often develops after a single traumatic event. C‑PTSD usually comes from long‑term or repeated trauma, especially in childhood or within relationships. It can involve difficulties with identity, trust, emotional regulation and feeling safe in your body. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to begin healing, we work with your symptoms and experiences, not labels.

Yes. Trauma therapy can be highly effective online. Many people find it easier to explore difficult experiences from the comfort of their own home, and online work allows us to pace sessions in a way that feels safe and contained.

There is no fixed timeline. Some people feel relief within a few sessions, while others benefit from longer‑term support. We will regularly check in together to make sure the work feels helpful, manageable and aligned with your goals. 

Your pace is central to the work. We use grounding, stabilisation and nervous‑system regulation techniques throughout therapy so you feel supported, steady and in control. You will never be pushed to go further than feels safe.

Even the smallest moments of safety and connection can become the foundation for healing.