Trauma Therapy London
Trauma is derived from the ancient Greek verb (titrosko), which is the verb (teiro), which means "to tear, to slit" = to make a wound, to slit.
The proliferation of cases of "soldiers' shell shock" or war neuroses during wartime in the early twentieth century centred on the need to treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related psychological problems. Amnesia, detachment, sleep disturbances, intrusive thoughts and images, flashbacks and recurrent nightmares, anger, irritability, and aggressive behaviour, intense alertness, depression, self-destructive behaviour, and suicidal ideation are some of the symptoms, as are pain, dizziness, sweating, tics, mutism, and even partial paralysis.
Through research and clinical practise, the field of traumatic stress has grown tremendously in recent decades, resulting in therapeutic approaches to treating people who have experienced traumatic events and trauma. Traumatic experiences are subjective, and the time it takes to heal differs for each of us. The freeze response, in which a person does not react to the trauma, occurs during trauma. People may forget or suppress trauma in order to move on with their lives and survive its painful consequences. With traumatic incidents, the person adopts coping mechanisms that may feel familiar and comfortable to the person, often because they remind the person of previous similar situations, but may be unsafe in the end (e.g., maladaptive behaviours, as substances and alcohol or other harmful behaviours).
Conflicts, accidents and assaults, grief and loss, bullying and abuse can all result in trauma (physical, emotional, financial, or sexual abuse). Being a victim or witness of a natural disaster or a catastrophe (e.g., financial disaster), being a veteran or survivor of a war zone or a terrorist attack, being taken hostage, kidnapped, robbed, vandalised, or witnessing the above can all result in trauma.
Therapy can help with the trauma experience and its consequences. Various evidence-based psychological therapies have been shown to aid in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. Several characteristics of trauma therapies are shared, including improved emotion regulation, making sense of traumatic events, and the ubiquitous but powerful psychoeducation.
Emotion regulation is indirectly improved and strengthened by trauma-focused therapies (e.g., skills training). Trauma therapies typically involve adaptive reappraisal of trauma-generated beliefs about self and others, which results in improved self-esteem, sets a framework for greater social engagement, and provides hope and optimism for the future. Recognizing the reality of trauma, its psychological impact, and the possibility of recovery provide a sense of support and hope, which are important factors in recovery from and protection against future traumas.
Trauma-focused therapy is client-centred, as evidenced by research and clinical practise. Therapists collaborate with patients to identify important outcomes, treatment strategies that can be easily integrated into daily life, and therapy models that are efficient while also respecting the patient's uniqueness. Trauma therapy focuses on the personal losses that occur and erode recovery capacity, emphasising the importance of protective or "resiliency" factors such as self-efficacy, an objective view of what happened, a hopeful and optimistic outlook, and support from family and friends.
Trauma therapy may involve bringing up difficult memories and emotions. Therefore, it is essential that the therapist is trained and experienced in trauma therapy and that the patient feels comfortable and safe in the therapeutic environment.
Counselling and psychotherapy can provide the necessary conditions of safety, congruence, and unconditional positive regard that a traumatised person requires in order to heal. Psychotherapy and counselling are conducted at a pace that is comfortable for the individual based on their timing and individual characteristics. The Counsellor/Therapist avoids re-traumatizaion of the client by both being attuned to therapy and the client's world without judgement or criticism but using objective, psychological and in-sync with the individual's values, goals, and preferences. Then, the therapeutic relationship will not retraumatise the client but provide the person with the foundation to unveil the trauma narrative from a safe space.
According to neuroscience, when we revisit painful memories in a safe and supportive environment such as Therapy, the client reconstructs the relationship between his conscious and unconscious networks by verbalising his feelings. Because memories are reconstructions, every time we retrieve one, the brain rewrites it by updating the past based on our current perceptions. At the cellular level, retrieving a memory means that it will be chemically altered with a new protein synthesis that allows it to be stored again but differently after the present's thoughts and feelings have previously informed it. When we recall a memory, we change its chemistry without experiencing that wave of despair, fear, or trauma; this is when trauma therapy occurs.
As a therapist, I am aware of the impact that trauma can have on a person's life. I am committed to offering a safe and supportive environment in which my clients can process and heal from traumatic experiences. I offer a range of evidence based therapies, such as Person-Centred Psychotherapy, Humanistic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mentalisation (based on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Integrative Therapy and my approach is influenced by the Stoics. These are widely used and researched trauma therapies which focus on helping individuals change their negative thoughts and beliefs about the traumatic event, confront and process their traumatic memories in a safe and controlled environment and which can lead to decreased symptoms of PTSD and improved overall functioning.
Finally, it is important to note that trauma can have long-term effects on an individual's physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, it is essential that individuals who have experienced trauma receive appropriate and timely treatment in order to improve their chances of recovery and to prevent future traumas from occurring.
Other interventions, such as mindfulness-based practises, are also used to assist the clients in managing the symptoms of trauma. I work closely with each client to understand their unique experiences and needs, and then tailor the therapy to meet those needs.
I am easily accessible to those living in London and surrounding areas for in-person consultations and online for people outside. I invite you contact me and set up a consultation to discuss how I can assist you in your healing journey.