Counselling for Trauma
Many people come to therapy because something from the past is still affecting them in the present. You might not think of what you’ve been through as “trauma”, but you may feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure why certain patterns keep repeating in your life.
Trauma isn’t only about what happened. It can also be about what you had to cope with alone, what you had to silence, or what you didn’t receive when you needed it most. Psychodynamic therapy offers space to explore these experiences gently, at your own pace, without pressure or judgement.
Childhood trauma, neglect, and relational wounds
Trauma in childhood can be obvious, but it can also be subtle and hard to name. You might recognise aspects of your own experience in things like:
• Growing up around conflict, unpredictability, or fear
• Feeling invisible, criticised, or chronically unsupported
• Being expected to be “the responsible one” too early
• Emotional neglect, where feelings weren’t noticed or soothed
• Experiencing manipulation, gaslighting, or subtle abuse
• Feeling valued mainly for what you did, rather than who you were
When these experiences aren’t processed, they can shape how you relate to yourself and to others. Therapy can offer a space to understand these early templates and to begin developing new, kinder ways of relating.
Why psychodynamic therapy can help with trauma
Psychodynamic therapy looks beneath the surface, not to dwell on the past, but to understand how it continues to influence the present. Through a steady, attuned relationship, it can help you to:
• Make sense of long-standing emotional pain
• Understand triggers with more compassion and less self-blame
• Notice and loosen unhelpful relational patterns
• Strengthen your sense of self and identity
• Give voice to parts of you that were overlooked or silenced
Over time, this work can feel grounding, supporting a shift from simply surviving towards living with more choice and self-trust.
A gentle, paced approach to trauma
My work is trauma-informed and psychodynamic, grounded in the belief that healing happens within a safe and consistent relationship.
In our work together, we may:
• Go at a pace that feels manageable for you
• Pay attention to how trauma is held in the body as well as the mind
• Explore past experiences and current patterns, and how they connect
• Notice triggers without becoming overwhelmed by them
• Build capacity for self-soothing, regulation, and steadiness
• Understand how an inner critical voice developed, and how it might soften
• Make space for feelings such as grief, anger, confusion, or relief as they arise
This work is not about fixing you. It is about understanding your story, making meaning, and allowing long-held patterns to shift gradually and safely.
You don’t have to go through this alone
If you’re feeling the impact of past trauma or emotional neglect, therapy can offer a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. I offer psychodynamic trauma counselling in Epsom, Banstead, and online across the UK.
You are welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation, where we can think together about what’s been bringing you to counselling and whether this way of working feels right for you.
Phone: 07533 698084