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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Trauma can follow you long after the event. You might get unwanted memories or nightmares, sudden waves of fear, a constant “on guard” feeling, or go numb just to get through the day. Many people avoid places or conversations that spark reminders, struggle with sleep and focus, and carry heavy feelings like guilt or shame. Relationships can suffer – finding it hard to trust, feeling distant from people you love, or getting pulled into conflict when you’re already overwhelmed.

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I’m a qualified and accredited therapist with over 15 years’ clinical experience in NHS Talking Therapies services and private practice, specialising in high-intensity CBT and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for trauma, PTSD and related difficulties.

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Working together

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With a warm, non-judgemental approach, we’ll move at your pace to rebuild a sense of safety and control. We’ll gently identify triggers, practise grounding and soothing strategies, and create clear plans for moments when distress surges. We’ll also work together to process the traumatic event itself, so it becomes something held in your memory rather than something you continue to relive in flashbacks or nightmares. As you make sense of what happened – and how it’s affecting your life and relationships now – you can reduce the grip of the past and make more room for stability, connection and hope.

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Is this you?

  • Intrusive memories, nightmares, or sudden body surges (heart racing, tight chest)
     

  • Feeling constantly on edge, jumpy, or scanning for danger
     

  • Avoiding reminders; going numb or detached to cope
     

  • Guilt, shame, or self-blame that won’t shift
     

  • Trouble sleeping or concentrating; irritability
     

  • Relationship strain: distance, mistrust, or conflict that escalates fast

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Why it sticks

After trauma, the brain’s threat system stays highly sensitive. Triggers (sights, smells, words, dates) can spark threat alarms; avoidance brings short-term relief but prevents the brain from learning that you’re safer now. Harsh self-talk and isolation add weight. We’ll target the parts you can change—your responses to triggers, the stories you tell yourself, and the supportive connections around you.

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How I help

  • Stabilisation & grounding: simple body-based tools to down-shift the nervous system (in session and between sessions)
     

  • Trigger mapping & plans: know what sets symptoms off, and what to do minute-by-minute when they spike
     

  • Gentle meaning-making: make sense of the event and its impact without forcing details you don’t want to share
     

  • Sleep & routine resets: practical steps to reduce night-time arousal and daytime crash
     

  • IPT focus—relationships and roles: rebuild trust and closeness at a manageable pace; address conflict, isolation, role changes (e.g., after loss, relocation, or identity shifts), and strengthen a support network that actually helps
     

  • Self-compassion work: loosen shame and self-blame; speak to yourself like you would to someone you care about
     

  • Relapse-prevention: a simple plan for anniversaries, setbacks, and high-stress times
     

You choose the pace. You never have to retell anything in detail unless you decide it would help and you feel ready.

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What sessions look like

  • Session 1–2: safety first—get a clear picture, agree goals, build quick stabilisation tools
     

  • Middle phase: skills, relationship work (IPT), and gentle processing of meaning and impact
     

  • Final phase: consolidate gains, set up your maintenance plan
     

  • Online options: Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or Zoom—whichever feels safest and easiest
     

  • Tone & pace: collaborative, steady, and transparent—no surprises

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Tools we may build together

  • A 2-minute grounding routine (breath + body + orienting)
     

  • A personal trigger plan (Before/During/After steps)
     

  • Sleep supports (wind-down, stimulus control, trauma-nightmare strategies)
     

  • An IPT “relationship map” to improve support, reduce conflict, and clarify boundaries
     

  • Coping cards for self-talk during spikes (“This is a memory, not a threat.”)

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FAQs

Do I have to describe what happened in detail?

 

Not necessarily.  Trauma work has various different aspects, and you are in charge of pace and control.  However, for individuals experiencing frequent flashbacks and nightmares, the evidence suggests that detailed exploration of the traumatic event is beneficial.   

 

Will therapy make things worse before they get better?

 

It is normal for people to feel worse before things improve, as therapy involves exploring issues that people may normally try and avoid.  That being said, we won’t dive into anything that overwhelms your system. We’ll use step-by-step work and keep sessions tolerable.

 

How long will it take?

 

Some notice change within 8–12 sessions; others prefer longer, especially when relationships/roles need attention. We review progress together.

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Next steps

  • Send me a message with a line about what you’re dealing with and how you’d like to be contacted.
     

  • I’ll reply within 24 hours with a couple of times for a brief, no-obligation chat  via Teams.
     

  • If it feels right, we’ll start with stabilisation and build from there at your pace.

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