Specialising in Therapy for Trauma in the Workplace
What is acute and chronic trauma?
Acute trauma is a single overwhelming event, and chronic trauma is experiencing these types of events repeatedly or over a prolonged period. Trauma is not the event itself, but how we respond to it internally.
A variety of occupations inevitably expose employees to events that cause trauma responses over and over again. Emergency service workers, NHS staff, members of the armed forces and RNLI as well as many caring professions are some examples.
Responses to trauma are automatic and biological in nature. They are nothing to do with how 'strong' we are but are a natural (and resourceful) way for our minds to cope with what is happening.
What are the impacts?
Responses to traumatic events vary from person to person, but common themes include: personality changes, mood changes such as becoming more irritable or depressed, doing everything we can to avoid reminders or associations with the events, numbing, self soothing behaviours that can harm us (including addictions), re-experiencing through flashbacks or nightmares, sleep problems, being more reactive to everyday stressors, shutting down and many others.
Impacts of trauma responses can be debilitating. But we can understand them, learn from them and begin to manage.
How can I help you?
I am a fully qualified counsellor with a specialism in working with trauma responses and trauma related disorders such as PTSD, complex trauma and dissociative episodes.
I can offer a safe space to work with you on stabilising your current responses to the trauma, help you process what has happened to you, and provide essential tools for moving forwards and integrating what you have discovered into your everyday life.
You can do this. We can do this.