Trauma Informed Therapy
I follow the three-phase model in trauma-informed therapy because it prioritises your safety, builds trust, and ensures that healing happens at your pace, not through pressure or overwhelm, but through a grounded, respectful process that genuinely supports long-term recovery.
It also incorporates a somatic, bottom-up approach, which recognises that trauma is stored in the body as well as the mind. By working with physical sensations, movement, and breath, we can gently help your nervous system find balance and safety.
Therapy is about more than overcoming the past... it’s about rediscovering who you are beyond it.
Phase 1: Stabilisation – Creating Safety and Building Strength
Before exploring past experiences, it’s important to feel emotionally and physically steady. Together, we’ll work on building coping skills, developing self-awareness, and creating a sense of safety in your daily life. This might involve:
Understanding your body’s responses to stress
Learning practical techniques to manage overwhelm
Exploring ways to set boundaries and feel more in control
Using grounding exercises and breath-work to regulate your nervous system
You don’t have to revisit trauma before you’re ready—this phase is about laying a strong foundation so that when the time comes, you feel equipped to do the work.
Phase 2: Processing – Making Sense of the Past
When you feel ready, we can gently explore the experiences that have been shaping your thoughts, emotions, and relationships. This doesn’t mean reliving painful events but rather understanding them in a way that reduces their hold over you. A somatic approach may involve:
Noticing where emotions show up in the body and working with those sensations
Using movement, breath, and mindfulness to release stored tension
Talking through difficult memories at a pace that feels right for you
Recognising patterns that no longer serve you
Finding new ways to relate to your story with self-compassion
There’s no rush—this stage happens when it feels safe and manageable.
Phase 3: Integration – Moving Forward with Confidence
Healing isn’t just about looking back—it’s also about embracing the future. In this phase, we focus on helping you feel more present, connected, and hopeful. This may involve:
Strengthening your sense of self
Building meaningful relationships
Feeling more in control of your emotions and choices
Deepening your connection to your body and intuition