My own life experience has given me valuable insight and understanding in my practice as a traumatologist and has left me with the belief that post traumatic growth is possible. It gave me the motivation to support others that are struggling to make sense of their world and influenced my areas of study post qualification in Traumatology and PTSD. My core training took place at University which involved working with a relational integrative model and obtaining a post-graduate (Level 7) diploma in counselling. This suited me as I do not subscribe to a “one size fits all” approach, as we all experience and perceive the world differently.

I draw upon a number of post-modern theoretical approaches in my practice from person-centred, psychodynamic and third wave cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) like ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Compassion Focused (CFT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Mindfulness, Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and other therapeutic models that I continue to integrate into my practice as outlined below.

My work is now focused in working with clients that have experienced trauma and found some disruption to their life as a result of PTSD or Complex PTSD, or still holding traumagenic beliefs that are limiting and hindering life goals. I work with adults and young people aged 11- 18, both online and face to face. Trauma therapy is more directive than the usual talking therapies and it follows a 3-phased approach. As a traumatologist I have learned how to assess and work with trauma in adults and young people in a more focused way that uses evidence-based practices for PTSD and Complex PTSD (see below). In addition, I trained to become a ‘Becoming Safely Embodied (BSE)’ certified practitioner which you can find out more about at https://dfay.com/. Whilst training is ongoing through continued professional development (CPD), I feel in many ways I have been in training indefinitely via the school of life, as some experiences just cannot be taught, or felt in a classroom. It is a great privilege to work in a role where I get to share a part of someone else’s journey and I believe we all have the capacity for change, compassion, growth and recovery.