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Stepping Stones
Trauma Therapy & EMDR
Supporting you to process difficult experiences and regain a sense of safety, confidence and control.
Difficult or distressing experiences can continue to affect us long after they have happened. You may find yourself feeling anxious, constantly on edge or reacting strongly to situations without fully understanding why.
Sometimes the connection to a past experience is clear. At other times, you may simply notice that something doesn't feel right, or that familiar ways of coping no longer seem to work.
Trauma can affect how we think, feel, relate to others and respond to everyday situations. You don't need to have experienced one particular type of event, or have a diagnosis of PTSD, to seek support.
I offer a calm, compassionate and trauma-informed approach to therapy, helping you make sense of your experiences and begin to feel more settled and in control.
How Trauma Can Affect You
Trauma affects people in different ways. Some people experience vivid memories or flashbacks, while others notice more subtle changes in their emotions, relationships or sense of safety.
You may recognise some of the following:
• Feeling constantly alert, tense or unable to relax
• Anxiety, panic attacks or a persistent sense of unease
• Intrusive memories, nightmares or disturbed sleep
• Feeling overwhelmed by situations that others seem to manage easily
• Avoiding certain places, people or situations
• Feeling emotionally numb, disconnected or withdrawn
• Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
• Low confidence, self-blame or a sense of shame
• Strong emotional or physical reactions that seem difficult to control
These responses can sometimes develop when the mind and body have been under significant stress or have experienced something frightening, overwhelming or deeply distressing.
Understanding why these reactions happen can be an important part of recovery.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.
It is an evidence-based psychological therapy recommended for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When we experience something distressing, memories of that event can sometimes remain associated with intense emotions, physical sensations and negative beliefs about ourselves or the world around us.
EMDR uses a structured therapeutic approach to help people process distressing memories so that they become less emotionally overwhelming.
During EMDR, you may be asked to focus briefly on aspects of a difficult memory while following guided eye movements or another form of alternating left-right stimulation, such as tapping.
The aim is not to erase the memory or pretend that the experience never happened. Rather, it is to help reduce the distress associated with it, so that the past has less influence over how you feel and respond in the present.
What Happens During EMDR Therapy?
Before beginning any memory-processing work, we will spend time understanding your experiences, current difficulties and what you would like to achieve through therapy.
We will also explore ways to help you feel more grounded and manage difficult emotions.
EMDR follows a structured process, and preparation is an important part of that work. We will move at a pace appropriate to your needs, taking account of your circumstances and how you are feeling.
You do not need to describe every detail of a traumatic experience for EMDR to be effective, although we will need to identify the memories and difficulties you would like to work on.
Throughout the process, you remain actively involved, and we will regularly review how the therapy is progressing.
I recognise that everyone's experiences are different, and there is no single approach that suits everyone.
As an accredited psychotherapeutic counsellor and clinical hypnotherapist trained in EMDR, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to provide support tailored to your individual needs.
My work is trauma-informed, which means paying particular attention to emotional safety, trust, choice and collaboration.
For some people, EMDR may be an appropriate part of treatment. For others, it may be more helpful to begin with counselling, emotional regulation techniques or exploring current difficulties before considering trauma-focused work.
We will discuss the available options together and agree on an approach that feels manageable and appropriate for you.
Taking the First Step
You might be seeking support following a particular distressing event, or because of experiences that have built up over time.
These may include:
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Difficult childhood experiences
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Emotional, physical or psychological abuse
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Accidents or frightening incidents
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Bereavement or traumatic loss
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Difficult relationships or experiences of betrayal
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Workplace incidents or prolonged exposure to stressful situations
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Experiences that continue to affect your confidence, relationships or emotional wellbeing
You do not need to be certain that what you experienced was traumatic before seeking help.
If something from your past continues to affect your life today, therapy can provide a space to explore and understand its impact.
I offer face-to-face therapy in Finchley, North London, as well as online sessions.
If you would like to explore whether trauma therapy or EMDR might be suitable for you, please get in touch.
We can discuss what you are experiencing, what you hope to gain from therapy and how I may be able to help.
Additional Resources
