Trauma-Informed Counselling- What does it mean to be trauma informed?
Trauma can affect how we think, feel, relate to others, and experience our bodies. A trauma-informed approach recognises the impact of past experiences without pathologising or blaming. Therapy moves at a pace that feels safe and manageable, with a focus on building stability, self-awareness, and self-compassion. You're in control of what you share and when. If talking about what happened feels too overwhelming, that's okay, you never have to go into the details.
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Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches
Healing often involves both understanding our experiences and learning to work with the body's responses.Top-down approaches focus on thoughts, emotions, meaning-making, and insight through reflection and conversation.
Bottom-up approaches work with the nervous system and bodily sensations, helping to regulate stress responses and create a greater sense of safety and connection.
Together, these approaches support healing on both a cognitive and physiological level.
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Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment (TIST)
As a certified Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment (TIST) practitioner, I integrate an approach that combines neuroscience, attachment theory, mindfulness, and parts work. TIST helps people understand and respond to protective patterns with curiosity and compassion, supporting greater emotional regulation and healing from trauma.
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)-Informed Practice
IFS views the mind as made up of different "parts" that each serve a purpose, even when their strategies may no longer be helpful. Rather than trying to get rid of difficult thoughts, emotions, or behaviours, we learn to understand them with curiosity and compassion, fostering greater self-awareness, healing, and inner balance.
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Somatic Practices
Trauma is not only held in our memories; it can also be experienced in the body. Somatic approaches help bring awareness to physical sensations, movement, breath, and nervous system responses. This can support regulation, increase resilience, and help reconnect you with a sense of safety and presence.
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Mindfulness and Nervous System Regulation
Mindfulness is the practice of bringing gentle awareness to the present moment. When combined with an understanding of the nervous system, mindfulness can help reduce overwhelm, strengthen emotional regulation, and cultivate a greater sense of calm and connection.
Throughout our work together, my goal is to create a supportive space where you can explore your experiences, build on your strengths, and move towards greater wellbeing and self-understanding.